

God Forbid
ABC listen
Religion: 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 15, 2022 • 54min
Lessons in leadership
What is true leadership all about - giving or taking? Serving others, or being served? On God Forbid, James and our panel of leadership experts find out.

Jan 8, 2022 • 54min
Fostering sacred creativity in a secular world
The great writer and Nobel Prize winner André Gide said, “Art is a collaboration between God and the artist and the less the artist does, the better." On God Forbid, James Carleton explores the relationship between art, humanity and the sacred with creatives Lindy Lee and Rod Pattenden.

Jan 1, 2022 • 54min
How technology is changing the way we grieve
Is it possible to be biologically dead, but socially alive? What would that entail? On God Forbid, James and panel find out more about the digital afterlife.

Dec 25, 2021 • 54min
The future of faith – ministry with Gen Z
In many ways, young people who attend places of worship today are vastly different to those who attended decades ago. A new generation isn’t just attending in person, but also via online platforms like messaging, podcasts and even game streaming services. On God Forbid, James Carleton and the panel explore how Gen Z is engaging with religion, and how faith groups are responding.

Dec 18, 2021 • 54min
Disagreeing well
In some ways we will always be different – it’s a wonderful part of life, but it comes with disagreement and even conflict. But intolerance can be a good and natural response to the intolerable. James Carleton and the God Forbid panel explore the difference.

Dec 11, 2021 • 54min
The hot potatoes of 2021
2021 has been a year of challenges and changes for so many people worldwide. On God Forbid, James Carleton and the panel reflect on the hot potatoes thrown our way in 2021, and contemplate the coming twelve months.

Dec 4, 2021 • 54min
Toward an inclusive society for people with disability
December 3 is the International Day for People with Disability. It's an important day for the one third of Australian households which include a person with a disability, and for society-at-large. Join guest presenter Grant Lock, James Carleton and our panel as they chat about living with a disability, tackling discrimination, fighting for accessibility and more.

Nov 27, 2021 • 54min
Reflections on consumerism: buying more, gaining less?
It’s fast approaching the time of year where celebration, reflection, and enjoying precious time with loved ones become the primary focus for many. While our movements may have been curtailed somewhat this year, our thirst for spending has been in overdrive.

Nov 20, 2021 • 54min
Fitness and body image: aspiration, inspiration, and transformation
Fitness and body image have become a preoccupation for many Australians. While physical exertion is not for everyone, the fitness industry in Australia has grown significantly in recent years. On God Forbid, James Carleton and our panel explore the complex and contradictory world of exercise, fitness and body image.

Nov 13, 2021 • 54min
Human kind — understanding kindness during tough times and beyond
Australia has endured it's fair share of challenges in recent times, yet amid all the suffering, we have witnessed countless examples of human kindness. On God Forbid, James Carleton and our panel explore the 'kindness revolution'; where does our kindness stem from, how does it thrive during times of hardship, and what will kindness look like in a post-pandemic world?


