Audio Tapes Bring Scriptures To Hurried ‘90s
As Ira Hudgins lay dying and unable to attend church, she urged her pastor to record the comforting words of the Bible for her and for people like her.
The Rev. Randolph Bracy Jr. of New Covenant Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla., began to record the Book of Psalms, which he considers the most “therapeutic” Scripture, before Hudgins’ death in December 1994.
Bracy has since produced a four-cassette set of the Psalms in the King James Version, with musical accompaniment and an introductory essay. About 200 copies of the digitally mastered “Sounds of the Psalms” (Affie Enterprises, Orlando), have sold at $22, mostly to his congregants, he said.
Bracy’s effort “to make the Word of God come alive” in the 150 Psalms, many composed by Israel’s King David, has drawn a positive response.
“People have told me that listening to the recording is really helpful in their quiet, reflective, meditative moments,” he said.
Ever since printer Johann Gutenberg’s first Bible rolled off the press in Germany in the middle of the 15th century, religion has used technology to spread the Word.
Religious and spiritual books continue to make up a significant segment of the publishing industry. Christian music reaches even larger numbers of people via tapes, discs and videos purchased for home use or broadcast.
For the past year and a half, Gregorian chants have topped pop music charts in the United States and Europe.
One of the ways the printed Scriptures are reaching increasing numbers of Americans is on audiotape. Books on tape are a $1.5 billion a year industry.
Religious/inspirational books on cassette are the third best-selling category at Columbia House Audiobook Club (1-800-708-5400), according to Gordon Henry, Columbia’s director.
“Where once the entire family devoted one day each week to prayer and church activities, today, more often than not, religion has been modified to fit the hectic schedules of the ‘90s,” Henry said. “Many people have turned to alternative ways to bring the emotional richness of religion back into their lives.
“One way they’re accomplishing this is by listening to religious-themed audiobooks while doing other activities, like driving or working out.”
Top sellers include actors like James Earl Jones, Gregory Peck, Michael York, Alec McCowan, Fritz Weaver and Joe Morton reading from the Bible - almost all from unabridged texts.
“No one would feel comfortable abridging,” Henry said. “It’s one thing to abridge John Grisham, and another to abridge God. Even audio book publishers would be hesitant to abridge something as sacred as the Bible.”
Tastes in the religious/inspirational category vary widely among consumers known as “seekers” by marketers.
“Some turn to traditional religion,” Henry said. “Others turn to non-traditional: holistic, new age types of experiences; mind/body healing; angels; and the afterlife.”
In addition to the Scriptures, the writings of Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and Marianne Williamson are popular, along with Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet” and “A Course in Miracles,” Henry said.