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God Forbid

ABC Australia
Christianity
Religion
Spirituality
Australia
Social Media
Mental Health
Islam
Philosophy
Loneliness
Buddhism
Climate Change
Consciousness
Whales
Artificial Intelligence
Education
Pope Francis
Olympic Games
Running
Indigenous Australian Issues
Family Dynamics

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes410Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & CultureReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for God Forbid

Latest Episodes

The government has removed favourable tax settings for investors to make home ownership just a bit more achievable for Millennials and Gen Z’s priced out of the market.

The Prime Minister has spoken about the importance of giving young people acces... more

Falling in love with a machine is supposed to be the stuff of science-fiction. About a decade ago, Spike Jonze made the film Her, about a lonely man Theodore, played by Joaquin Phoenix, falling in love with his operating system, Samantha.

And the w... more

Since the Stone Age we’ve used, and abused, drugs and alcohol. And some cultures believed their mood-altering effects brought you closer to God.

But if you go to an Alcoholics Anonymous or AA meeting today, you’ll be told that getting closer to God... more

Pope Leo XIV has recently slammed the use of God's name to justify what he terms as the "absurd" pursuit of war, specifically challenging military leaders who describe operations in Iran as a holy war "in the name of Jesus Christ".

Is a "holy war" ... more

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Recent Guests

Marguerite Johnson
Honorary professor, classicist and cultural historian
University of Queensland
Episode: Why do adults still need fairytales?
Tom Wright
Playwright, artistic associate
Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney
Episode: Why do adults still need fairytales?
Michelle Smith
Associate professor in literary studies
Monash University
Episode: Why do adults still need fairytales?
Frederica Matthews-Green
Eastern Orthodox writer, author of Facing East
Author, Frederica's World
Episode: The Orthodox surge
Doru Kostaki
Proto-presbyter, Professor of Theology and Spirituality
Australian University College of Divinity
Episode: The Orthodox surge
Athelwald Jenkins
President of Parish Council, Orthodox convert
Good Shepherd Orthodox Church, Melbourne
Episode: The Orthodox surge
Mahsheed Ansari
Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies
Charles Sturt University
Episode: Why are the Middle Ages are still relevant today?
Miles Pattenden
Senior Research Fellow in Medieval Studies
Australian Catholic University
Episode: Why are the Middle Ages are still relevant today?
Michael Barbezat
Research Fellow in Medieval Studies
Australian Catholic University
Episode: Why are the Middle Ages are still relevant today?

Host

James Carlton
Host of God Forbid, leads discussions on religion, ethics, and society with a focus on respectful, analytic dialogue.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 222 ratings
  • Anti semitism royal commission

    A fantastic discussion - a great example of how people can respectfully discuss ideas even if not in complete agreement

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    meditfsa
    Australia4 months ago
  • Papacy history

    I think there should have been given a trigger warning given Pells voice was used

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Amoloch007
    Australiaa year ago
  • Hostages

    Sammy why didn’t you ask your Muslim guests about the Hamas hostages when they continually called the Gaza war a genocide ? Blind spot or straight up bias ?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    RJGS1
    Australiaa year ago
  • Sami Shah

    Brilliant discussion about the Muslim vote in the upcoming election. Sami brings a wealth of knowledge and summons the guest to discuss and acknowledge their position.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amoloch007
    Australiaa year ago
  • Excellent podcast

    Thank you once again for a fantastic podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chateau10
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners note occasional bias or snide/gnostic tones in delivery, suggesting room for more neutral framing in certain episodes.
Listeners praise the host for intelligent, witty, and thoughtful moderation.
Diverse speakers and topics are frequently highlighted as a strength, with guests from a wide range of religious and secular perspectives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

International Women's Day special
Q: What role can men play that isn't performative or paternalistic?
Men should actively share the load at home, intervene against sexism in everyday situations, and support structural changes that empower women and protect families.
International Women's Day special
Q: What is a woman?
A woman is defined by her lived experience and how she experiences the world, not just biology; womanhood is about identity and the social environment that shapes it.
Conversion — Why would anyone move from disbelief to belief?
Q: What do you say to the idea Tanya mentions about the ritual life and the role of community in faith?
Abdullah discusses how ritual and everyday practices bring the divine into daily life, while Tanya emphasizes the experiential and social dimensions of faith, showing a balance between ritual devotion and personal experience.
Conversion — Why would anyone move from disbelief to belief?
Q: Did you come to know God first and then join a community, or the other way around?
Kelsey describes coming to know God first and then becoming Jewish, highlighting how religious identity often develops through personal spiritual experiences followed by communal integration.
If you could save a drowning child, would you?
Q: How do you deal with the idea that suffering is intrinsic to life?
While some suffering may be intrinsic, reducing overall suffering is our ethical responsibility.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About God Forbid

What is God Forbid about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This long-running discourse explores religion, ethics, and the role of belief in contemporary life through thoughtful conversations with scholars, researchers, and writers. It often centers on how faith shapes identity, community, and public life, while also probing how ideas about morality, suffering, and spirituality inform everyday decisions. Across episodes, listeners encounter ethnographic and philosophical perspectives on conversion, trauma, forgiveness, religious reform, and the social dimensions of belief, with a mix of rigorous analysis and accessible storytelling. A notable strength is the ability to bring diverse religious and secular viewpoints into constructive dialogue, making it a compelling listen for people curious about ho... more

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Which podcasts are similar to God Forbid?

These podcasts share a similar audience with God Forbid:

1. Soul Search
2. The Minefield
3. Big Ideas
4. Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald
5. Late Night Live — Full program podcast

How many episodes of God Forbid are there?

God Forbid launched 9 years ago and published 410 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on God Forbid?

Recent guests on God Forbid include:

1. Marguerite Johnson
2. Tom Wright
3. Michelle Smith
4. Frederica Matthews-Green
5. Doru Kostaki
6. Athelwald Jenkins
7. Mahsheed Ansari
8. Miles Pattenden

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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