History Main / AmbiguouslyChristian

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' episode "One of the Boys", Lincoln mentions to his brother Loni that the nuns hate amusement parks, implying the Loud family is Catholic. Along with his family celebrating Christmas, this is the only hint of any religious denomination. It might explain why the family has so many children if they adhered to Catholic views on birth control…

* ''Anime/LaSeineNoHoshi'': Simone Rolland wears a cross necklace and attends a convent school. She also lives in 1789's UsefulNotes/{{France}}, where Christianity is the dominant religion; many other characters are implied to be Christian too.

* ''Anime/LaSeineNoHoshi'': Simone wears a cross necklace and attends a c0nvent school. She also lives in 1800's UsefulNotes/{{France}}, where Christianity is the dominant religion.

* The characters in the Mysterious trilogy of the ''VideoGame/{{Atelier}}'' series (''VideoGame/AtelierSophie'', ''VideoGame/AtelierFiris'', and ''VideoGame/AtelierLydieAndSuelle'') follow a monotheistic religion whose deity is called God, go to church to pray, and some [=NPCs=] are nuns. Whether the religion of the setting is AnimeCatholicism or a FantasyCounterpartCulture that happens to resemble it is unclear. Over the course of their travels, the characters of these games also encounter a few {{Physical Goddess}}es (who can be fought as {{Superboss}}es), but the religious implications of this aren't explored.

** Elsa's coronation was performed by a man who is [[ChurchOfSaintGenericus dressed like a Christian bishop.]] Another scene features a portrait of the saint Joan of Arc and is outright described as such, but any details about her are not elaborated upon. Despite this, the closest the movie gets to mentioning religion is Elsa exclaiming "Heaven knows I've tried..." during the song "Let it Go."

* The [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI first]] [[VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink two]] ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games come off this way, with Link's shield bearing a cross emblem, gravestones adorned with crosses, and a cross being a PlotCoupon in the second game. This is due to the original plan being for Hyrule to be based on medieval Europe with its religion being Christianity; starting with the third game they [[EarthDrift dropped that]] and switched to a FantasyPantheon.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' episode "One of the Boys", Lincoln mentions to his brother Loni that the nuns hate amusement parks, implying the Loud family is Catholic. Along with his family celebrating Christmas, this is the only hint of any religious denomination.

* Both Maddie and London from ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' have been enrolled in private Catholic schools. At least one or two references to God have been made within said school as well. Maddie herself also knows the biblical tradition behind Christmas.

[[quoteright:716:[[Anime/IsabelleOfParis https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/isabelleofparis_episode_14.png]] ]]

This is often used in works where the religious practices of characters is not a major focus (and could distract from the plot). Many of the more exaggerated examples are found in media intended for children, as the closest thing most get to mentioning religious holidays is a ChristmasEpisode, religion could be a bit too complicated for younger kids to understand and addressing these things could even be considered controversial. Writers also use this trope to [[ArtisticLicenseReligion avoid having to research]] what Christianity or a specific Christian denomination actually teaches.

* [[ReligiousBruiser Cross Marian]] of ''Manga/DGrayMan'' seems to fit this trope. His name is a reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Cross The Marian Cross]]. He is also the most affiliated with Crucifixes. He wears a rosary necklace, his mask has a cross on it, and he's the creator of Timcampy, who also has a cross design on his front. Not only these things, but he also appears to be an actual priest. He has been referred to as a priest on a few separate occasions. When Allen first meets him in D.Gray-Man Reverse, he refers to him as a priest -given his wardrobe. A villager in Krory's village mentions him as a priest. Barba always refers to him as "Father." Finally, Mother is a patron of his, and she mentions in Reverse, that she's in charge of watching over the church while Cross is away. Finally, Hoshino Katsura, the mangaka [[http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/silverfang2/29185537/211901/211901_original.jpg drew official art of him wearing high priest robes on the cover of the Reverse novel.]] But all of these things are just shown in-passing. Over the course of the 224 manga chapters + Reverse novels, Cross' Christianity or Priesthood hasn't been a focal point and is easily missed among many fans given some of Cross' [[SmokingIsCool less than]] [[ReallyGetsAround Christianly]] [[ProfessionalGambler behavior.]]

