In her latest book, Judaizing Christianity and Christian Zionism in Northern Ireland. For God, Israel, and Ulster (Routledge, 2025) Mitchell Institute Fellow: Religion, Arts and Peacebuilding, Dr Véronique Altglas explores the contemporary judaization of evangelical Christianity through the ethnography of a messianic congregation in Northern Ireland.

A constellation of messianic ‘congregations’ have expanded worldwide over recent years, combining Jewish liturgy, symbols and artefacts, with prophecies about the End Time and the return of Jesus. Increasingly recognised as a legitimate subdivision within evangelicalism, the messianic movement has facilitated a popularisation of Jewish practices and symbolism beyond its own congregations.

What insights do these congregations offer about the deregulation of religions?

Is there any logic to the combinations of Christian and Jewish sources in messianic beliefs and practices?

How can we understand this fascination with Jews and Judaism?

Finally, what is the political significance of messianics’ relationship with Jewish people, the state of Israel, and Christian Zionism?

The book will be of particular interest to scholars of the sociology and anthropology of religion, religion and politics, and Jewish-Christian relations.

Read more here.

 

Dr Véronique Altglas

Dr Altglas is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work.  Véronique’s research areas are transformations of religion in modern societies, and cross-national comparisons of responses to religious diversity.  Her latest empirical research focuses on a messianic congregation in Northern Ireland and is inscribed in broader reflections regarding the making of identities, religion and social class.  Véronique is also particularly interested in epistemological issues within the sociology of religion.