God Forbid
243 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsReligion: it’s at the centre of world affairs, but profound questions still remain. Why are you here? What happens when you die? Does God matter? God Forbid seeks the answers.
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Episodes
Indigenous Christianity isn't black and white
January 12, 2019 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBJesus said for his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, but it feels like something went wrong. James Carleton speaks to Aboriginal Christians Brooke Prentis and Kathleen Butler to find out if it’s possible to untangle the conversion from the coercion, and to see how – far from being wiped out – Dreamtime spirituality is actually changing Christianity in Australia.
The hottest (and holiest) issues of 2018
December 08, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBWe live in a world of hot takes that are here today and gone tomorrow, but some issues have been baking all year. It’s time to round out 2018 with a final ‘holy hot potatoes’. Our God Forbid panel juggles the burning issues in news and religion.
Hanukkah and Advent kindle light in the darkness
December 01, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBFor the first time in 27 years, this Sunday marks the first day of both Hanukkah and Advent. For Jews, Hanukkah is a celebration of Jewish identity and practise. For Christians, Advent is a time of hope and anticipation – not just for Christmas day, but for the second coming of Jesus.
African-Australians keep the faith
November 24, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBSince its introduction to Ethiopia in the first century, Christianity has grown across Africa over 2,000 years creating immense and resilient communities of faith. The God Forbid panel examines African Christianity, and how African Australians are helping to grow their own congregations down under in an increasingly secular landscape.
Spell books, spaceships and superheroes
November 17, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBYou don’t have to include faith or belief when writing fiction, so why do we see religious themes crop up again and again in our most popular pop culture? The God Forbid panel goes to infinity and beyond to find the links between fantasy, the future and faith.
Sacred soldiers: Remembering World War I
November 10, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe first Remembrance Day services were explicitly Christian, but as Australia has become more religiously diverse the Anzac legend has taken on the qualities of a secular, civic religion. The God Forbid panel looks at the rituals and monuments associated with remembering Australia’s war dead.
Saudi Arabia: An uneasy alliance
November 03, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBA 300-year-old deal between Sunni clerics and Saudi royals continues to shape Saudi Arabia, but the new crown prince is keen for reform while strengthening his iron grip on power. Meanwhile, seemingly irreconcilable differences haven’t shaken the special relationship between the Saudis and Americans – so long as they remain useful to each other.
Saints, souls and spooks
October 27, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBHalloween is a day Australians either love, or love to hate. But it’s not all spooky scary skeletons, it’s also Allhallowtide – a set of holy days when Catholics venerate saints in heaven and pray for the souls of the dead. The God Forbid panel examines Pagan-Christian cross-pollination, from Samhain to All Saints.
The end is nigh!
October 20, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhether it’s a zombie apocalypse, environmental devastation or God coming to judge all humanity, we love to imagine the end of the world. Many faiths and cultures predict the end of days – but why? The God Forbid panel explores apocalyptic beliefs: from the Abrahamic religions of the Middle East to the cargo cults of Melanesia.
Heaven on Earth: Religion in the Pacific
October 13, 2018 19:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBThe 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.
Peeking through the Berlin wall
October 06, 2018 19:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBGermany celebrates 28 years of reunification this week as Lutherans around Australia meet for their Triennial Synod. Guest host Joe Gelonesi explores how churches helped reunite Germany by making space for free political discourse in the officially atheist East. But now, post-reunification, Germans in the East are abandoning churches nearly altogether.
Man, oh man!
September 29, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBAccording to some religions, traditional roles for men and women have come from God. But today, those roles aren’t as clear as they used to be and it’s having an effect. What does modern masculinity look like? James Carleton is joined by two panellists with firm ideas about what it means to be a good man.
Confession and abuse
September 22, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBIf you have a secret, there's a sense that others can't really know who you are unless you confess. Confession has become a burning hot topic in the wake of the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, so James Carleton is joined by a theologian and a forensic psychologist to talk about survivors, perpetrators and the church.
Is DNA divine?
September 15, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBThe idea that biology has no purpose has been mainstream scientific thinking for a hundred years. But why does scientist Denis Alexander think otherwise? He joins James on the panel along with our other Cambridge scholar Dr Natasha Moore.
Happy New Year!
September 08, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBSeptember 11 is an ominous date, but this year it’s also a day of festivity. It’s the start of a new year for Coptic Orthodox Christians, Jews and Muslims. James Carleton is joined by a Sheikh, a Rabbi and a Priest on the panel.
Beyond 'new atheism'
September 01, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBAbout a third of Australians don’t follow a religion, but that doesn’t mean they’re all disciples of Richard Dawkins. Even though they disavow organised religion, some atheists are irrational and even superstitious. James Carleton and the God Forbid panel talk about the myriad ways to be atheist.
Beyond 'new atheism'
September 01, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBAbout a third of Australians don’t follow a religion, but that doesn’t mean they’re all disciples of Richard Dawkins. Even though they disavow organised religion, some atheists are irrational and even superstitious. James Carleton and the God Forbid panel talk about the myriad ways to be atheist.
