What are the effects of religion on Caribbean society?

Answer 1

Caribbean society has two competing religious traditions, almost polar opposites. The prominant Christian presence is primarily, or at least has been historically, Catholic. But some of that emphasis has been changing in recent decades, which is good because the Catholic practice sometimes lends itself to syncretism. The opposing religious practice is in the various forms of voodoo, essentially African mysticism as it morphed into a coping mechanism in the New World.

In Catholicism, and several Protestant denominations, as commonly practiced, the tradition and ritual rule in their place. And when you aren't in that place, some people compartmentalize their lives to give themselves an immense range of liberty. Many Protestant groups, however, are not so compartmentalized, so they encourage their Christianity to be lived throughout the rest of the week. That means then certain behaviors that could be recognized in a church service on Sunday as bad or good, need to be practiced or not the rest of the week. This religious mind set is practiced by a few, in some places an increasing number. The Voodoo practitioners, meanwhile, have a much wider range of moral liberties, a set of ethics that is not tied to Western and Christian heritage.

The effects of religion depend upon which group you are examining. The nominal Christian may appear little different from the animist (Voodoo practitioner). Matters of sexual practice limitations, respect for personal property, etc.--these vary from person to person in regard to which of the three religious camps they are in.

Answer 2

Religion In The Caribbean

Answer 3

Good question; I'm not entirely sure. I know that, throughout Haiti and areas of Jamaica (and perhaps the rest of the islands), many people practice Voodoo (which is NOT witchcraft or Satanism, by the way). I assume the rest of the islands' population reflects the rest of society: atheists, agnostics, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, etc.