Messianic Believers: Reflections on Identity of a Largely Misunderstood Group

Despite much progress made in understanding multicultural and religious diversity, certain ethnic and religious groups continue to be neglected by the psychological community. Messianic Judaism remains a largely misunderstood and ignored expression of cultural and spiritual diversity. Numerous fears...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychology and theology 2005-06, Vol.33 (2), p.127-139
Main Author: Yangarber-Hicks, Natalia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beliefs, opinions and attitudes
History
Jewish Christians
Psychological aspects
Religious aspects
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Summary:Despite much progress made in understanding multicultural and religious diversity, certain ethnic and religious groups continue to be neglected by the psychological community. Messianic Judaism remains a largely misunderstood and ignored expression of cultural and spiritual diversity. Numerous fears and misconceptions persist within both Christian and Jewish communities with regard to this movement. Even less is known about the psychological experiences of individuals committed to Messianic Judaism as they navigate the mazeway of their identity. This article attempts to shed some light on aspects of psychological identity of Messianic believers by first presenting the historical and theological background of the movement and its influence on the current experiences of its adherents. Research on ethnicity and its psychological consequences is then used to elucidate unique aspects of Messianic identity. Finally, practical recommendations for mental health professionals working with this population and a future research agenda are provided.
ISSN:0091-6471
2328-1162
DOI:10.1177/009164710503300206