Audio By Carbonatix
Arizona’s one of the few states where the levels of very religious and nonreligious people are about the same, according to poll results.
In Gallup’s annual survey of religion across the country, researchers found that about 36 percent in Arizona say religion’s a big part of their lives and that they regularly attend church services, while 35 percent said religion’s not really important to them and that they don’t attend church services.
The remainder of Arizonans, 29 percent, either say religion isn’t important but they still attend church services or that religion is important but they don’t go to church regularly. Gallup defined this group as “somewhat religious.”
And after 175,000 surveys taken nationwide on this subject, Gallup found that the “very religious” types clearly outnumbered the “nonreligious” types in nearly three-quarters of the states.
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
In nine states, they found more than half of the people saying they were very religious, and less than 20 percent said they were nonreligious in eight of those states.
The most religious states are Mississippi (61 percent very religious) and Utah (60 percent very religious).
On the other side, the least-religious are Vermont (22 percent very religious) and New Hampshire (24 percent very religious).
In total, 36 states registered higher levels of very-religious people than Arizona.
The same survey taken in 2012 and 2011 shows Arizona’s proportions of religious types has stayed about the same over the last few years.
Click here for all the details from Gallup on this year’s survey.
Send feedback and tips to the author.
Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.
