Shabbetaianism

Shabbetaianism, in Judaism, a 17th-century messianic movement that, in its extreme form, espoused the sacredness of sin. The leader of the movement was Shabbetai Tzevi, a self-proclaimed messiah and charismatic mystic. Coerced by the sultan of Constantinople to accept Islam, Shabbetai Tzevi shocked and disillusioned many of his followers by proclaiming himself a Muslim. Other followers, interpreting Shabbetai Tzevi’s apostasy as a step toward ultimate fulfillment of his messiahship, also proclaimed themselves Muslims. They argued...