Introduction To Messianic Judaism

Although Messianic Judaism is a new religion movement which arose in America in 60s and 70s of the last century,it's theological beliefs and religious observance are rooted in Judaism-Christian Tradition.Messianic Judaism is a kind of innovative expression which wants to reconcile Judaism and Christianity,and a breakthrough attempt to reconstruct the relationship of these two religions.Hence,study of Messianic Judaism has important theoretical and realistic significance.On the basis of reviews and reflections on the statement of faith and related studies,this thesis try to make a general introduction of Messianic Judaism.In chapter one,by analyzing the statement of faith of the two main Messianic Jewish Unions(UMJC&MJAA),we try to explore the unique theological beliefs and religious observance of Messianic Judaism.Meanwhile,we will review the three main stages of the development of Messianic Judaism from the Age of Jesus and apostles,in order to explore the combining process of Jewish traditions and Christian theology in Messianic Judaism.In chapter two,we will focus on the relationship between Messianic Judaism and Judaism.Through inquire into the attitude of Judaism to Messianic Judaism,the definitions of Jewish identity,and whether Messianic Judaism is a kind of legitimate expression of Judaism,we tend to conclude that,Messianic Judaism is an active and radical respond to the Modern Jewish Religious Movements,by these Jews who are lost in their identity anxiety and religious empty in the post-Holocaust times.Then our vision will turn to the relationship between Christianity and Messianic Judaism in chapter three.Even though the central beliefs of Messianic Judaism are based on Christian theology,there are many divergences between them.Christianity suspects and worry about Messianic Judaism in many respects.We will make a brief review about anti-semitism and Supersessionism,and the respond to Christianity from Messianic Judaism,then we will find that the Messianic Judaism Movement provide a good opportunity for Christianity to reassess the nature of the Church and the relationship between Judaism and Christianity,and I tend to think that Messianic Judaism will make great efforts as a bridge between Judaism and Christianity in the future.Messianic Judaism has already attracted great attention and got intensive research in the western academia,but most of Chinese are unfamiliar with it.Through the introduction of the theological beliefs,historical developments and social consequences of Messianic Judaism,this thesis wants to start a pioneering work to bring Messianic Judaism into Chinese scholars' view,and to provide a new perspective to the study of relationship between Judaism and Christianity.