* Inori "Buki" Yamabuki from ''Anime/{{Fresh Pretty Cure}}'' goes to a Christian private middle school which apparently has its own chapel.

* ''Anime/IsabelleOfParis'': [[{{Ojou}} The]] [[PrincessProtagonist Laustin]] [[BadassFamily family]] being religious is hinted at in episode 3, when Isabelle asks God for Victor's safety in the duel[[note]][[https://ibb.co/B43V3fs No, really]][[/note]] and Geneviève prays to him to save Jules. However, in episode 4, they are outright confirmed Christian when Geneviève and Jules get married in a church and have a traditional Christian wedding. Justified since the 18th-century Bourgeoisie were mostly French Catholic.

** Since Peter Parker is Irish American, it's left ambiguous if he's Scots-Irish (i.e., Irish-Americans who are Protestants and who assimilated heavily, and in fact are more numerous than the Irish-American Catholic community) or Irish-American Catholic. His uncle and his aunt, his adopted parents, are implied to have been churchgoers and religious.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame|Disney}}'': Esmeralda's religious beliefs aren't delved into, however she does have the song "God Help The Outcasts" while seeking sanctuary inside a Catholic church. The closest the film gets to touching upon her beliefs is her singing "I don't know if You can hear me or if You're even there" to a religious statue at the start of the song, which suggests agnosticism.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'': Holidays such as Christmas and Easter are mentioned, but they are portrayed in a SantaClausmas fashion. Particularly notable considering an overwhelming majority of the 'holiday trees' Jack finds in the woods are Christian holidays, the two exceptions being Thanksgiving and Independence day. Jack mentions God once or twice during the song 'Poor Jack' but it's done in a way that is exclamatory rather than overtly religious. It would make the most sense to suggest that Jack and the other residents of Halloweentown are Druid (as the Halloween holiday originally was) or maybe practitioners of Voodoo (since they are all undead beings). The spoof ''The Nightmare Before Chanukah'' on an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'' implies that Jack is neither Christian nor Jewish: when he comes upon a rabbi in Chanukahtown and asks if he's in Christmastown, the rabbi sarcastically tells him no, he's at the Vatican.

* The ''Film/BatmanFilmSeries'' take place in a Christian world, with a Jewish presence here and there (a kosher butcher shop appears in [[Film/Batman1989 the 1989 film]]), but outright references to religion are few and far between. ''Film/BatmanForever'' does have Bruce Wayne saying, in reference to his parents' deaths, "On the night of the wake, the priest's words brought no comfort" (which could simply be another example of ChristianityIsCatholic), and both of the [[Creator/JoelSchumacher Schumacher]] films deal heavily in such Christian themes as guilt, forgiveness, and salvation without mentioning Christianity itself. The 1989 film shows a medieval Gothic cathedral towering over Gotham City, but the inside suggests that no one has set foot inside it in years, if not ''decades''. ''Film/BatmanReturns'' takes place entirely during the Christmas season, but the citizens celebrate SantaClausmas - and, interestingly enough, [[AllThereInTheScript a line from the speech at the tree-lighting ceremony]], "In this season of the Savior's birth...", was ultimately cut from the film, as a somewhat clumsy edit makes clear. There is never explicit mention of Bruce Wayne's Christianity.

** The wizarding world celebrates Christianity-influenced holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's (but in a secular way) and their big hospital (St. Mungo's) is named after a saint, but no one ever mentions/goes to church, prays, or mentions what religion they are.

* The woodland creatures from ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' live as a religious-type order (an abbey with an abbot/abbess, various characters referred to as brother/sister, a church named after a saint etc). However, a supreme being is never even mentioned, let alone any sort of denomination, and though there is an afterlife mentioned, little detail has been given on it. The first book actually mentions Satan and Hell (however, none did after this).

