God Forbid
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.
Latest episodes
Oct 27, 2023 • 54min
The seen and unseen: Belief in Jinns, Marian apparitions and Japanese yokai
You might think our belief in monsters is dead or dying – a superstitious relic. But regardless of the place on earth, or time in history, people say they see strange apparitions and ghostly figures. And as for things unseen, even more profess a belief in genies, spirits, angels and supernatural entities.
Oct 20, 2023 • 54min
Why the Middle Ages are still relevant today
How can a better understanding of what actually happened in a rapidly changing Europe and Middle East, 500 to 1,000 years ago, help us navigate complexities in the world today?
Oct 13, 2023 • 54min
Addiction, God, and the origin of the twelve steps
When it comes to addiction, why does the twelve step program work brilliantly for some, and fail miserably for others? And what are the spiritual roots of the program?
Oct 6, 2023 • 54min
We know magic isn't real, so why does it still fascinate us?
Magic as we know it today is performance art, harmless entertainment – from Penn and Teller to Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield to Harry Houdini. But, magic, past and present, is stranger, richer and more complex than you imagine.
Sep 29, 2023 • 54min
Government and God: The blurring lines between theocracies and democracies
The rise of religious populism, and rejection of secularism, means the old demarcations of theocratic and secular, democratic and dictatorial are blurring. So what does it mean for the citizens living under these hybrid forms of government?
Sep 22, 2023 • 54min
Kosher or carbon? The ethical concerns and religious rules around eating meat
What do Buddhism, Christianity and Islam say about eating meat? And how do believers navigate the ethical concerns around the farming, exporting and slaughter of animals?
Sep 15, 2023 • 54min
Love from ancient to modern times
Love feels the same now as thousands of years ago, yet the rules around it are changing. On God Forbid, join James Carleton and the panel as they explore love in ancient times, to romance and dating today.
Sep 8, 2023 • 54min
Religion as a weapon and shield in modern warfare
Is there a religious aspect to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? What are the ethics of an autonomous weapon killing a human? Do mercenary groups believe in the principles of 'Just War'? And where is ISIS?
Sep 1, 2023 • 54min
JRR Tolkien's religious legacy
On the 50th anniversary of JRR Tolkien’s death, we take a closer look at how Catholicism influenced his writing, his relationship with God, and the wondrous cosmos he created in his legendary stories.
Aug 25, 2023 • 54min
Minority religions and their beliefs
What do Jains, Zoroastrians and Baha'is believe? – We explore beliefs, history and rituals, to the challenges facing their communities today.
