Sarahbeth Caplin's Blog, page 19

My top reads of the summer

I normally save my book recommendations for the end of the year, but I’ve read so many good ones this summer, I decided to do an intermittent list. My book preferences are a mix of fiction (typically YA or suspense, … Continue reading →

The biggest theological differences between Judaism and Christianity

Much of my work consists of pointing out the ways that Jews and Christians can learn from each other, based on their shared history in Scripture. Today, however, I want to point out some of the ways that the two … Continue reading →

Navigating the stress of evangelism

I thought keeping kosher was a heavy obligation in Judaism. Years later, I decided that the pressure to evangelize non-Christians was worse. It’s easier for me to explain evangelism done badly than well. My memoir opens with the story of … Continue reading →

Why progressives and conservatives don’t like me

It’s hard for a person with one foot in two spiritual worlds to find a place to call home; it’s harder still when your theology is such that it annoys both progressive and conservative Christians alike. I say this not … Continue reading →

One denomination’s truth is another’s heresy

If you’re familiar with my backstory, you’ve probably heard me say more than once that the Jewish way of studying the Bible is what ended up saving my faith – that is to say, asking hard questions of the text, … Continue reading →

The battle for self-acceptance: hair and faith edition

I’ve written before about how my curly hair is an outward marker of my Jewish identity (ethnically speaking). I want to revisit that subject today, because it took me over 25 years to find the right haircut. 25+ years of … Continue reading →

Reconciling hell

One week before my father died of cancer, I received an email from a family friend— we’ll call her G—wanting to know if he had been “saved” yet; the implication being there wasn’t much time left before it would be … Continue reading →

What Judaism and Christianity teach me about perseverance

While Judaism made me aware that everyone suffers, and Christianity taught me how to persevere through suffering, most of the time I really don’t suffer—I’m just uncomfortable. And the things that cause this discomfort are really kind of silly. When … Continue reading →

There can be freedom in following “the law”

My first book, Confessions of a Prodigal Daughter, describes much of my frustration with feeling like a “bad” Jew because I didn’t keep kosher, or the Sabbath, or fast on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. It wasn’t just … Continue reading →

Learning the language of Christian culture

When I was in seminary (a rather impulsive decision after college, thinking God was calling me to faith-based counseling), I joined an on-campus Bible study. I remember sitting on the floor of my friend Isabel’s living room, munching on frosted … Continue reading →