Quiet Revolution: the beginning of a new era
Until the 1960s, Quebec remained a profoundly Catholic society, with a marked presence of institutions set up by the Church. As Mgr Bourget, Bishop of Montreal, pointed out in 1843: "Our religion is our first national distinction, as well as the basis of our institutions. It is because we are Catholic that we are a nation in this corner of America
In other words, religion was a constant presence in the social, political and economic life of the province, but this was not the case from the 1960s onwards, a period known as the "Quiet Revolution". This part of Quebec's contemporary history was characterized by the people's desired separation of the Catholic Church and the State, but also by the emergence of a new Quebec national identity, distinct from that of other French Canadians. It was also at this time that names with religious connotations became secularized, and talk turned to openness and pluralism. Immigration helped to diversify the religious landscape with Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism. Today, however, the Catholic faith remains largely dominant, with around 80% of the population claiming to be Catholic, but with very few practicing Catholics. Unfortunately, this has led to the deterioration and even abandonment of many religious buildings. But sometimes they find a new use, whether as apartments, a concert hall or a restaurant.
Religion in 21st Century Quebec
Despite the retreat of religion and the scrapping of crucifixes, rosaries and scapulars, many Quebecers still identify with the Catholic Church. What's more, since the early 2000s, the debate has raged over accommodation practices related to cultural differences (compromises made by a society with regard to the demands - especially religious - of the cultural minorities that make it up), giving rise to various bills under four provincial governments. The most recent is Bill 21, which became the Loi sur laïcité de l' État on June 16, 2019. An election promise kept by the Legault government, the new law prohibits the wearing of religious symbols by certain public servants in positions of authority, such as police officers, judges and teachers in the public school system. Despite public protests and legal challenges, a majority of the population is satisfied with the adoption of the law.
Spirituality among Aboriginal people
Before the arrival of the first French settlers in the 16th century, the various aboriginal nations that populated the territory practiced their own spirituality. These advocated harmony and interdependence between all forms of life, the so-called great circle of life. Food, for example, was seen as a gift from the animal spirits, and was considered sacred. Meals were therefore accompanied by rituals, songs and drumbeats, and ended with a thanksgiving dance called "makusham".
Aboriginal spirituality is based mainly on animism, the belief in a spirit or vital force that animates living beings, objects and natural elements, as well as in protective genies. Native legends still circulating today often make reference to this.
