God Forbid

During strange and difficult times, trust and faith can be quickly gained – and lost. Join James Carleton and the panel as they talk about leaving and losing their faith.

For all time we’ve honoured the dead. And in the course of Christian history, the veneration of saints is a big deal: Their feasts are still widely observed, like St Valentine’s Day. On God Forbid, James Carleton and the panel take a look at sainthood — from Catholic and Coptic traditions to secular saints. 

For more than a billion people around the world, Chinese New Year – or Lunar New Year – is their single most important annual celebration. In 2021, festivities begin on 12 February. On God Forbid, James and the panel take a moment to celebrate and delve into Chinese history in Australia since the gold rush.

We live in an era where mistrust is common – in governments, in religious and non-religious institutions and between different groups or ‘tribes.’ But how important is trust in a society – is it fundamental, or an optional extra we could do without? James Carleton and the panel find out. 

The problem of consciousness – and how we understand it – has been reflected upon since preliterate times. So what is consciousness, and who has consciousness? On God Forbid, James Carleton and our panel find out.

Whether we share it or not, we all have our own story: where we grew up, what we have experienced, who has shaped us - and how we piece it altogether. But why would someone pen that story, publish it and share it with the world? Is that an act of creativity, or vanity? On God Forbid, James and our panel of memoirists take a look at the power and purpose of memoirs.

COVID-19 changed the way we live at home. But how did it change for those who don't have a home? And is our definition of “homeless” an accurate reflection of what’s really going on? This week, James and the panel explore the issue of homelessness in Australia.

A good friend will stick with you through the ups and downs of life. But why is friendship given so little attention compared to our other loves: romance, marriage and family? On God Forbid, James and the panel explore why.

Over the Summer break, James Carleton and the God Forbid panel take a look at how games and stories can enrich the spiritual lives of people, no matter their age.

For all history people claim to have mystical experiences — a sense of timeless oneness with the universe or with God. It's not proof of the existence of the divine, but there is something going on here. James Carleton and the God Forbid panel examine Rumi, seizures and the Cloud of Unknowing.