My understanding is, that a Messianic Jew is a person who holds some of the sacred traditions of Judaism but believes Christ is risen savior.

Any Messianic Jews who could share with me?

(Or really, anybody with concrete knowledge about this subject sharing  thought is good also)

The main difference is their self-identification in Judaism.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/mess_jud.htm

Cool, there is a congregation within 10 miles of me. I think I'll go next week to check it out.

Maybe the Judaism part is more an expression of their heritage, rather than their faith, and that's why they still identify with Judaism. 

Well, maybe I can get a grasp of this and report back!

 What is the difference between a Messianic Jew and a Christian?  

Nothing.  It's just another Christian sect.  Some members may have been born Jews, some weren't.  But they're Christians now, regardless of their background.  There are some things in life that you can't have both ways, and this is certainly one of them.

Jeanne, that's sort of how I view it as well (as an oxymoron), but being that I am all for self-determination when it comes to religion, I'm not going to argue with them. ;)  That's why I said that the main difference is self-identification with Judaism.

Somebody told me by email that Messianic Jews beleive that Christians will go to hell. I'd like to know if that beleif is universal for all Messianic Jews (or..non Jews...:P)

I highly doubt it Shannon.  They're more likely to think we're going ot hell than you, I would think.

L, self-determination doesn't always work with religion.  A person can't very well call themselves a Christian if they have no belief in Christ as a god, can they?   And they sure can't call themselves Jews if they do believe Christ is a god.  It's kind of a deal-breaker, you know?!

Not that we waste much time on them, but from the few conversations I've had with other Jews about these people, there are a couple different views of them.  Either as a cult who've adopted a perversion of Judaism, or as Christians trying to recruit Jews to Christianity by making it seem as though you can be both.

Personally, I have nothing but contempt for them. 

So Jeanne, does a Jewish person (not messianic of course) get more...should I say...offended by the Messianic Jews than Christians in a way? (I'm curious!) I had a friend that went from Jewish to...Muslim...it went over like coffee in hell. Not good at all. She got married to a Muslim (her Grandma still lives in Israel) and it was like the betrayal of the century. Her family was fuming!

Well remember, as far as most Jews are concerned they are Christians.  But I would venture to say that it's offensive - or at least obnoxious - that they even exist (as a religion), which isn't how we'd look at other Christians.  Christians only offend when their actions are offensive, but these Jews for Jesus people offend by being.

Is your friend's family conservative?  It's funny, I would personally find it not at all offensive if any Jews I knew converted to Islam, but I am offended if someone converts to Christianity.  Not very PC, I know, but that's how I feel.  We have so much more in common with Muslims than with Christians, in terms of religion.  And of course, historically, Christianity has always tried to wipe out both of use, and until recentally, Jews and Muslims mostly got along.

But for conservative Jews - note that's a small c, as in politically conservative, not to be confused with Conservative Jews, who are actually quite liberal - they might look at a Muslim and see politics before religion, I think.  Much like all too many Americans.

Jeanne wrote: L, self-determination doesn't always work with religion. 

I dunno, works fine for me. :)

A person can't very well call themselves a Christian if they have no belief in Christ as a god, can they?  

If they want to, they can.

And they sure can't call themselves Jews if they do believe Christ is a god.  It's kind of a deal-breaker, you know?!

I would agree (logically, in principle, and as a religious truth), but my opinion and feeling is that it's not my place to tell anyone anything about what they think or feel about their own beliefs with regard to validity.  It's sort of a tenet of my religion, as well as my personal view.  If someone wants to call themselves a Jew or a Christian (or whatever), it's not my place to tell them they are wrong.

Jeanne, I think it's because of her Grandma living close to the violence in Isreal. So yes, it is probably political.

Ah well, that's a whole other story.  While I don't agree with the right-wing approach in Israel, I also recognize that as an American, I can never understand what it's like to have to constantly be afraid or on guard.  So I can see where they'd have trouble with the marriage.  How sad for your friend.