* Deliberately invoked by Creator/JRRTolkien's Legendarium. There is a supreme God, a cast of angelic beings split into two orders (the Valar and Maiar), and a separation between beings with a soul and beings without: but no mention of Jesus or anything specifically Christian (as opposed to Judaic). There is also nothing resembling a church (except for the cult of Melkor set up by Sauron), and the characters don't really pray or talk about God. However, the text is full of Christian themes and Gandalf's description of the afterlife is very Christian (albeit in a very English sort of way). Though notably, there does not seem to be any equivalent of Hell (i.e. an afterlife dedicated to punishment): the closest thing is Angband or Mordor, but everyone in those places is very much alive. There is however an equivalent of purgatory: Mandos. This is where souls go to be judged, and given the chance to repent and redeem themselves (or just wander around forever, if they are too proud). Tolkien did this deliberately for the purposes of a kind of evangelism: spreading what he saw as the ''principles'' of the Catholic faith, without the trappings of it. He doesn't shy away from tackling some incredibly complicated metaphysical themes: though he always does so in an intimate rather than formal way.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Kasidy Yates' family are apparently Protestant, as she mentions that her mother would prefer her daughter's wedding to be conducted by a minister (although she herself isn't shown to be religious).

* ''Series/TheLastManOnEarth'': Phil Miller is often seen talking to God (talking, [[RageAgainstTheHeavens not praying]]). It could be more [[SurrogateSoliloquy not having anyone else to talk]] to than actual religious beliefs. That said, he still continues to do so even after he finds and meets other people who are still alive. That said, most of them dislike him due to his previous bad actions, or from his rather annoying personality, so it could still be seen as him trying to talk to someone who he feels mights actually listen to him.
* ''Series/ClarissaExplainsItAll'' is one of the few Nickelodeon shows to have any mentions of religion at all, and even then quite subtly, there were a few one-off lines mentioning sin and God and the religious aspects of secularized holidays like Christmas were occasionally quietly acknowledged even if never in the forefront. It was thus heavily implied that the Darling family were Christians (which would be the default assumption of a middle-class white family in the American Midwest in the early 90s), even though they were never shown going to church or engaging in any explicitly religious behavior.
* Both Maddie and London from ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' have been enrolled in private Catholic schools. At least one or two references to God have been made within said school as well. Maddie herself is also knows the biblical tradition behind Christmas.

** Mr. K wears a crucifix while he is being tortured due to being accused of working with terrorists and him coming from Azerbaijan (a predominantly Muslim country). While his faith goes unmentioned, it's heavily implied that he is ''Eastern'' Christian[[note]]Since his country happens be neighboring only Christian nation around region Armenia, where predominantly the population is Oriental Orthodox or belong to Armenian Apostolic Church. So thus it's possibly Mr.K is Oriental Orthodox, and yet again they are a minority of ''Western'' (not Eastern) Catholics in the country too, so there other probably that K could be Western Catholic too[[/note]].

** In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', Yusuke Kitagawa and Hifumi Togo attend Kosei High School. Yusuke's uniform features a fleur-de-lis and he expresses familiarity for Jesus' suffering on the cross, while Hifumi can usually be found in a church and is named after a Catholic TabletopGame/{{Shogi}} player.

* Just about all of Europa in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''. References are sometimes made to a Papacy[[note]](The novelizations clarify that there are actually seven different Papacies who all split up in the 16th century)[[/note]], Literature/TheBible[[note]](A character named Moloch [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120817 once explained]] that his mom named him by just picking names out of the Bible without reading it)[[/note]], various saints both real and made-up, holidays like Christmas, and cathedrals. However none of the characters are seen actively practicing Christian worship nor is any explicit naming of the religion shown. Though there is a [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100219 passing mention]] of one of the characters being Christened. Even the Corbettite Order, while having lots of Catholic monastic trappings up to and including a confessional and having fealty to the Pope[[note]]The one in Belfast[[/note]], don't ''really'' mention religion much, seeming to believe that running the trains ''is'' how they express their religion.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheCrumpets'': Ms. [=McBrisk=], the neighbor of the titular family who keeps frowning them for immorality and lack of common sense, has mentioned the Lord and Satan. She also called Granny Crumpet a "saint", and one of the Crumpets' sons whom she unknowingly kidnapped to her house a "sign from heaven".
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'': Although never shown explicitly in the series (the closest it gets to a mention of God is Doug declaring that "someone up there must like me" when he finds out that Patti didn't get his video tape by mistake in "Doug's Secret Song"), Jim Jinkins has mentioned in interviews that the Funnie family are churchgoers, and that one would have to look for subtle hints such as the way they're dressed on Sunday afternoons (i.e. Phil in a dress shirt but loosened up) to notice this. This is another way in which the series reflects the childhood of its creators, as both Jinkins and David Campbell were raised Christian.

