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jennymb's review
5.0
This one really made me think. It was also SUCH a fast read for me, which is v. unusual for me when it comes to non-fiction books.
libras's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Prefacing this by saying I'm not religious, nor was I raised religious. I wanted to read this bc it was recommended, plus I wanted to read more about ways of life I'm very unfamiliar with - religion, blackness and academia. I love the authors voice, and how she explains herself and tells her story.
I won't agree with everything she says about religion and God, simply because it's not a world I know nor care to know - but she has such compassion, empathy and maturity. It makes me wish religious people I knew and currently know had the same kindness.
I'll def recommend to others, even those unfamiliar with religious or black feminist writings. I think, especially for women, this is a wonderfully insightful book.
Note to queer folks, this is definitely more on the hetero side as that's her story, but she still touches upon what she was taught about queer people and the ones she knew and let down because of what her religion told her. I was curious how she was going to address it, and maybe smiled a lot when she brought up asexual people (hey, hi, me). What she said is so true of experiences both black and white people have told me about how the church teaches and admonishes queerness. A bit off topic for me to bring up, but I found her realization of her hurtfulness and desire to change oddly hopeful. Again, I wish others had such kindness and growth.
I won't agree with everything she says about religion and God, simply because it's not a world I know nor care to know - but she has such compassion, empathy and maturity. It makes me wish religious people I knew and currently know had the same kindness.
I'll def recommend to others, even those unfamiliar with religious or black feminist writings. I think, especially for women, this is a wonderfully insightful book.
Note to queer folks, this is definitely more on the hetero side as that's her story, but she still touches upon what she was taught about queer people and the ones she knew and let down because of what her religion told her. I was curious how she was going to address it, and maybe smiled a lot when she brought up asexual people (hey, hi, me). What she said is so true of experiences both black and white people have told me about how the church teaches and admonishes queerness. A bit off topic for me to bring up, but I found her realization of her hurtfulness and desire to change oddly hopeful. Again, I wish others had such kindness and growth.
bookofcinz's review
3.0
Red Lip Theology is the lens through which I understand myself as a millennial Black Woman of faith. It creates a space for both my upbringing in the Black Baptist Church of the South…. It introduced me to a God much more kind, gracious, and loving than the one I’d been given in my youth and young adulthood
I have been following Candice Benbow on twitter for a long while and when I see that she was writing a book I knew I had to read it. As a Black Women who grew up in the Baptist church who is a millennial and went to theology school I was salivating! I knew there were things she would say that I would want to read.
I’ll be honest, this was more of a memoir than I expected. I thought it was be more about theology, Black Women, Feminism, how she viewed God, and how she grappled with her faith. I wanted more of a theology and deep dive into her faith, the Bible and what it means to be a Black Millennial Woman of faith. Some of the essays I read, I took like a step back and thought, “this sounds like blasphemy” but maybe I need to sit with that and explore why I think it such and what work I need to do and how much of the Bible I need to explore.
Don’t get me wrong, the essays were well written and highly engaging, but I felt she would make statement and not explore them. It was more, “I believe this…” but didn’t show us how she came to this reasoning- giving us a biblical look into why.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the essays, I still do not know exactly what Red Theology means or should be, maybe I just really wanted more theology.
So much of Western Christianity is rooted in the subjugation of women, and I had been reared in a faith tradition which largely existed to give Black men the status power white people refused them in larger society.
I have been following Candice Benbow on twitter for a long while and when I see that she was writing a book I knew I had to read it. As a Black Women who grew up in the Baptist church who is a millennial and went to theology school I was salivating! I knew there were things she would say that I would want to read.
I’ll be honest, this was more of a memoir than I expected. I thought it was be more about theology, Black Women, Feminism, how she viewed God, and how she grappled with her faith. I wanted more of a theology and deep dive into her faith, the Bible and what it means to be a Black Millennial Woman of faith. Some of the essays I read, I took like a step back and thought, “this sounds like blasphemy” but maybe I need to sit with that and explore why I think it such and what work I need to do and how much of the Bible I need to explore.
Don’t get me wrong, the essays were well written and highly engaging, but I felt she would make statement and not explore them. It was more, “I believe this…” but didn’t show us how she came to this reasoning- giving us a biblical look into why.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the essays, I still do not know exactly what Red Theology means or should be, maybe I just really wanted more theology.
So much of Western Christianity is rooted in the subjugation of women, and I had been reared in a faith tradition which largely existed to give Black men the status power white people refused them in larger society.
runningonwords415's review
5.0
Absolutely adored this spiritual journey of feminism and the church. An excellent audiobook that hit home as a lover of makeup, reality tv, and human rights. Recommend this to anyone struggling with organized religion or questioning the future of their church.
kal73's review
5.0
I'm incredibly thankful to learn from vulnerable, brave Black women like Candice Benbow in my journey to be a better ally to the Black folks in my life. This book allowed me to better see the nuances, challenges, and victories that Black women experience in the Church. I anticipate that this is a book I will be revisiting often in my ministry.
chanelmeadows's review
4.0
I truly enjoyed this book.
She gave voice to a lot of thoughts and feelings that I have but never knew were popular and she gave references to other books that I will definitely look into reading.
A great read for modern day Christians
She gave voice to a lot of thoughts and feelings that I have but never knew were popular and she gave references to other books that I will definitely look into reading.
A great read for modern day Christians