Lifetime asks viewers to step into 'The Red Tent'

It's a fairly safe bet to say "The Red Tent" won't be screened at Sunday schools.

The two-part miniseries, debuting Sunday on Lifetime, may be based on the story of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob who's mentioned in the book of Genesis, but it has little to do with ol' time religion.

Anita Diamant, whose bestselling novel inspired the project, has said her book is a radical departure from the biblical text. Her aim was to give a voice to women, who are largely peripheral figures in the Bible.

Lifetime follows her lead, embracing its strong-man-stronger-woman formula. It's a noble attempt — with a significant problem: No matter how much you try to beef up the roles of the Genesis gals, their stories have a hard time living up to the trials and tribulations of Jacob and his favorite son, Joseph.

"The Red Tent" refers to a female-friendly gathering place where club members gossip like desperate housewives. It's here that Dinah (Rebecca Ferguson) is doted on by Jacob's four wives and learns to become a midwife.

Life doesn't stay giddy for long. On a trip to help out a pregnant mother at the emperor's palace, Dinah falls head over sandals for a prince and marries him without getting permission from Dad.

Her brothers retaliate by wiping out most of the royal family, including her new husband. Dinah curses her kin and strikes out on her own in Egypt, where she gives birth to a son and starts off on a riches-to-rags-to-riches journey.

God? Only a few passing references.

Not that the Lord is getting completely ignored on TV.

"The American Bible Challenge," a sort of "Jeopardy!" for gospel geeks, is the highest-rated show in the history of the GSN network. "The Bible," a miniseries that was the top non-sports program on cable in 2013, was made by producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who hoped to draw a new generation to the Bible. It's safe to assume that the 12-hour sequel, "A.D.: Beyond the Bible," set to premiere on NBC in April, will have the same goal.

"The Women of the Bible," a two-hour film that immediately precedes Sunday's premiere of "The Red Tent," is also expected to stick closer to the established text. But pairing the Downey-narrated film with "The Red Tent" is a bit of a stretch, especially considering the latter's very adult sex scenes and more throat slitting than praying. This is not for young viewers.

Ultimately, "The Red Tent" is about female empowerment — with mixed results.

But none of the other actresses sticks out. Debra Winger makes a promising appearance as Dinah's icy grandmother, only to disappear after just a couple of scenes.

Minnie Driver gets top billing as Dinah's birth mother, but she doesn't have much to do except give out hugs; she is practically nonexistent in Monday's installment.

And then there's the problem of dear brother Joseph.

Director Roger Young keeps trying to spice up events with tidbits of the future vizier's own, more harrowing adventures, but instead of strengthening the tale it makes you want to give up on the movie and start dreaming about another Chanhassen Dinner Theatres production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

If you're looking for a soapy, fast-paced saga with a strong female lead, feel free to step into "The Red Tent." If you're looking for a sermon, get thee to a church.