Original beliefs
Before the arrival of missionaries, Polynesians worshipped a supreme god, Taaroa, surrounded by secondary deities. Tikis, still highly prized today, were human representations of this god. Religious ceremonies were held in marae - meae in the Marquesas - sacred places of worship where songs and dances were performed, as well as offerings and sacrifices. Sometimes human, the sacrifices were performed by arioi, priests who travelled from island to island to conduct the religious rites.
Built in a rectangular shape and generally paved with stone, the marae are still highly respected today. Every year in July, the Heiva festival brings these sacred sites back to life, notably through traditional dances. The territory's best-known marae is certainly that of Taputapuatea, on Raiatea: listed as a World Heritage site since 2017, it is the largest in French Polynesia.
The arrival of the missionaries
On June 5, 1797, thirty English missionaries from the London Missionary Society (LMS) disembarked from the Duff in Matavai Bay. Four of them quickly became disillusioned with the climate of violence then prevailing in Polynesian society, and many left discouraged by the scale of the task. The missionaries finally prevailed in 1801 with the arrival of new members of the LMS, and quickly set to work: tikis were burned and marae destroyed to make way for temples and churches. The aim? To civilize these savages". They banned traditional songs, shameful "sexual" dances, tattoos and, of course, nudity. The wearing of long garments was decreed; it's from this era that the beautiful missionary dresses that mamas wear today date.
Distribution of religions today
Not without violence and tumultuous twists and turns, time has passed and Christianity still occupies a predominant place in Polynesian society today. But many "small religions", that some would rather call sects, have also appeared in the territory. Today in French Polynesia, there are 45% Ma'ohi Protestants, heirs of the Protestant missions in Oceania, 34% Catholics, 6% Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), 5% Seventh Day Adventists, here nicknamed "petania" (Pitcairn in Tahitian) because the inhabitants of Pitcairn were the first Adventists in Oceania, as early as 1886, 3.5% Sanito (Community of Christ), 1.5% Jehovah's Witnesses, 5% belonging to other religious currents.
