God Forbid

Food is central to human society. We celebrate with food and we commiserate with food. At its most essential level, food keeps us alive. But today, food is also a commodity. For many Australians the cost of food is becoming an increasing strain, but for others, dining can be a symbol of wealth. Then there's also our ever-evolving diet culture. On God Forbid, James Carleton and our panel examine our cultural, ethical, and even spiritual relationship with food.

How can you stay connected to place or a sense of home, if you've been exiled from where you were born, or grew up? And what burdens come with finding yourself as a kind of spokesperson for those left behind? On God Forbid, we meet three panellists whose lives have been shaped by exile, due to politics or religion.

What happens if you find out you were taken from your birth family and brought up with an entirely different culture, religion, and even language?

Biblical literacy is likely lower in Australia today than at any point since the convict era. Yet the legacy of this book – for better and worse – is still everywhere to be seen. On God Forbid, James Carleton and the panel examine what the Bible is and its influence on the nation’s history and society.

Some Jewish sacred texts are over 3000 years old, but are still read by nearly half the world’s population. In addition to Jews, there are four billion Christians and Muslims in the world, who draw - in differing ways - on the Hebrew Bible, or the Tanakh. Join James Carleton and the panel as they examine the Tanakh, and the text’s impact in history and on society today. 

In the most northern tip of Australia, Torres Strait Islanders celebrate their stories and culture for NAIDOC week, along with the missionaries who brought Christianity to the region.

What does it mean for humans to create technology that 'thinks'? Are there enough conversations around the big moral and spiritual questions of creating advanced technology? Plus, what are the implications of inserting AI into our lives? Join Breann Fallon and expert panel as they delve into the complexities of AI.

 Do we really need to suffer? There seems to be so much suffering in the world right now, but for what purpose? How do we respond to it? On this week’s episode of God Forbid, Breann Fallon and the panel focus on suffering and resilience, both personal and collective.

The revelation from US President Joe Biden that, in the last two decades, more school-aged children have died from guns than on-duty police and active-duty military combined, is a stark reminder of the tragic toll of gun violence. Religion, nationalism and politics all come into play in the heated gun debate. Guest presenter, Breann Fallon, explores faith and firearms with the panel on this week’s God Forbid.

Caroline Jones was not only a trailblazing journalist, but also a ground-breaking religious broadcaster. This week on God Forbid, James Carleton and the panel reflect upon the immense legacy of Caroline Jones and the changing nature of religious journalism in Australia.