God Forbid

Can we know God through machines? Can machines know God? And could machines, one day, become godlike themselves? While AI is still in its infancy, it is evolving at lightning speed, and ingraining itself in our lives. From writing our emails, creating our budgets and  even serving as our therapists, society is embracing AI as part of our everyday lives. But what about faith? Our spirituality, our souls, our connection to God - these are elements of the human experience that can’t be quantified by science, and reproduced in machines. Or can they? GUESTS:Dr. Declan Humphreys is a lecturer in Cyber Security and Ethics at the School of Science, Technology and Engineering at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He is also one of the winners of the ABC Top 5 Humanity residency programme for 2025.Dr. Jane Compson, Associate Professor of Comparative Religion and Ethics at the University of Washington, Tacoma. Jane is a practicing Buddhist and a trained chaplain. She is also a member of the research team at AI and Faith.Carl Youngblood, is the co-founder and current president of the Mormon Transhumanist Association, and has more than 20 years experience in software engineering and technology development. This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, and the lands of The Turrbal and Yuggera People. 

In this discussion, philosopher Tim Dean, management expert Nelly Liyanagamage, and author Tim Duggan tackle whether leaders should uphold higher personal standards, especially after public scandals like the Coldplay incident. They explore the ethical challenges leaders face under scrutiny, the striking pay disparity between CEOs and their employees, and the dangers of idolizing leaders as perfect entities. The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of leadership in a digital age, advocating for ethical practices and fostering trust.

Is God multilingual? Does the divine speak Hebrew? Arabic? Latin? Or is it something more mysterious?This week on God Forbid, we’re asking: who gets to speak the language of God? And what happens when only a select few can read the sacred texts? From ancient scrolls to colonial classrooms, religion has often been shaped — and controlled — by language and literacy.Guests:Prof Halim Rane, a scholar of Islamic theology and the sociology of religion from Griffith University, his latest book: Covenants with Allah: Keystone of IslamDr Simon Holloway, a sessional lecturer at Melbourne University, his PhD in classical Hebrew and Biblical studies. Simon is the manager of Community and Corporate Programs at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.Dr Laura Rademaker, ARC DECRA Fellow at ANU and historian of Indigenous Australia and Christian missions. Author of Lost in Translations: Many Meanings on a North Australian MissionThis program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, and in Naarm.

What do dancing Mormons, blind dates, and superyachts have in common? They've all featured on so-called ‘reality TV’ shows. But just how ‘real’ are they? Some argue reality tv is anti-feminist – yet the genre is consistently popular with young women, and a new reality TV show is breaking records with religious women at the centre of it – The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.It's not the first time The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints has been featured on reality TV, and it certainly won't be the last. So why the interest in the 'real' lives of religious people? And can 'trash' tv teach us complex lessons about gender, shame, and religion?Guests:Siobhan Marin, writer and producer with ABC Radio National, and digital lead for ABC's Religion and Ethics unitDr Elisha McIntyre, researcher on the intersection between pop culture, comedy, and The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day SaintsHannah Ferrier, reality TV star made famous by Bravo TV's Below Deck, and host of the reality TV podcast Dear Reality, You're Effed!First broadcast 19 October 2024

55 horror movies came out last year -  more than one a week - the most of any year this century.But why would make-believe horror double its box office share in a decade which has seen real existential fear: wars, pandemics, and natural disasters.And what do movies that scare us have to do with religions that comfort us?Well, they’re both interested in what you believe, ask questions about evil, and want your attendance on a Sunday morning.GUESTS:BARBARA CREED Professor of Screen Studies at the University of Melbourne. Author of Phallic Panic: Film, Horror & the Primal Uncanny and The Monstrous-Feminine: Film, Feminism, PsychoanalysisFr RICHARD LEONARD a parish priest and film scholar. Author of The Mystical Gaze of the Cinema: The Films of Peter Weir and Movies That Matter: Reading Film through the Lens of Faith COLTAN SCRIVNER, research fellow at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University and psychologist at Arizona State University and author of Morbidly Curious: A scientist explains why we can’t look away.This program is made on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and in Naarm

Join Yassir Morsi, a La Trobe University lecturer and author, Peter Kurti, director at the Centre for Independent Studies, and Chloe Patton from RMIT University as they dive into the complexities of Australian identity amid global turmoil. They discuss progressive patriotism and the challenges of multiculturalism, exploring how Australia's diversity can be both a strength and a source of tension. The conversation also addresses recent protests, religious tolerance, and the need for thoughtful engagement with both local and international issues, showcasing the evolving narrative of national identity.

With His Holiness the Dalai Lama turning 90 this month, every day that passes brings his succession closer. When he dies, the religious power struggle over his replacement will certainly be at the top of the Communist Party’s agenda.So what might lie in the future for Tibet in it's ongoing struggle for autonomy from Chinese rule?Is there a middle way that could be acceptable to both sides in the dispute?GUESTS:Dr Lobsang Sangay was the leader of the Central Tibetan Administration in India for ten years. He grew up in a refugee camp in India and has gone on to have a prestigious academic career. He is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the East Asian Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School.Professor Baogang He is the distinguished Chair in International Relations at Deakin University, and recognised internationally for his expertise on both the Tibet & Taiwan disputes.This episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land of the Eora Nation.

On God Forbid we’re talking about the sacred strands that sprout from our skulls. Whether it’s being grown long, shaved off, or covered up... hair has long been a point of contention for faith communities.  Claims of both modesty AND freedom come up when we discuss hair coverings... and often a similar piece of fabric will elicit very different responses depending on the religion of the person wearing it.  From turbans to tonsures, hijabs to high-top fades... hair is more than style, it’s spiritual. GUESTS:Michael D. (David) Barbezat - a historian of medieval European religious history. His first book, Burning Bodies: Communities, Eschatology, and the Punishment of Heresy in the Middle Ages. Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa - Director of The Blue Room Theatre in Perth. She’s a writer, performer, theatre and filmmaker. Since her sell-out theatre work Fully Sikh she’s currently producing A Hairy Tale, a documentary exploring female body hair. Aseel Tayah - Palestinian-Australian artist, CEO of community art project Bukjeh in Melbourne, and hijabi Muslim.This episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land, the land of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and in Naarm. 

In Australia, and beyond, women are taking on religious leadership in ways that would have been unthinkable decades ago. But change and faith is a complex brew. And for every breakthrough, there's backlash.  And the arguments aren't just theological – they're personal too, touching on tradition, culture, and what it means to be faithful in a changing world. So, what happens when the drive for gender equality meets the weight of sacred tradition? GUESTS:Pastor Sue Westhorp last year was one of three women ordained for the first time into the Lutheran church. Rev. Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, the youngest and first person of colour to hold the office.This episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land and in Naarm. Technical production by John Jacobs.

Although the Australian population has doubled in size since the early 1970s, the number of marriages registered each year has not increased over this time.And…interest in poly modes of intimacy are on the rise.So, what do people want in their intimate relationships and indeed marriages in 2025?Can we still make a case for monogamy – dedication to “the one” till death do us part? Or are we moving towards new models of intimacy?GUESTS:Justine Toh is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public ChristianityMichail Ivanov is a socio-legal academic from the University of Adelaide and author of Polygamy: Proper or Primitive Belinda Tobin, researcher and author of The Moral Dilemma of MonogamyWatch a recent Compass episode about polyamory Beyond Monogamy