The political merry-go-round
August 25, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBAs the political merry-go-round spins faster and faster, the Australian public clings on for dear life. James Carleton and the God Forbid panel look at the state of Australian politics and ask: is truth and conviction in politics over?
The business of charity
August 18, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBCharity is a virtue that’s almost universally applauded, but institutionalised not-for-profits aren’t nearly as uncontroversial. Is it really a virtue if you can write it off as a tax deduction? Should churches pay income tax? Do the wealthy have too much control over which projects receive funding? James Carleton explores the world of charities, foundations and not-for-profits, both religious and secular.
The spiritual side of travel
August 11, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBTravel: It’s a break, a getaway, a rite of passage. Religious pilgrimage is one thing, but even journeys for leisure can result in the traveller “finding oneself”. People who would never step foot inside a church or a temple at home do it all the time when they’re on holiday. Why? James Carleton returns to find out how your holiday might literally be good for your soul.
The spiritual side of travel
August 11, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBTravel: It’s a break, a getaway, a rite of passage. Religious pilgrimage is one thing, but even journeys for leisure can result in the traveller “finding oneself”. People who would never step foot inside a church or a temple at home do it all the time when they’re on holiday. Why? James Carleton returns to find out how your holiday might literally be good for your soul.
Do we need to rethink disability?
August 04, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBJesus healed the blind and the lame, so how do people with disabilities fit in at churches today? Far from being open to all, some church buildings have literal barriers to entry. Meanwhile, disabled Christians are suggesting the possibility of a disabled God.
Working it out
July 28, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBWork can often become a dry repetitive task. You clock in, clock out, then do it all over again. Yet it’s also a large part of our lives, our identity and even language – When we introduce ourselves, it’s easy to say “I’m a ballerina” or “I’m a priest.” So how should we think about work? Join Kumi Taguchi as she unpacks the theology of work, Sabbath, and how to make sense of losing our jobs.
Artificial intelligence: Activating humanity's god mode
July 21, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBThe heyday of World of Warcraft saw online players interacting together and forming guilds. Today, artificial intelligence is sophisticated enough that computers are beginning to fill that role instead. Join Kumi Taguchi as she explores AI, gaming and the religious experience.
Are animals friends or food?
July 14, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBWe may all love puppies and kittens and want them treated well, but what rights – if any – should a fish have, or a cockroach? Kumi Taguchi joins two vegans – a Buddhist veterinarian and an animal-loving Christian to find out how to love animals best in a meat-obsessed world.
NAIDOC Week: The women who inspire us
July 07, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBWomen in Christian leadership is a controversial topic in many churches, but for Indigenous Christians, women have been vital to the wellbeing of their communities. James Carleton speaks with three generations of female Aboriginal leaders from across the country. Although they come from different Aboriginal nations and Christian traditions, they all draw inspiration from women who have made their work possible.
The Japanese paradox
June 30, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBRitual is big in Japan, but faith isn’t. It’s the only country where you can be born Shinto, marry Christian and die Buddhist, but up to 80 per cent of Japanese people say they’re not religious. What gives? James Carleton and guest host Kumi Taguchi from Compass explore the rich spirituality of one of the most avowedly secular countries in the world.
Does religion make you happier?
June 23, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBSome people say religion makes their lives better, but does that mean they’re happier? If you could be happy some other way, would you bother with the religion? Whether you believe happiness is part of the journey or that it's the destination, James Carleton traverses the highs and lows of human emotion.
Holy hot potatoes: Freedom edition
June 16, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBAustralians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free! But how free are we really? James Carleton sits down with an Opus Dei bishop and a Uniting Church theologian to find out what happens when anti-discrimination, freedom of speech and freedom of religion clash.
Does good spiritual health equal good mental health?
June 09, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBIf you believe God is in control of all things, experiencing anxiety and depression can be a shock to the system. This week, James Carleton speaks to an Anglican minister and a Muslim slam poet – both of whom navigated these choppy waters firsthand.
Ramadan: Gotta go fast
June 02, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBIt’s Ramadan — a holy month in the Islamic calendar for fasting and prayer. But it’s also about family and community, and many of the traditions around Ramadan get to the heart of what it means to be a Muslim. Guest host Noel Debien is joined by a sheikh and a turban-donning diva to explore the month of mercy.
Who was the Buddha anyway?
May 26, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBBuddhists around the world celebrate the birth, death and enlightenment of the Buddha all on the same holy day – Vesak. Aspects of Buddhism are popular in the West, with mindfulness and meditation courses being taken by all kinds of people, from suburbanites to CEOs. But is that the full picture? Guest host Joe Gelonesi traverses the Noble Eightfold Path.
Israel: Orthodox and Reform
May 19, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBAs Israel marks its 70th birthday, Palestine mourns Nakba – the catastrophe. This week Jews celebrate the gift of the Torah during Shavuot. Israel was founded as a Jewish state, but does every expression of Judaism feel equally at home? In a difficult week, James Carleton grasps the nettle and talks about Israel and the conflict between and within religions.
