A multi-ethnic culture well oriented towards Christianity
The West Indies are 99% descended from African slaves. These slaves belonged to different ethnic groups, with diverse social organizations, and practiced religions that were quite distinct from one another (polytheism, animism, lineage ancestor worship, Islam...). African slaves found themselves under the influence of the Catholic religion represented by the colonists. This influence modified a number of cultural values and religious representations. Unlike in mainland France, where churches have been deserting for over twenty years, religion plays an important role in the daily lives of the inhabitants of Saint-Martin.
Numerous religious influences: a richness in Saint-Martin
To clarify matters, we need to distinguish between the main so-called traditional denominations: Catholics, Anglicans, 7th Day Adventists, Protestants, Methodists and Muslims (who have a mosque in Philipsburg).
Other minority currents, often associated with cults, are also present. Voodoo, for example, is mainly practiced by people of Haitian origin. According to statistics, there are some 7,500 Haitians on Saint-Martin, making it the island's largest community. What's more, 85% of Haitians practice voodoo, which is often equated with sectarianism, but which nevertheless worships spirits. This splintering of Christianity is the consequence of the religious trend in the United States in the 1970s, which, through over-mediatization, multiplied the number of its branches.
The era of the quimboizers not over?
Is witchcraft still practiced on the island? Well, there's every reason to believe so... Witchcraft is the result of a cultural melting pot of Amerindian, European, African and Indian influences, so it's not surprising that Saint-Martin is under this influence. Admittedly, it seems very minimal and practiced in a very special context. Religion occupies an important place in the lives of the people of Saint-Martin, so we shouldn't be surprised if we still come across some quimboizers. Major disasters, most recently hurricane Irma, have reawakened these beliefs. The whole island was in prayer before and after the monster hit. Could it be that the island has been cursed as a warning? Given the damage caused by the cyclone and the island's vulnerability to cope, it's much more than a warning... In Valérie Lieko's novel La Dame de Pique, the Amerindian beliefs of the Tainos on Saint-Martin are rehabilitated.
Places of worship and music
Spirituality is often accompanied by music! The multi-ethnic culture and high levels of immigration bring worship services to life. Churches and temples welcome the faithful to the sound of gospel music. Music in religion is an integral part of St. Martin's tradition. On Sunday mornings, gospel tunes can be heard in churches such as Marigot, Marie-Étoile-de-la-Mer in Grand-Case and the charming Cole Bay church in the Dutch part of the island. Attending mass is an experience in itself.