* Soos from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' is named "Jesus" (the Spanish pronunciation, thus his nickname), which implies that at least his family is Christian or Catholic. He also mentions his grandpa being in Heaven, and his family have porcelain angel decorations in their home.
* Dade from ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBeaks'' acts a lot like a stereotypical fundamentalist Christian. He's spoken out against magic and rock & roll, frequently protests against various forms of supposed indecency and makes sly references to Christian phrases, beliefs, and practices ("sinning" is called as "corrupting", for example). However, he and his family have never been confirmed to be religious at all. According to certain other episodes, his family are presumably fundamentalist-types as well.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamily'' shows Penny, her family and her friends attending a church and singing a hymn about praising God, but which denomination they belong to is rather ambiguous.

* Philip Wittebane from ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' (before he [[spoiler:became Emperor Belos]]) appears to have been a NewEnglandPuritan, but it's never outright stated. He was a WitchHunter from early 17th century Connecticut (where Puritan beliefs were particularly strong at the time), so a Reformed Protestant faith can be inferred. The final episode "Watching and Dreaming" has him call the Boiling Isles "perdition," which is an old-fashioned term for {{Hell}} in Christianity.

* ''Series/BreakingBad'': Walter White occasionally talks about God and Hell, lists "Judeo-Christian principles" among reasons to not commit murder, and even prays [[spoiler:in a moment of desparation in the finale]], but it's never really confirmed if he is Catholic or Protestant, or an agnostic theist.

* The religion of the cast of ''VideoGame/NightInTheWoods'' features churches, Easter, popes, Sunday school, and a video cover associates crosses with priests, but the local church's main symbol is an eight-pointed star and the female pastor refers to God with "they" pronouns. Religion is often discussed by the characters, especially with the atheist Angus and the observant Bea, but denominations are never stated.

* ''Series/Riverdale'' features multiple ambiguously-Christian cults, apparently out of a fear of directly representing an overtly Christian group as villainous. The Sisters of Quiet Mercy are said to be a group of former Catholic nuns, but it's unclear whether they're still Christian. The Farm is a New Age-y cult with a charismatic leader who adopted the Sisters' abandoned compound, some of their religious imagery, and all of their doctrinal ambiguity. The Blossom Ministry, a weird church established by Penelope and Cheryl Blossom, features Christian decor and imagery (and at one point has Kevin and Cheryl singing a number from ''Theatre/JesusChristSuperstar'',) but it also seems to revolve around Jason Blossom as a savior figure in place of Jesus, plus a lot more maple syrup metaphors than you'd expect in a Christian sect.

->''"You joke about heaven and hell, Deadshot. But trust me, they exist. There's not a morning goes by I don't get up wondering if this will be my judgment day. Will I end up with the woman I love, or face a lake of hellfire with the same vermin who brought me down? The only thing any of us can hope for is divine intervention. Only through the grace of God can we be saved from eternal damnation. For all the blood we spilt... everything else is just talk."''
-->-- '''Bronze Tiger''', ''WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay''

* Mello from ''Manga/DeathNote''. He wears a rosary necklace [[note]] Even though wearing one as a necklace is not technically correct. But, then again, Mello never was one for playing by the rules! [[/note]], as well as a matching bracelet, and crosses and even a Virgin Mary graphic appear on his clothes [[UnlimitedWardrobe occasionally]]. He also has a crucifix on the wall, a little cross charm on his gun, and a small Marian shrine on the mantle in his personal living space. He also refers in ''LightNovel/AnotherNote'' to [[{{God}} The Almighty]]. This, and a real name [[spoiler: Mihael Keehl]] that marks Mello as being possibly from a predominantly Catholic country or ethnic background, leads many fans to believe that he is [[TokenReligiousTeammate a practicing Catholic]]. It would also be [[AgainstMyReligion a plausible reason]] to fight against Kira besides besting Near, [[spoiler: whom he technically ''gave'' the role of L's successor to in a fit of sour grapes.]] However, it is never actually confirmed InUniverse if Mello actually ''is'' a Catholic, or if he ''was'' one but is not anymore, or is one InNameOnly, or if he's some ''other'' type of Christian (real or made-up) that's similar to Catholicism but isn't, or if he just thinks the crosses, and such look [[RuleOfCool cool]].

