Red Lip Theology

For Church Girls Who've Considered Tithing to the Beauty Supply Store When Sunday Morning Isn't Enough

By: Candice Marie Benbow, Melissa Harris-Perry

Narrated by: Candice Marie Benbow, Karen Chilton

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

A moving essay collection promoting freedom, self-love, and divine wholeness for Black women and opening new levels of understanding and ideological transformation for non-Black women and allies

“Candice Marie Benbow is a once-in-a-generation theologian, the kind who, having ground dogma into dust with the fine point of a stiletto, leads us into the wide-open spaces of faith.” (Brittney Cooper, author of Eloquent Rage and co-editor of The Crunk Feminist Collection)

Blurring the boundaries of righteous and irreverent, Red Lip Theology invites us to discover freedom in a progressive Christian faith that incorporates activism, feminism, and radical authenticity. Essayist and theologian Candice Marie Benbow’s essays explore universal themes like heartache, loss, forgiveness, and sexuality, and she unflinchingly empowers women who struggle with feeling loved and nurtured by church culture.

Benbow writes powerfully about experiences at the heart of her Black womanhood. In honoring her single mother’s love and triumphs — and mourning her unexpected passing — she finds herself forced to shed restrictions she’d been taught to place on her faith practice. And by embracing alternative spirituality and womanist theology, and confronting staid attitudes on body positivity and LGBTQ+ rights, Benbow challenges religious institutions, faith leaders, and communities to reimagine how faith can be a tool of liberation and transformation for women and girls.

©2022 Candice Marie Benbow (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"This lush, funny, deeply personal memoir is a beautiful gift to church girls everywhere and an instant classic on faith and getting free.”—Deesha Philyaw, author of the PEN/Faulkner Award-winning The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

“Red Lip Theology is more than a come-to-Jesus moment for the church; it’s also a potent and fearless cry of hope and life for a new generation of believers.”—Matthew Paul Turner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Is God Like? and When God Made You

“This book is a theological masterpiece, a love song, and a tender exploration of what it means to live and grow up and fail and get better and put the broken pieces of ourselves back together.”—Danté Stewart, author of Shoutin’ in the Fire

Alignment for sure!

Candice’s story and journey was striking from the very first page. I have left this book with a more confident feeling of freedom to be all that God has called me to be and not apologize for one bit of. I have completed this book with the feeling that I too am able to fly! It’s so inspirational and helpful on your faith walk journey.

Refreshing

When you know better, you do better and Candice’s journey of faith demonstrates the lifelong lessons she learned from her mother, herself, and God. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; especially having been a single mother of a millennial child. Bravo, Candice! Take a bow!

Amazing, really make you think!

I loved it. it's a great read for Millenial readers,especially those who have had faith questions that couldn't be answered in church spaces. I love the way Benbow weaves her life story thus far with that of her mother's, and uses that as a practical backdrop for the application of a layered theological lens. Ministry leadership interested in learning more about what the Millenial experience has been like, will find themselves wrestling with the truths about the experience of women and diverse persons in the church.

Excellent

Very informative and uplifting. Along with making you take a look at your own life.

A must read over a cup of tea and glass of wine

There's so much that I want to discuss from this book (and I'm waiting for my reading partner to finish to go in depth), but there's SO much to unpack, debate, reflect on, and co-construct meaning.

"There is power in saying no. Women don't say it enough and black women even less. Saying yes to everything become our reasonable service. American culture teaches men to say no almost without thinking. Without a care of who it may harm or hurt. Women consider entirely too many feelings to a point of self sacrifice and self sabotage. No is a holy word."

"It is painful to admit, but we have to be honest about times we weren't healthy friends. I owe mine a depth of gratitude and an apology. Readjusting is hard, but necessary." 🥰😍😘

A view from all religious.

I have been associated with a different religion from what was spoken about in this book. HOWEVER I felt and understood every word written. This was a great read and I’m happy to know I’m not alone.

Great book for individual read or a book group.

Loved it! Definitely a must read for Christian women or women period. Very relatable.

Best book of 2022!!

Wonderful!!! I love this, she really spoke honestly about the black church and it's sometimes problematic relationship with black women.

Well done.

I loved the mother-daughter love and relationship in this book. The storytelling and vulnerability are what make this book amazing. As a Black Millenial woman who has had a relationship with the church this was a much-needed perspective to hear.

A beautiful story

Whew! I can’t even begin to say how much of my own story Candice captured by sharing her own. Beautifully written and articulated; Red lip theology is a book that I will come back to as a reminder of my own journey and how much grace I should give myself.