American Jews remain strongly liberal in their political and social views, a new study has confirmed.

While 43 per cent of Christians vote Republican and 40 per cent Democrat, the figure for religiously identifying Jews is 64 per cent Democrat and 26 per cent Republican, according to the Pew Centre's 2014 survey of the American religious landscape.

Whereas 53 per cent of Americans nationally support same-sex marriage and less than half - 44 per cent - of Christians, the overwhelming majority of Jews - 77 per cent - are in favour.

Jews also tend to be less religiously conservative. Whereas 70 per cent of Christians believe in a personal God and 85 per cent in heaven, only a quarter of Jews identify with a personal God and 47 per cent believe in heaven.

Sociology professor, Steven Cohen, one of the leading analysts of contemporary Jewry, said: "probably the most important finding… in this very impressive survey is the extent to which Jews are political and cultural liberals.