History Main / GodIsGood

* ''Manga/IGotMyWishAndReincarnatedAsTheVillainessLastBoss'': The actions God has performed so far are for the general good: trying to resolve the issue of "The Saint and the Four Knights" universe, where Elizabeth turns into a [[MaouTheDemonKing demon lord]], by specifically choosing a soul to reincarnate as her; and in his perspective, this is also in the protagonist's favor, as he thinks she would have an easier life post-reincarnation (the reincarnated agrees with that view). He also asks for the reincarnated's consent for this and is uncomfortable at the latter's [[JumpedAtTheCall Jumping at the Call]].

[[{{God}} The man upstairs]] is a pretty cool guy.

He wants people to be happy and for good to triumph over evil, and isn't afraid of anything. His power is not based on [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly people liking him]] or a hidden {{plan}} to extract the tears of mortals. If God permits evil, it is because He respects people enough to let them make their own mistakes, and deal with the consequences of their actions, rather than [[ForTheEvulz evil for its own sake]]. If a hero is pious and noble, repentant if it concerns an anti hero, or if the evil cannot be contained by mortal agents, sometimes divine intervention actually happens, no strings attached.

[[RuleOfDrama For dramatic reasons]], characters may avoid turning to God until they've exhausted every other possible recourse: PrayerIsALastResort. (Bonus points if the prayer includes the line, "God, I'm not really a praying man, but...") This can be used to [[GodzillaThreshold underscore how desperate the situation really is]], and also to avoid any [[DeusExMachina too-convenient]] {{Divine Intervention}}s. More pious folks may still consider this to be unsatisfying; [[FridgeLogic after all]], if there's really an [[TheOmnipotent omnipotent]] BigGood who's willing to give you supernatural assistance when you ask, why ''wouldn't'' you ask right away?

* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' As the physical manifestation of the sun goddess the player spend their days restoring life to the world and answering prayers while smiting the forces of the underworld. Amaterasu becomes so beloved she recieves a massive praise powerup from those she's helped for the final showdown with the manifestation of evil, Yami. Even imps love her by the end of the game!

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': Multiple episodes but especially "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E84TheHunt The Hunt]]". Heaven is an ideal paradise for everyone, not just a bright place in the clouds, taking the form of a beautiful backwoods with square dances and coon hunts for a deceased woodsman and his hunting dog. The angels God sends to guide people along talk to them like old friends, and he even sets up morality tests to allow moral non-Christians in if they prove to still hold benevolent values. And animals get into Heaven, with an old couple's beloved pet joining them in paradise.

* You wouldn't think it, but ''VideoGame/GodOfWar2018'' shows that there are genuinely kindly deities out there. Tyr was a peacemaker who genuinely tried to help all the Nine Realms get along, Freya befriends Kratos [[spoiler:as the Witch of the Woods, though it takes some time for her to get over her own flaws]], and even the Norns, [[BrutalHonesty harsh]] though they are, give Kratos what's possibly the best advice he's ever received in his entire life. [[spoiler:''Ragnarok'' also ends with the prediction that Kratos himself will be one; having led the armies of the Nine Realms to overthrow Odin and worked to help rebuild after the war, he will be loved and worshipped as a protector and savior of all realms. Seeing Faye's prophecy shrine of this ends up very nearly bringing him to tears.]]

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'': [[spoiler: [[SatanicArchetype Venat]] is ''trying'' to be this, they want to liberate the mortal races from the control of their kin the Occuria who are JerkassGods. This is ultimately heavily zigzagged though, as good Venat’s intentions are their [[WellIntentionedExtremist brutal and extreme]] [[TheChessmaster methods]] cause a huge amount of collateral damage that require the protagonists to confront and defeat them, even though tragically their goals are the same.]]

* ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'': God would REALLY appreciate it if people would stop groveling every time he tries to talk to someone. He leaves useful things like the HolyHandGrenade for the heroes to find.

* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'': Raiden's job description is to destroy anyone who tries to harm Earthrealm... until ''Deception'', where he [[spoiler: goes into KnightTemplar mode and in ''Armageddon'' where he decides all the other realms are threats to Earthrealm and destroys them all.]]

