Among the religion news highlights of the year are the launch of several new imprints and other key changes. See also our most popular religion news stories of 2022, including interviews with bestselling authors Shauna Niequist and Matthew Paul Turner, a retrospective of religion publishing over the past 25 years, and details about Beth Moore’s upcoming memoir.

2022 Religion Publishing Recap

After sales of religion books jumped 21.9% in 2021 over 2020, sales cooled in 2022. According to the Association of American Publishers' monthly StatShot program, sales in the religion category in the first nine months of 2022 were down 6.1% from the comparable period in 2021. The decline was not a surprise as sales of all books were down 4.5% in the period due in part to people moving onto other activities once the Covid restrictions were lifted. And even though supply chain problems have eased, inflation has led to higher costs and in some cases higher prices for books.

While the easing of the pandemic likely caused sales to slip, it did bring back more of a sense of normalcy to the industry. In-person events returned, such as the Christian Product Expo, the ECPA's Leadership Summit, and the annual meeting between the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL).

General ongoing trends include children’s book publishers in the category adding books they say are faithful to Biblical values, but not explicitly religious. several publishers sharpened a focus on direct-to-consumer marketing. We checked in with publishers about growth areas such as books for the spiritual but not religious reader and intersections of religion with parenting, marriage, and family life, books on anti-racism, corrections of history from academic scholars, and more.

Tyndale launched a new imprint, Elevate, which focuses on apologetics, while David C Cook is publishing books for women with its new Esther publishing imprint. The press is also ramping up its output of comic books. Meanwhile, Catholic presses look toward a brighter future, including Liturgical's Therese Ratliffe, who says special attention is being paid to "both prayer for the church and society, as well as calls to action that promote justice and the changes needed to live into a better world."

The Top 10 Most-Read Religion Stories of 2022

10. Matthew Paul Turner Finds His Voice in Christian Publishing

Bestselling children’s book author Matthew Paul Turner, who came out as gay in 2020, emphasized inclusivity and self-acceptance in his latest book, I Am God’s Dream, which he called his work book yet.

9. Birthright Israel Founder Works Toward a Jewish Pride Movement

Michael Steinhardt, who founded of the controversial non-profit Birthright Israel, discussed the future of Jewish life, ways to foster it, and his book, Jewish Pride (Post Hill).

8. Agents Offer Predictions for Christian Publishing

PW spoke with a half dozen literary agents in the Christian publishing industry who identified hot trends of the year and urged publishers to diversify their lists.

7. Frederick Buechner, Clergyman and Novelist, Dies at 96

Widely recognized as one of the great Christian writers of the 20th century, Frederick Buechner died on August 15, 2022. He was 96.

6. Three Religion Presses Name New Top Executives

Westminster John Knox, Brazos, and Liturgical Press each named women with extensive backgrounds in editing, acquisitions, and management to leading roles in 2022.

5. Exploring the Biology of Belief: PW Talks to John C. Wathey

During an interview with neuroscientist John C. Wathey, Ph.D. about his new book The Phantom God: What Neuroscience Reveals about the Compulsion to Believe (Prometheus), he explained a link between the phantom limb phenomenon, infant/mother attachment, and the belief in God.

4. How Religion Publishing Became a Billion-Dollar Industry

As part of celebrations of our 150th anniversary, Publishers Weekly chronicled the growth of religion publishing over the past quarter-century.

3. In Times of Tribulation, Prophecy Books Multiply

Books about biblical prophecy, the rapture, Armageddon, and other End Times events of the Bible saw a sharp rise amid readers seeking answers to current crises.

2. Shauna Niequist is Still Learning

We spoke to Niequist about her latest book, I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet (Zondervan), which explores overcoming change, particularly related to her father, former megachurch pastor Bill Hybels, a cross-country move, ongoing health problems, and more.

1. Beth Moore Pens a Memoir for Tyndale

News of Christian writer and speaker Beth Moore's memoir—her first book since splitting with the Southern Baptist Convention in 2021— is our most-read religion story of 2022. All My Knotted-Up Life, is coming from Tyndale Momentum on February 21.