Washington ? .It may be hard to believe, but more Americans seek spiritual help online than have gone to Internet gambling sites, bid in online auctions or banked online, according to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

The study showed that 28 million Americans, about one-fourth of U.S. adults, have gone on the Internet to find out more about their faith or that of their friends and neighbors. Most looked for ways to supplement already devout lives by searching for prayer and devotional resources.

Other findings:

84 percent of “religion surfers” belong to a religious community, compared with 68 percent of the general population.

35 percent have used e-mail to offer advice, and 21 percent have sought advice in an e-mail.

The full report is available at www.pewinternet.org