Alright everyone, preheat your ovens, pray a blessing on your spuds and break out the sour cream – it’s time for some more holy hot potatoes. This week James Carleton feasts on the spicy issues found in the news, and his dinner guests aren’t afraid of a bit of controversy. Larissa Minniecon is an Aboriginal Christian activist and Rev Chris Bedding is a pirate priest who recently avoided charges of blasphemy.

It’s no joke: For people of every faith – or none – whether you take alcohol or drugs is a big deal. But the rules vary wildly, even within a tradition. Some Christians include alcohol as a core part of their most sacred ritual, but other Christians forbid its use altogether. How come?

James Carleton dives into what helps people choose to use, and how to stop.

It’s no joke: For people of every faith – or none – whether you take alcohol or drugs is a big deal. But the rules vary wildly, even within a tradition. Some Christians include alcohol as a core part of their most sacred ritual, but other Christians forbid its use altogether. How come?

James Carleton dives into what helps people choose to use, and how to stop.

It’s Vaisakhi – the most holy say in the Sikh calendar. And while we’re at it, happy Hindu new year! In Australia, even though Sikhism and Hinduism make up only a small part of the religious patchwork, they’re the fastest-growing faiths we’ve got.

It’s Vaisakhi – the most holy say in the Sikh calendar. And while we’re at it, happy Hindu new year! In Australia, even though Sikhism and Hinduism make up only a small part of the religious patchwork, they’re the fastest-growing faiths we’ve got.

Australians are becoming increasingly irreligious, but our devotion to sport is unwavering. As Australia tests its mettle at the Commonwealth Games, the national cricket team’s ball tampering has them caught out. It’s just a game, so why did it feel like a betrayal? There’s more at play when it comes to sport.

Australians are becoming increasingly irreligious, but our devotion to sport is unwavering. As Australia tests its mettle at the Commonwealth Games, the national cricket team’s ball tampering has them caught out. It’s just a game, so why did it feel like a betrayal? There’s more at play when it comes to sport.

Oops! You’ve done wrong, and now you cannot pass Go, and you do not collect $200. We generally agree that to err is human, and to forgive is divine – but is forgiveness always possible? On the intersection of Passover and Easter, James Carleton explores what Jews and Christians think about the gift of a second chance.

Oops! You’ve done wrong, and now you cannot pass Go, and you do not collect $200. We generally agree that to err is human, and to forgive is divine – but is forgiveness always possible? On the intersection of Passover and Easter, James Carleton explores what Jews and Christians think about the gift of a second chance.

Jesus said for his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, but it feels like something went wrong. James Carleton speaks to Aboriginal Christians Brooke Prentis and Kathleen Butler to find out if it’s possible to untangle the conversion from the coercion, and to see how – far from being wiped out – Dreamtime spirituality is actually changing Christianity in Australia.