In a region of churches and congregations, Florida has taken a step back from organized religion.
A recently released Gallup poll found that about 29 percent of Floridians identified themselves as non-religious and said they seldom or never attend religious services.
The number is a striking contrast with Florida’s geographic neighbors, as 10 out of the 11 most religious states are in the South, according to poll results.
David Hackett, a UF associate professor of religion, said the contrast in the strength of religious identification between Floridians and other Southerners did not come as a surprise.
“Florida has never been a Southern state. Florida has always been an extension of the Northeast,” he said. “People come here from the Northeast or South America. It’s rare to find someone born here.”
Hackett said the mobility of Floridians is a primary cause for the lack of faith affiliation.
“With their willingness to move around from place to place comes a separation from the religions of their upbringing,” he said. “Florida’s just participating in the basic tradition — a movement away from organized religion and towards spirituality.”
Jenna Gallas, a 19-year-old UF health science freshman, said although she doesn’t have an affiliation with any religion, she doesn’t necessarily see herself as agnostic or atheist.
“I’d like there to be a god, but the science side just makes more sense to me,” she said. “I’m just confused.”
Despite the high percentage of Floridians who have turned away from organized religion, many still engage in traditional religious practices, said Kenneth Wald, a UF political science professor.
“A lot of people identify themselves by thinking that to be religious means to belong to a religious community,” he said. “When you actually discuss their religious behavior, they do things that are traditionally religious — they believe in God, they pray.”
Jacob Zieper, an 18-year-old UF Jewish studies freshman, said he finds it hard to imagine a life without his faith.
He said as far as he can remember, no one in his family has left the Jewish faith.
“I’ve never really had any doubts about it,” Zieper said. “I’m pretty good where I am.”
[A version of this story ran on page 8 on 2/10/2014 under the headline "Poll shows about one-third of Floridians identify as non-religious"]
