Samoa

Samoa is a group of large, volcanic islands in western Polynesia. In pre-Christian times, Samoans believed in a range of supernatural beings. Pan-Polynesian gods such as Tagaloa, conceived as the creator of the world in Samoa, were present. Beings called aitu, which had more local powers and, according to the interpretation of Cain (1971), were the spirits of miscarried or aborted children. Today, Samoans are overwhelmingly Christian, the largest denominations being Protestant.