Messianic Jews in Belo Horizonte

alliances and tensions between believers in Yeshua/Jesus

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the construction of Messianic Jewish religious identities in Belo Horizonte,Brazil, towards local Protestantism. Messianic Judaism, a controversial religious movement which gained strength in the US in the 20th century and has been spreading globally, recognizes Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah. The Belo Horizonte case is particularly interesting because it houses a messianic community which names itself as the largest in Latin America, while it is home to protestant churches with national projection and a traditional and deep Catholic cultural heritage. How do Messianic Jews, that is, Jews who believe in Jesus, define their identity in such an intensified and traditionally Christian context? How do they delimit their differences? What alliances and tensions do they establish with other actors in the local religious field? This article shall focus on the relationship established with the “Ministry Diante do Trono”. Through content analysis of websites, videos and profiles on social networks, knowledge will be produced about the construction of a minority religious identity with increasing visibility.