Darling, you look divine
May 12, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBThe Met Gala is the high holy day of everything fashionable and fabulous, and this year’s theme brought together Vogue and the Vatican. Inspired by the heavenly looks on display, James Carleton and guest-host Siobhan Hegarty explore how fashion and faith go together in other ways too: from hijabs to halos, mitres to makeup, kippahs to cassocks.
Is there another schism forming in the Catholic Church?
May 05, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBIs the Pope a Catholic? Some believers aren’t quite sure. Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has become one of the most controversial pontiffs in hundreds of years. Will the church veer into theological liberalism, or stick with tradition? Or will Francis forge his own path?
Holy hot potatoes: 2 holy 2 hot
April 28, 2018 20:05 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBAlright everyone, preheat your ovens, pray a blessing on your spuds and break out the sour cream – it’s time for some more holy hot potatoes. This week James Carleton feasts on the spicy issues found in the news, and his dinner guests aren’t afraid of a bit of controversy. Larissa Minniecon is an Aboriginal Christian activist and Rev Chris Bedding is a pirate priest who recently avoided charges of blasphemy.
A Christian and an atheist walk into a bar...
April 21, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBIt’s no joke: For people of every faith – or none – whether you take alcohol or drugs is a big deal. But the rules vary wildly, even within a tradition. Some Christians include alcohol as a core part of their most sacred ritual, but other Christians forbid its use altogether. How come? James Carleton dives into what helps people choose to use, and how to stop.
A Christian and an atheist walk into a bar...
April 21, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBIt’s no joke: For people of every faith – or none – whether you take alcohol or drugs is a big deal. But the rules vary wildly, even within a tradition. Some Christians include alcohol as a core part of their most sacred ritual, but other Christians forbid its use altogether. How come? James Carleton dives into what helps people choose to use, and how to stop.
Vaisakhi: Connecting Sikhs and Hindus since 1699
April 14, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBIt’s Vaisakhi – the most holy say in the Sikh calendar. And while we’re at it, happy Hindu new year! In Australia, even though Sikhism and Hinduism make up only a small part of the religious patchwork, they’re the fastest-growing faiths we’ve got.
When is sport more than just a game?
April 07, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBAustralians are becoming increasingly irreligious, but our devotion to sport is unwavering. As Australia tests its mettle at the Commonwealth Games, the national cricket team’s ball tampering has them caught out. It’s just a game, so why did it feel like a betrayal? There’s more at play when it comes to sport.
When is sport more than just a game?
April 07, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBAustralians are becoming increasingly irreligious, but our devotion to sport is unwavering. As Australia tests its mettle at the Commonwealth Games, the national cricket team’s ball tampering has them caught out. It’s just a game, so why did it feel like a betrayal? There’s more at play when it comes to sport.
The gift of a second chance
March 31, 2018 20:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBOops! You’ve done wrong, and now you cannot pass Go, and you do not collect $200. We generally agree that to err is human, and to forgive is divine – but is forgiveness always possible? On the intersection of Passover and Easter, James Carleton explores what Jews and Christians think about the gift of a second chance.
Indigenous Christianity: It's not black and white
March 24, 2018 19:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBJesus said for his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, but it feels like something went wrong. James Carleton speaks to Aboriginal Christians Brooke Prentis and Kathleen Butler to find out if it’s possible to untangle the conversion from the coercion, and to see how – far from being wiped out – Dreamtime spirituality is actually changing Christianity in Australia.
Who can claim credit for the Enlightenment?
March 17, 2018 19:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBSure, the Enlightenment was good, but it wasn’t everything. At least, that’s what these thinkers say. In this episode James Carleton hears about the past, present and future of western democracy.
Is God a feminist?
March 10, 2018 19:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBFeminism can be seen as an F-word in communities of faith, and given what’s said about women in many holy texts, feminists can be just as sceptical of religion. James Carleton speaks with two religious feminists who say faith can and does liberate women – but only if they can take positions of leadership in religious institutions.
Fabulous and faithful
March 03, 2018 19:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBOn the 40th anniversary of Mardi Gras, James Carleton asks, is it possible to be fabulous and faithful? Godly and gay? Holy and homosexual? Same-sex marriage is now law of the land, but LGBTIQ people are still seeking acceptance in communities of faith.
Holy hot potatoes!
February 24, 2018 19:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBReligion is full of issues you wouldn’t raise in polite company, but this week James Carleton is joined by two firebrand Catholics who aren’t afraid to tuck into the issues others find too hot to handle.
Conversion: Think different
February 17, 2018 19:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBThe classic slogan from Apple aimed to convert Windows users to a different operating system, but don’t worry, we’re not trying to sell you anything—we’re talking changing religion.
Iran: Revolution, religion and reform
February 10, 2018 19:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBIt’s only been 39 years since Iran went from Shah to sharia. Replacing 2500 years of Persian monarchy with a new Islamic republic isn’t exactly simple – so where to from here?
Helping the haves and have-nots
February 04, 2018 06:05 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBWhat happens when the rich and poor come together to worship?