** The [[UpdatedRerelease Overcloked]] suggests that [[spoiler: God ''intentionally'' set up the CainAndAbel scenario to get a Murderer and Martyr, as well as having Abel absorb some of Bel inside him with his hate. Furthermore, while he still [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption waits until the last second to get nasty]], he's also pretty quick to turn on the protagonists if they rebel. Opinion varies over whether His behavior is [[PayEvilUntoEvil acceptable]] or [[MoralEventHorizon not]], given that [[ApocalypseHow the alternatives]] aren't pretty. Ultimately Overclocked does begin to [[ZigzaggedTrope zigzag this trope]], but it is still hard to say GodIsEvil in the game given he is helpful as long as you don't go down the Chaos path.]]

-->''For the LORD is good; His steadfast love is eternal; His faithfulness is for all generations.''

* A particular Christian subset, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_universalism Christian Universalism]], holds that a FireAndBrimstoneHell simply doesn't exist, as God wouldn't punish ''any'' human that harshly.[[note]]While many Christians [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Analysis/FireAndBrimstoneHell question the accuracy of the concept]], most denominations agree that the idea of there being ''no'' consequence for sin is heretical.[[/note]] Or, [[https://www.uuworld.org/articles/stories-universalist-history per Hosea Ballou]]:

** The Axis Cult will talk your ear off about the grand benevolence of their goddess, Lady Aqua, but this is because they are crazy zealots. Aqua is whiny, selfish, and useless unless you need a healer (or giant frog bait), but she has her moments of compassion and wisdom. She is definitely good ''to'' the Axis Cult members themselves.

* ''Webcomic/[[JackDavidHopkins Jack]]'': God, depicted as a friendly ewe, initially seemed somewhat aloof and perhaps a little too unconcerned with the horrible things that constantly happen in her universe (and which are the subject of the majority of the comic). Eventually it was revealed she is in fact deeply concerned with her creations; and may be the only God to directly apologize to her creations for all the crap they sometimes have to go through. She also outright stated that "One day, you will all replace me".

* ''Webcomic/{{Jack}}'': God, depicted as a friendly ewe, initially seemed somewhat aloof and perhaps a little too unconcerned with the horrible things that constantly happen in her universe (and which are the subject of the majority of the comic). Eventually it was revealed she is in fact deeply concerned with her creations; and may be the only God to directly apologize to her creations for all the crap they sometimes have to go through. She also outright stated that "One day, you will all replace me".

* ''VideoGame/FaithTheUnholyTrinity'' initially makes you think this trope isn't in play, with even the main character John having a CrisisOfFaith. [[spoiler: Nope, the final episode reveals He does indeed care and it is heavily implied He has been helping the entire time. At the climax He even comes in to [[EleventhHourSuperpower directly lend you a hand]] and ensure a possessed girl is also saved.]]

** ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Tolkien stated in a letter that the main characters are [[BigBad Sauron]], the titular lord of the rings and the one who started the war, and God. The story is about how God, known as Eru Ilúvatar, defeats Sauron through His servants (i.e., Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, etc.) and in one miraculous case, causing the ledge of Mount Doom to crumble so that Gollum and the One Ring fell into the fire, ensuring that the dark power of Sauron was destroyed forever and peace could return to Middle-Earth.
** ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': The power of Morgoth gets so out of control in the first age elves, humans and dwarves have no choice but to plead before the Valar for their aid. They get it. Plus, in the Tolkien Apocalypse, Jesus/St. Michael stand-in Manwë gets medieval with Morgoth and his resurrected servants at Dagor Dagorach.

** [[spoiler:Zen'o, King of Everything and the superior to all gods, is a Zigzagged example. On one hand he is an extremely immature and temperamental being who will threaten your existence if you insult him, but he has also shown to be extremely wise on occasion and will not tolerate evil in any of his universes. Overall, as long as you stay in his good side, Zen'o is pretty benign. In fact, the Tournament of Power he organizes and has 8 out of 11 universes to participate, with Goku's unwitting suggestions, in which the penalty for a Universe's team losing is erasure; turns out to be a SecretTestOfCharacter where the winner has to make a wish to restore all the deleted universes out of the good of their heart and prove that mortals are capable of good deeds, any other wish would've made Zen'o erase all of existence. Ultimately Android 17 is the last man standing and does exactly that.]]

** [[spoiler:Zen'o, King of Everything and the superior to all gods, is a Zigzagged example. On one hand he is an extremely immature and temperamental being who will threaten your existence if you insult him, but he has also shown to be extremely wise on occasion and will not tolerate evil in any of his universes. Overall as long as you stay in his good side, Zen'o is pretty benign.]]

