God Forbid - Podcast

Love it or hate it – reality TV is now ubiquitous. We tend to think of the genre as a waste of time, but could there be something more to it? James Carleton and the God Forbid panel explore the ethical considerations that go into making and consuming some of the world’s most popular entertainment.

Commemorating Anzac Day ties us to every Anzac Day that has come before. This year, James Carleton and the God Forbid panel discuss military ethics and chaplaincy as Australia’s longest war – in Afghanistan – comes to an end.

What's it like to question your foundational beliefs about life, death, God and the universe? Does doubt pave the way to a more robust faith — or a way to unshackle ourselves from religion altogether? Join Justine Toh and our panel as they wrestle with unbelief — the big and the personal questions.

"Why aren't you married yet?" Being single is a stigma in faith-based communities which extol marriage and family. Guest host Justine Toh and the God Forbid panel explore why being single doesn't mean going it alone.

At Easter, Christians say Jesus died for the sins of the world, only to be resurrected three days later. On God Forbid, James Carleton and the panelists explore concepts of sacrifice throughout Christian history.  

In many ways, young people who attend places of worship today are vastly different to those who attended decades ago. A new generation isn’t just attending in person, but also via online platforms like messaging, podcasts and even game streaming services. On God Forbid, James Carleton and the panel explore how Gen Z is engaging with religion, and how faith groups are responding.

The great writer and Nobel Prize winner André Gide said, “Art is a collaboration between God and the artist and the less the artist does, the better." On God Forbid, James Carleton explores the relationship between art, humanity and the sacred with creatives Lindy Lee and Rod Pattenden.

It’s only March, yet we’ve already seen national and international institutions being shaken. From sexual assault allegations in Parliament, to the Royals in – and out – of Buckingham Palace, James and the panel take a look at what’s been making headlines so far in 2021.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is all about choosing to challenge gender bias. So what, exactly, needs to change? And what role can faith offer in the fight? Join Meredith Lake and our panel of remarkable women who are excelling in their respective fields.

All of us have an identity – an idea of who we are and our place in the world. But is identity fixed, or constantly in flux? On God Forbid, we explore some big questions and hear the personal experiences of our panellists this Mardi Gras.

During strange and difficult times, trust and faith can be quickly gained – and lost. Join James Carleton and the panel as they talk about leaving and losing their faith.

For all time we’ve honoured the dead. And in the course of Christian history, the veneration of saints is a big deal: Their feasts are still widely observed, like St Valentine’s Day. On God Forbid, James Carleton and the panel take a look at sainthood — from Catholic and Coptic traditions to secular saints. 

For more than a billion people around the world, Chinese New Year – or Lunar New Year – is their single most important annual celebration. In 2021, festivities begin on 12 February. On God Forbid, James and the panel take a moment to celebrate and delve into Chinese history in Australia since the gold rush.

We live in an era where mistrust is common – in governments, in religious and non-religious institutions and between different groups or ‘tribes.’ But how important is trust in a society – is it fundamental, or an optional extra we could do without? James Carleton and the panel find out. 

The problem of consciousness – and how we understand it – has been reflected upon since preliterate times. So what is consciousness, and who has consciousness? On God Forbid, James Carleton and our panel find out.

Whether we share it or not, we all have our own story: where we grew up, what we have experienced, who has shaped us - and how we piece it altogether. But why would someone pen that story, publish it and share it with the world? Is that an act of creativity, or vanity? On God Forbid, James and our panel of memoirists take a look at the power and purpose of memoirs.

COVID-19 changed the way we live at home. But how did it change for those who don't have a home? And is our definition of “homeless” an accurate reflection of what’s really going on? This week, James and the panel explore the issue of homelessness in Australia.

A good friend will stick with you through the ups and downs of life. But why is friendship given so little attention compared to our other loves: romance, marriage and family? On God Forbid, James and the panel explore why.

Over the Summer break, James Carleton and the God Forbid panel take a look at how games and stories can enrich the spiritual lives of people, no matter their age.

For all history people claim to have mystical experiences — a sense of timeless oneness with the universe or with God. It's not proof of the existence of the divine, but there is something going on here. James Carleton and the God Forbid panel examine Rumi, seizures and the Cloud of Unknowing.