God Forbid

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

Is religious appropriation an act of reverence? Or cultural theft? Yoga at the gym, meditation via an app on your phone, sage-smudging a corporate office. Religious rituals and traditions are being taken out of their original context and used in everyday life by people outside the culture and faith they're taken from. Could this be considered a kind of theft? Or is this part of a healthy modern cultural exchange? To explore the ethical and spiritual implications of wellness-ifying religious practices are two guests researching the impact of these cases. GUESTS:Prof Liz Bucar, professor in religious ethics at Northeastern University and author of Stealing My Religion: Not Just Any Cultural AppropriationA/Prof Shameem Black, associate professor in the School of Culture, History, and Language at the Australian National University and Author of Flexible India: Yoga's Cultural and Political TensionsThis episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land, the land of the Ngunnawal people, and the traditional land of the Massachusett peopleTechnical production by Craig Tilmouth and John Jacobs

Is a cult a misunderstood religion? Or something much more dangerous?The line between high-control religions, new religious movements, and 'cults' is as grey as ever. But the fascination we have with these groups is only getting stronger. What counts as a 'cult'? Is it your highly controlling tech workplace? Your gym with a forever-binding contract? Or does the casual use of the word 'cult' do a disservice to those stuck in dangerous and emotionally manipulative religious and spiritual organisations?To shed some light on the difference between a new religious movement, a cult, and your regular high-control Pentecostal mega-church are the God Forbid guests who have lived, studied, or spoken to survivors of these groups. GUESTS: Professor Carole Cusack, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Sydney, specialising in new religious movements (NRMs) contemporary religious trends and Western esotericismSarah Steel, host and creator of award-winning podcast, Let's Talk About SectsScott Parker, writer and star of stage production, Hillsong BoyThis episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land. Technical production by Craig Tilmouth and Tegan Nicholls.

Join Paul Tapsell, a Māori academic who enriches discussions on Indigenous death practices, Vicky Balabanski, an eco-theologian exploring Christian views on death, and Annie Whitlocke, a Buddhist death doula guiding end-of-life experiences. They dive into how different faiths perceive death, evolving burial rituals in the face of ecological challenges, and the significance of personalized support from death doulas. The conversation highlights the interplay between tradition and modernity in death care, offering profound insights into cultural perspectives on mortality.

From fallen angel to Netflix anti-hero, the Devil has had quite the makeover. In this episode of God Forbid, Sami Shah leads a devilishly good panel exploring the many faces of Satan — from ancient Hebrew texts to modern Satanism.Is the Devil a cosmic villain, a cultural scapegoat, or a misunderstood metaphor? We unpack how different religions and movements have shaped — and reshaped — the Prince of Darkness over time. Why did monotheism need a Devil when polytheism didn’t? What made the Middle Ages so obsessed with demonic possession? And why is the Devil suddenly charming?GUESTS:Robyn Whitaker, New Testament scholar and Uniting Church ministerPhilip C. Almond, religious historian and author of The Devil: A New BiographyLilith Starr, Minister of Satan at the Temple of Satan and author of Compassionate SatanismThis episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land and in Naarm.Technical production by Roi Huberman and Tegan Nicholls.

In this special bonus episode of God Forbid, Noel Debien sits down with Dr Paul Collins, former Catholic priest, broadcaster, author of many books on the Catholicism and Pope, including his most recent work - Absolute Power: How the Pope became the most influential man in the world. Together Noel and Paul discuss the legacy of Pope Francis and the complex history of the Papacy.

The papal conclave is set to begin on May 7. As the Sistine Chapel closes its doors to the public, preparations are underway for a secret process that will determine the next leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Coming to you from outside Saint Peter's Basilica this week, the God Forbid panel find out what lies ahead for the Catholic church.

In Australia, we like to think of ourselves as a multicultural success story, where freedom of religion, expression, and democracy coexist without conflict. But what happens when religion moves from the private sphere into political activism?Muslim Votes Matter is a new political advocacy group calling on Muslim Australians to vote not just as individuals, but as a community united by shared values, priorities, and frustrations. From Islamophobia to Gaza, their campaign has made waves and raised eyebrows.Is this a bold new model of civic engagement, or does it risk reducing a diverse population into a monolithic bloc? And how do Muslim Australians navigate the complex tensions between faith, identity, and political representation?GUESTS:Dr Rachel Woodlock, expert in contemporary Islam in Australia and lecturer at the University of MelbourneGhaith Krayem, spokesperson for Muslim Votes MatterKhaled Khalafalla, comedian, writer, and author of The Smile Dilemma: Should Muslims Shake Hands with Politicians, or Not Engage at All?This episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land and in NaarmTechnical production by Micky Grossman and Roi Huberman