Sarahbeth Caplin's Blog, page 13

When we are the reason they left

Not long after “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” author Joshua Harris announced he is no longer a Christian, Marty Sampson, a songwriter for the Christian band Hillsong, did the same thing. In my social media feeds, people have expressed fear that their favorite Christian artist, author, or speaker might be next. As if deconversion is a… Continue reading When we are the reason they left

Why you can’t divorce suffering from the gospel

Some time ago, I read a tweet by someone who claimed that Christianity should not exist among indigenous groups. In other words, if violent missionaries did not threaten minorities to convert on pain of death, then none of them would be Christian today. They would have no reason to be. Much to my surprise, this… Continue reading Why you can’t divorce suffering from the gospel

Joshua Harris and the intellectual value of being a convert

Joshua Harris, author of the infamous anti-dating book I Kissed Dating Goodbye, announced on Instagram this week that he is no longer a Christian, and now plenty of people are claiming he never was one to begin with. One of the loudest voices of dissent is Brent Detwiler, founder of Sovereign Grace Ministries, where Harris was employed: JOSHUA… Continue reading Joshua Harris and the intellectual value of being a convert

ICE raids and “real” Christians

Some people say that actions matter more than belief. My Jewish upbringing taught me the same thing. A loving God, I learned, would judge people by the way they treated others than whether they followed the correct religion. I’m torn about this. The thing is, theology matters — it matters a lot. Theology shapes what… Continue reading ICE raids and “real” Christians

Spinning Crap Into Fertilizer: cover reveal + foreword

I am thrilled to present to you the cover for my next book, Spinning Crap Into Fertilizer: How American Christianity has forgotten the necessity of suffering: When it comes to suffering, there are two kinds of people in this world… Those who say, “Crap happens,” and those who cry out, “Why is this crap happening… Continue reading Spinning Crap Into Fertilizer: cover reveal + foreword

Reflections on Confirmation Day

This is what I told my evangelical husband when he asked why it was important for me to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church: I wanted to be confirmed for the same reasons I wanted to get married rather than simply live together. I wanted my relationship to be “official”; I wanted to make communal… Continue reading Reflections on Confirmation Day

A Jew-ish perspective on the Eucharist

I should probably hand over my Protestant membership card (assuming I ever had one) for how much thought I’ve given to the Eucharist lately: just how essential is it to Christian worship? Is it the literal body and blood of Christ, or purely symbolic? Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre… Continue reading A Jew-ish perspective on the Eucharist

Why Rachel?

Note: I didn’t personally know Rachel Held Evans, and I am just one of many, many Christians and fledgling writers who benefitted from her work and the generosity of how she used her platform. Because I am currently writing a book about how American Christianity perceives suffering, I’m grappling with the question of “Why her?”… Continue reading Why Rachel?

I am both/and

Every time I hear about an act of anti-semitism, I can’t help feeling a conflict of loyalties. Do I mourn as a Christian, or as a Jew? Can I grieve as both? Is that possible? In college, some well-intentioned friends quoted Galatians 3:28 to me when I expressed uncertainty about where I belonged: “There is… Continue reading I am both/and

How essential is the resurrection?

I was tempted to make popcorn as I scrolled through intense Twitter debates over Easter weekend about whether it’s necessary to have a literal resurrection of Christ- and whether those who see it as metaphor “count” as Christians. I was under the impression that a literal resurrection was one of those “non-negotiables” when it comes… Continue reading How essential is the resurrection?