* ''Series/BreakingBad'': Walter White very occassionally talks about God and Hell, and even prays [[spoiler:in the finale]], but it's never really confirmed if he is Catholic or Protestant, or an agnostic theist.

* Possibly Mello from ''Manga/DeathNote''. He wears a rosary necklace [[note]] Even though wearing one as a necklace is not technically correct. But, then again, Mello never was one for playing by the rules! [[/note]], as well as a matching bracelet, and crosses and even a Virgin Mary graphic appear on his clothes [[UnlimitedWardrobe occasionally]]. He also has a crucifix on the wall, a little cross charm on his gun, and a small Marian shrine on the mantle in his personal living space. He also refers in ''LightNovel/AnotherNote'' to [[{{God}} The Almighty]]. This, and a real name [[spoiler: Mihael Keehl]] that marks Mello as being possibly from a predominantly Catholic country or ethnic background, leads many fans to believe that he is [[TokenReligiousTeammate a practicing Catholic]]. It would also be [[AgainstMyReligion a plausible reason]] to fight against Kira besides besting Near, [[spoiler: whom he technically ''gave'' the role of L's successor to in a fit of sour grapes.]] However, it is never actually confirmed InUniverse if Mello actually ''is'' a Catholic, or if he ''was'' one but is not anymore, or is one InNameOnly, or if he's some ''other'' type of Christian (real or made-up) that's similar to Catholicism but isn't, or if he just thinks the crosses, and such look [[RuleOfCool cool]].

* Marshall from ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' seems to be Christian. He celebrates Christmas, says Grace at family dinners, and an argument with his wife about whether they should teach their children about Santa was used as a [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything stand-in]] for whether they should teach religion. However, he's never shown attending church and when he's referring to a higher power it's always [[NotUsingTheNWord "The Universe"]], not God.

* While the Halliwells of ''Series/Charmed1998'' are practicing Wiccans, it's often implied they were raised Catholic, as Piper and Phoebe are seen having a conversation with a man that's implied to be the family's priest on God and witches, and Paige mentioning she and her adoptive parents attending the church where she was found.

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* Both Maddie and London from ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' have been enrolled in private Catholic schools. At least one or two references to God have been made within said school as well.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In one episode, Plankton insults an old version of Mr. Krabs by calling him "Methuselah". Besides SantaClausmas, this is the only indication that Literature/TheBible even exists in the Bikini Bottom.

* The characters in the Mysterious trilogy of the ''VideoGame/{{Atelier}}'' series (''VideoGame/AtelierSophie'', ''VideoGame/AtelierFiris'', and ''VideoGame/AtelierLydieAndSuelle'') follow a monotheistic religion whose deity is called God, go to church to pray, and some [=NPCs=] are nuns. Whether the religion of the setting is AnimeCatholicism or a FantasyCounterpartCulture that happens to resemble it is unclear.

* "The Mob Song" from ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' contains lyrics such as "Praise the Lord and here we go" and "Say a prayer and we're there". This, combined with the time period, implies Belle lives in a primarily Christian area.

* Just about all of Europa in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''. References are sometimes made to a Papacy[[note]](The novelizations clarify that there are actually seven different Papacies who all split up in the 16th century)[[/note]], Literature/TheBible[[note]](A character named Moloch [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120817 once explained]] that his mom named him by just picking names out of the Bible without reading it)[[/note]], various saints both real and made-up, holidays like Christmas, and cathedrals. However none of the characters are seen actively practicing Christian worship nor is any explicit naming of the religion shown. Though there is a [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100219 passing mention]] of one of the characters being Christened.