Jews converting to Christianity

[commenter]

I would appreciate it if there has been any research or informed observation on this topic. Which Jews have more frequently converted to Christianity, more traditional types such a Orthodox or Conservative? or more liberal types, such as Reform, or perhaps non-religious Jews? Of those who convert to Christianity, is there a difference between those who convert to Catholicism, vs. converting to Protestantism, in terms of their prior Jewish religious experience?

 

[CaptFun]

I would appreciate it if there has been any research or informed observation on this topic. Which Jews have more frequently converted to Christianity, more traditional types such a Orthodox or Conservative? or more liberal types, such as Reform, or perhaps non-religious Jews? Of those who convert to Christianity, is there a difference between those who convert to Catholicism, vs. converting to Protestantism, in terms of their prior Jewish religious experience?

The first thing on this that came to my mind is Rosalind Moss. Her conversion story:

youtube.com/watch?v=NAYcr1raq5Y

chnetwork.org/2011/05/sr-rosalind-moss-a-journey-home/

… AND an excerpt from the second link … that applies to seekers everywhere, Jewish or otherwise:

I was raised in a Jewish home, one that celebrated many of the Jewish traditions, at least in our younger years. I remember having a special sense that the one God was our God and that we were His people. Yet as we grew and went out on our own, much was left behind. Eventually my brother, David, became an atheist, and I, perhaps, an agnostic.

In the summer of 1975 (we were now in our thirties), I visited David. For years, David had been searching for truth, for the meaning of life, and to know if there really was a God. Many times I had thought to myself:

What makes you think there is such a thing as truth?! … that there is one thing that is truth? And what makes you think you could find it? Wouldn’t it be like looking for a needle in a haystack? And how would you recognize it?

Compelling beginning is it not?

Spoiler Alert: Don’t look at this picture!

http://test.wp.chnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/SisterRosalindMoss.jpg

 

[Bezant]

I would appreciate it if there has been any research or informed observation on this topic. Which Jews have more frequently converted to Christianity, more traditional types such a Orthodox or Conservative? or more liberal types, such as Reform, or perhaps non-religious Jews?

Social network has an important influence over religious lifestyle. For example, if you share a strong relationship with the people at your parish, you are less likely to lapse or convert out of Catholicism than someone who has a weaker relationship there.

I am not aware of any formal study on Jewish conversions to Christianity. However, considering that community involvement and endogamy (marrying in) tends to be higher in the more traditional streams of Judaism, I expect the rate of converting out would be relatively low.

 

[Monergistic]

What follows is biased speculation. The first two things I think of are reasons why either kind of Jew would be reluctant for Catholicism.

Orthodox Jews are likely to be old-school, and I’d speculate that they may be more likely to have a deep-seated emotional connection to Rome that is something other than good. Even though it wasn’t a Christian empire at the time, it was Rome that destroyed the Temple in 70 ce/ad. There was some other stuff before and since, and to me it seems like orthodox Jews are more likely to hold those grudges and feel uncomfortable with transitioning Rome from “least favorite oppressor” to “home.” Of course, this is an assumption and not a fact. I’m putting it out there to see if I’m ignorant about this.

And then reformed Judaism seems like a close match to Protestantism, specifically the independent type. If they have reasons to prefer that to orthodox Judaism, it seems like they’d prefer Protestantism for those same reasons. They’re already comfortable without a strong central interpretive authority, so unless a convert to Christianity is simultaneously having a change of heart on that as well- Protestantism seems more likely.

This is purely biased speculation, and I will keep an eye on this here to see what the facts might be. I also tend to think orthodox Jews are less likely to convert to a completely different religion while being more likely to lose folks to reformed Judaism, but this is also a guess.

 

[commenter]

If it is true that more Jews convert to Evangelicalism than to Catholicism, that may be a factor of evangelicals having programs specifically to facilitate conversion of Jews. In my area, they are doing this, but Catholics locally aren’t trying to evangelize Jews. I am not sure how much conversion would be a factor of where people are coming from, as compared to how much they are intentionally sought out by churches.
I had guessed that more Orthodox Jews who had any interest in converting, might seek out the Catholic Church because its ritual might be somewhat comparable their ritual and tradition. I had guessed Reform Jews would find evangelical churches closer to what they were already used to. But I don’t know.

 

[Lisa1967]

I suggest a book by Lauren F. Winner, an orthodox Jew who converted to Christianity. Her book is Girl Meets God. She is now an Episcopal priest.

 

[aspirant]

I would appreciate it if there has been any research or informed observation on this topic. Which Jews have more frequently converted to Christianity, more traditional types such a Orthodox or Conservative? or more liberal types, such as Reform, or perhaps non-religious Jews? Of those who convert to Christianity, is there a difference between those who convert to Catholicism, vs. converting to Protestantism, in terms of their prior Jewish religious experience?

I doubt anyone’s done any actual studies on these questions.

If you’re interested in learning more about converts to Catholicism, I’d recommend looking into the Association of Hebrew Catholics.