Sarahbeth Caplin's Blog, page 15

On having a “flexible faith”

I once had a high school English teacher who told the class we could argue in our term papers that Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is about a cheese sandwich, and get full credit…if we could make a credible case for it, using textual and historical evidence. As far as I’m aware, no one wrote a… Continue reading On having a “flexible faith”

Two theologies of suffering

Harold Kushner’s book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, is a beloved classic for people of all religious backgrounds. For those who haven’t read it — or read it a long time ago and need a refresher, since the book is nearly 40 years old — did you know Kushner asserts that God wants… Continue reading Two theologies of suffering

MAGA hats and the importance of symbols

Ever since the kerfuffle at the March for Life last week between a group of Catholic school boys in MAGA hats and a Native American veteran, I’ve been thinking a lot about symbols — how they get their meaning, and how the same object or slogan can mean different things to different people. I know… Continue reading MAGA hats and the importance of symbols

Why I marched

It’s one thing to protest for a cause — and another to do it in the nation’s capital. I’d done the former a few times, but when my mom told me she would pay for my plane ticket to Cleveland so we could drive down to DC together, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.… Continue reading Why I marched

For the Christian whose testimony is “different”

There are a lot of articles out there for Christians whose testimonies are too “bland.” For the person who grew up in a Christian home and answered an altar call at the age of four, who can’t remember a time in their lives when they weren’t Christian, they often wonder: how can I make an… Continue reading For the Christian whose testimony is “different”

A few lifestyle changes for 2019

Instead of specific New Year’s resolutions, I try to stick to general, non-specific goals for the year (ie: increase my freelance business vs. increase my salary by at least $10k). One such goal that’s been on my mind for a while is to make lifestyle changes so I produce less waste, and consume less as… Continue reading A few lifestyle changes for 2019

What does a “Christian influencer” do?

“Christian influencers” are everywhere on social media — I even follow a few of them, hoping to find posts that address the same spiritual struggles I deal with, or kindred spirits whose backgrounds are similar to mine. In a recent Instagram story critiquing the popular self-help book, Girl, Wash Your Face, one such “influencer” I… Continue reading What does a “Christian influencer” do?

Why the Episcopal Church? Part 2

See also: Why the Episcopal Church? Part 1 Episcopalians are just one denomination in the liturgical strands of Christianity that recite the Nicene Creed every week during their Sunday services. This creed, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is basically a summation of the central doctrines of the Christian faith. It was composed in the 4th… Continue reading Why the Episcopal Church? Part 2

A year in review (of books): 2018

It’s that time again. In no particular order, here are some of the best books I’ve read this year, broken down by category. Nonfiction Seeking Peace by Johann Christoph Arnold This book about seeking true peace and contentment that doesn’t rely on circumstances is written from a Christian perspective, but still incorporates thoughts from different… Continue reading A year in review (of books): 2018

A nuanced look at the Great Commission

My editor for Patheos sent me a link to this blog post by Cross Examined, asking me to respond to it. It’s about why Christians should ignore the Great Commission, because supposedly it wasn’t meant for them — it was meant for the original disciples. I read it over, and decided to turn it down… Continue reading A nuanced look at the Great Commission