God Forbid

In Australia, we like to think of ourselves as a multicultural success story, where freedom of religion, expression, and democracy coexist without conflict. But what happens when religion moves from the private sphere into political activism?

Muslim Votes Matter is a new political advocacy group calling on Muslim Australians to vote not just as individuals, but as a community united by shared values, priorities, and frustrations. From Islamophobia to Gaza, their campaign has made waves and raised eyebrows.

Is this a bold new model of civic engagement, or does it risk reducing a diverse population into a monolithic bloc? And how do Muslim Australians navigate the complex tensions between faith, identity, and political representation?

GUESTS:

• Dr Rachel Woodlock, expert in contemporary Islam in Australia and lecturer at the University of Melbourne
• Ghaith Krayem, spokesperson for Muslim Votes Matter
• Khaled Khalafalla, comedian, writer, and author of The Smile Dilemma: Should Muslims Shake Hands with Politicians, or Not Engage at All?

This episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land and in Naarm

Technical production by Micky Grossman and Roi Huberman

For most of history, body size has been about more than just health — it’s been a tool of control. From colonial ideals of “discipline” to modern-day diet culture, our ideas about fatness and thinness are deeply tied to morality, power, and profit. But are we getting it all wrong?

Generation Z and Generation Alpha have often come under fire for being disconnected and increasingly isolated from their peers. Could a decrease in religious education to be to blame? Or is religion fated to lose its grip on the younger generations for good? God Forbid speaks to high school students to get the answer.

But if God says that man is fallible, and man wrote the Bible, then how can we know that the Bible is the true word of God? Where do our ideas of God come from? Is he purely a human-made invention, used to tell a morally compelling ancient story? 

When does cutting off a parent go from self-care to severing ties unnecessarily? What are the ethics behind going 'no contact' with difficult family members?

If disaster strikes, are you ready? From faith-driven survivalists to billionaire bunkers, the rise of prepping raises big ethical questions. Is it wise foresight or doomsday paranoia? And in a crisis, do we fend for ourselves or help others?

How can you ethically condense millions of years of history, religion, and culture into a 30-second video?

Pope Francis was the first pope from South America, and was said to be one of the most progressive and humble popes in Catholic history. But can the Church sustain his legacy?

How do queer people stay faithful? And how do people raised on religion celebrate being sexually and gender diverse?

How have 'psychedelics' and recreational drugs affected (and been affected by) religion?