A new study questions the so-called “God gap” theory that suggests that most white Christians are conservative and more likely to vote Republican.

According to the study — conducted at the University of Florida — there is an emerging religious left. University of Florida political science professor Kenneth Wald says the group “is likely to become more visible and influential” because of Democratic control of the White House and Congress.

Respondents who were more inclined to favor collective worship and had a “strong communitarian view of faith” were much more likely to vote for Democratic candidates for Congress in 2006 and president in 2008.
Wald says commentators, scholars and the public have assumed Republicans are more religious because studies have gauged devotion by such traditional measures as daily prayer, Scripture reading and regular church attendance.

Roman Catholics and mainline Protestants, such as Episcopalians, Presbyterians, some Lutherans and members of the United Church of Christ, are more likely than evangelical Protestants to fit into this new category.

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