God Forbid - Podcast

It’s International Women’s Day! Join Justine Toh and the panel as they celebrate women’s achievements, fight stereotypes and explore how religious commitment can help – rather than harm – the female cause.

People say there's nothing that can quite prepare you to be a parent. That's probably because through the highs and lows, you learn as much about the best (and worst) of yourself as you do about your child. Justine Toh and the God Forbid panel dwell on the spiritual lives of parents and children.

Australia is a secular society, but there's a religious claim that forms part of the foundation of its liberal democratic values: That all people, regardless of circumstance, have intrinsic value. Judaism and Christianity claim every person is "made in the image of God", but what does this mean in practise? Guest host Justine Toh and the God Forbid panel discuss work, gender, ageing, disability and the need for rest.

Disaster recovery chaplains have had their longest summer in years. The drought, bushfires and now floods have ravaged the country and left thousands in need of support. Guest host Justine Toh speaks with three disaster recovery chaplains who were deployed to spiritually support people in the midst of crisis.

Buddhism is one of the fastest-growing religions in the country, but it seems Australia is changing Buddhism just as much as Buddhism is changing Australia. James Carleton and the God Forbid panel explore enlightenment, suffering and Humanistic Buddhism.

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.

If something is true, you should be able to prove it. Sounds reasonable, but is it correct? James Carleton and the God Forbid panel investigate the nature of knowledge and the philosophy of science.

All of us will experience grief and the loss of a loved one at some point in our lives, but why is it so hard to come to terms with? The God Forbid panel looks at grief and mortality.

As confidence in our Westminster system of parliamentary democracy erodes, we seem to long for a leader — any leader — to save us. But no one person can be and do everything, and our politics was never designed to provide that kind of all-encompassing moral leadership. Will there ever be a saviour in the Lodge, or do we need to look elsewhere? James Carleton and the God Forbid panel examine how three different faiths view leadership.

Sometimes small religions achieve extraordinary things. James Carleton is joined by a Quaker and a Zen Buddhist to explore how minority faiths can still have a big impact on society, even in the midst of persecution.

The Bible arrived in the South Pacific in the hands of missionaries and colonisers in the 19th century. But the locals took it as their own — making today’s South Pacific among the most Christian regions on earth. It's also home to a significant number of Mormon and Baha’i communities.

In once way or another, we’ve been falling in love for all recorded history. A Buddhist monk, Christian minister and Muslim scholar join forces to talk about love — what is it, and what does it compel us to do?

One thing is certain — the world as we know it will one day end. But exactly when and how is a lot more ambiguous. Join James and our panel of doomsday experts as they prepare to face the end.

Religion was everywhere in 2019, and it looks like 2020 will be no different. James Carleton and the God Forbid panel take a look at Australia's Pentecostal prime minister, religious freedom legislation, and what's happening to the Catholic Church.

Is God in all music — both good and bad? On the first day of Advent, James Carleton and the panel look at the significance of religious music, from traditional hymns to contemporary hits.

Why are mosques mainly round in shape, and why do many church buildings have long aisles? Join James Carleton and the panel as they unpack the rich heritage of religious architecture.

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.

Scientists tell us we are in the middle of a climate crisis. There are many contributing factors, but could our theology be partly to blame? Guest host Justine Toh and the God Forbid panel explore the wild world of eco-spirituality.

How much say do young women of faith have in their religious communities and society at large? Justine Toh and our all-female panel open up about the opportunities, challenges and their personal stories.

Bronze-age fantasies to some; words of God for others. But for better or worse, sacred texts have an undeniable influence on all our lives. James Carleton is joined by a Coptic Christian, a Muslim and a Sikh to explore how each reads and lives out their scriptures.