* ''LightNovel/NoGameNoLife'': Once Tet became the One True God, (s)he outlawed violence and robbery and stated any dispute would be resolved by games, where cheating is ''not'' allowed. (S)he is also very friendly to the main characters, and while Tet claims to not favor any of the sixteen races in particular, there's no denying that Tet's actions not only made two genuinely good peoples' dreams come true by sending them to a parallel fantasy world where their skills as gamers could make a huge difference, but also that this decision wound up saving humanity in its time of most dire need.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}},'' Bender is lost in space and meets a strange, [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien super-powered being]] which may or may not be God; the entity doesn't know either, but admits that he (it?) has compassion for all living things. Ultimately, the being helps Bender get home after having a talk about the responsibilities of godhood.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'': Index theorizes that the reason Touma is BornUnlucky is because his Imagine Breaker creates a moving zone that negates God's Grace. In other words, the only reason anyone ever has any good luck is because God is willing it.

** [[spoiler: Zen'o, King of Everything and the superior to all gods, is a Zigzagged example. On one hand he is an extremely immature and temperamental being who will threaten your existence if you insult him, but he has also shown to be extremely wise on occasion and will not tolerate evil in any of his universes. Overall as long as you stay in his good side, Zen’o is pretty benign.]]

* ''LightNovel/{{Konosuba}}'':

* Implied in ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'': When an adventurer dies, they automatically respawn in a cathedral. It has a "saved by divine grace" air to it.

* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'': It is implied that astral projection Baltar and Six are agents of a higher power tasked [[spoiler:with breaking the cycle of human/machine hatred and destruction. WordofGod- ironically, given this trope's name- has confirmed it]].
** Interestingly, one of the last lines of dialogue in the series is Head-Baltar remarking to his counterpart how they both know said higher power ''does not'' like being referred to as "God"

* In ''Series/{{Reaper}}'' God seems strangely absent and Satan able to do as he pleases. However, towards the end of the series evidence is presented that God is still very much in control and has a plan for making things work out, [[spoiler: as demonstrated when pacifistic demon Steve is returned to angelic status after being killed by the devil, and swarms of angels appear to Sam and Andi]].

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': Multiple episodes but especially "The Hunt". Heaven is an ideal paradise for everyone, not just a bright place in the clouds, taking the form of a beautiful backwoods with square dances and coon hunts for a deceased woodsman and his hunting dog. The angels God sends to guide people along talk to them like old friends, and he even sets up morality tests to allow moral nonchristians in if they prove to still hold benevolent values. And animals get into Heaven, with an old couple's beloved pet joining them in paradise.

* ''VideoGame/FaithTheUnholyTrinity'' initially makes you think this trope isn't in play, with even the main character John having a CrisisOfFaith. [[spoiler: The climax of the final episode reveals He does indeed care and comes in to [[EleventhHourSuperpower lend you a hand,]] only refusing aide if you are [[VideoGameCrueltyPunishment willing to abandon a possessed girl]].]]

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': Multiple episodes but especially "The Hunt". Heaven is an ideal paradise for everyone, not just a bright place in the clouds, taking the form of a beautiful back-wood with square dances and coon hunts for a deceased woodsman and his hunting dog, the angels God sends to guide people along talk to them like old friends, and he even sets up morality tests to allow moral nonchristians in if they prove to still hold Christian values.

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', being an adaptation of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', has got its share of gods of various shapes, sizes, and ostensible moral alignments, but Thor, whom the team's cleric, Durkon, worships, is pretty consistently shown to be a stand-up guy [[CharacterizationMarchesOn once he's used as a character rather than an oafish running gag]]. He cares for his followers both collectively and individually, even taking the time in the middle of an important {{Infodump}} to reassure one of his followers, personally, that she doesn't have to feel guilty about some undisclosed thing troubling her, he [[spoiler: warns the dwarves about a divine bet he was tricked into making while drunk so that they can try to avoid being condemned to Hel's domain (and argues on their behalf even for those who don't manage to avoid the narrow definition therein)]], he bends some of the divine laws so he can make sure his followers are properly informed about their quest, and he [[spoiler: is not only one of the gods who votes against prematurely destroying the world before the Order of the Stick has a chance to save it so they can "cash out" the mortals before the Snarl kills them DeaderThanDead, but refuses to grow jaded enough to see that as a good outcome compared with stopping the Snarl forever, something even some of his fellow "good" gods are stated to accept]]. The worst that can be said of him is that he didn't really do much to prevent the monster races, specifically the goblin people's low place in the world, [[spoiler: and even that is much more out of [[HanlonsRazor apathy rather than malice]].]]