This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Working Title: Jesus Was Never A Wizard: From YKTTW
Paul A: There are currently more examples of aversions than of straight uses. Are we sure this is a trope?
Zeta: This is one of those tropes that is hard to list examples for because it's omnipresent in any fantasy or science fiction series set in a world with real-life religious groups. All comic books, nearly all Urban Fantasy, all Science Fiction. Basically, any story with superpowers or magic will use this unless otherwise noted.
Whitewings: You know, Stargate really annoyed me with their insistence that the Ori were not gods. I'm Christian, meaning that no, I don't believe that they were true gods; in Christianity, there is but one God. That's why it's called "monotheistic." But... if we look at the defining characteristics of gods in mythology, the Ori qualify: They're non-material, exist in a place removed from the physical world, wield immense power in their own persons, and are strengthened by prayer and worship. They were once mortal, yes, but at least some polytheistic religions say that people can indeed become gods. So yes, by the standards normally applied to polytheistic deities, the Ori are gods. A good case can be made that they're evil gods, but that doesn't make them false gods.
- Even as a Christian you're free to believe in whatever other gods you like. Word of God ([1]) is that other gods exist. Quite apart from Yahweh's excessive use of the royal third person, he makes mention of the gods of Egypt, and other gods in various places (Jeremiah 10:11).
Michael: I think mostly when shows insist that godlike things are not gods it's to avoid the christian censorship lobby trying to get them banned. Not all christian censors, just ones like the ones who tried to get Star wars banned because The Force is blasphemous. If you make it canon that something isn't blasphemous they're more likely to back off.
Semiapies: A couple of the aversions, particularly the Harry Potter one, seem unclear on whether the trope is "Religious figures were not Wizards/Superheroes/Aliens" or "Religion is never mentioned". Unless I'm misunderstanding, the Harry Potter one is just a perfectly straight example.
