God Forbid

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?

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? 

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.

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?

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? 

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.

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?

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.

What do Jains, Zoroastrians and Baha'is believe? – We explore beliefs, history and rituals, to the challenges facing their communities today.

Spirituality on social media: How TikTok is changing the way we engage with religion