Español
  Français

Religious Beliefs and Spirituality in Haiti

You are here: Countries / Haiti

The people of Haiti are mostly Christians. More or less, there are about 80% Roman Catholics and 16% Protestants. Combining the Catholics and the Protestants, it account for 96% of the population leaving only 4% who follow the Pentecostal doctrine. However, what is really distinct about Haiti’s religious profile is that a lot of them, in one way or another believe in voodoo magic.

The practice of voodoo, of course, stems from their ancient African culture and traditions. Those who practice voodoo magic and are Catholics however do not see themselves as opposing Catholic doctrines. They argue that Catholicism and voodoo can in fact co-exist. They believe in God, in Jesus and revere the saints, and even the devil, too, it is just that they also believe that the spirits of their deceased family can also aid them in times of their needs through rituals passed down to them from generation to generation.

Voodoo magicians rely basically around what they call “family spirits” or loua (sometimes called mistè). They believe that these family spirits can protect them and their children from misfortune. As a price of calling up these spirits, they in turn must give something back. This is where they get branded as witches and sorcerers, as they sacrifice chickens or other animals to offer the blood.

One misconception about voodoo is that anyone can just go to a voodoo magician. That is not the case. Voodoo is usually just based on family. Voodoo magic always revolve around one’s family that’s why when a family member dies, there are so many rituals to be done by the living because another family soul would be joining their loua.