History Main / HolyIsNotSafe

Closely related to HolyHandGrenade; the distinction is that this trope refers to holiness being inherently dangerous to {{Muggles}}, whereas Holy Hand Grenade is when holiness is weaponized. Also compare and contrast HolyBurnsEvil and YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm. Sometimes manifests as CastFromHitPoints or BrownNote. See also HumansAreFlawed for a possible reason Holy Is Not Safe. Contrast ReviveKillsZombie, in which something beneficial to normal beings is harmful to unholy and/or undead ones. The [[EvilCounterpart Good Counterpart]] to EvilIsNotAToy (though there are differences: Holy things will ''usually'' only vaporize the offender, while Evil is much more likely to corrupt the victim and turn them into a monster... [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible best not to make any assumptions, though]]).

--> -- '''{{God}}''' to Moses, [[Literature/BookOfExodus Exodus 33:20]], Literature/TheBible (New King James Version)

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun'' has the corpse of Jesus Christ which takes this trope UpToEleven to the point of becoming an ArtifactOfDoom in the wrong hands. The "Holy Corpse" as it's known in the story possesses the power of equivalent exchange, redirecting any misfortune suffered by the wielder somewhere completely random. [[BigBad President Funny Valentine]] wants to use its power to give eternal prosperity to America. This would have catastrophic consequences for the rest of the world as all that misfortune has to go ''somewhere''.

** There's a variety in ''[[Literature/TheHistoryOfMiddleEarth Morgoth's Ring]]'' where Aman, the Blessed Realm, is said to be forbidden to most mortals precisely because it grants those who dwell there extended bodily life. It doesn't stretch the lifespan of your ''soul'' correspondingly. The possible fates of mortals there are terrifying:

** The Silmarils were gems of light that burned everything and everybody trying to touch them who wasn't [[IncorruptiblePurePureness Incorruptibly Pure]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': ''Equestria Girls'' spin-off movies it is shown that the magic coming from the Elements of Harmony -- artifacts which are normaly used to banish or purify evil by the heroes -- can not only turn people in the human world very powerful, but also monstrous (not just in appearance), crazy, extremist or all at the same time.

** ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'': When the socially awkward Human Twilight is coaxed into unleashing all of the magic her pendant has absorbed up to that point, it corrupts her and she very nearly ends up destroying reality in her attempt to try to gain access to more knowledge about magic.

* ''ComicBook/{{JLA}}'':

* In the ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta}}'' series, the Umbra Witches need to make a DealWithTheDevil in order to gain their powers. The Lumen Sages, their light-based counterparts, do something similar, making contracts with angels ... however the angels in this universe are [[LightIsNotGood anything but benevolent]], despising humanity for their weakness. Also, just as Umbra Witches get their souls dragged down to [[{{Hell}} Inferno]] when they die, the souls of Sages are taken into [[{{Heaven}} Paradiso]], where its insinuated that their souls are used to create CannonFodder soldiers for the angelic armies.

* Johnny Storm the Human Torch of the ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'' had the bad luck of being burned by {{Hellfire}} and the FlamingSword of an archangel in the same story arc. The archangel's sword was more painful.
* The Angelus from ''ComicBook/TheDarkness'' has this trait in spades. She/It represents the light of creation and is the divine embodiment of law and order, but is indiscriminately dangerous to all who get in her/its way of purging the Darkness. The Angelus was known to have destroyed The TowerOfBabel, torn down the Walls of Jerusalem, and ripped apart Krakatoa simply as a display of its holiness and ferocity.
* An important plot point in a ComicBook/{{JLA}} story where earth was being invaded by a renegade king angel called Asmodel to hunt down the fallen angel Zauriel, because Zauriel [[HeKnowsTooMuch knows about Asmodel's plan to rebel and try to take control of heaven.]] The angelic soldiers and their weapons including their massive flying ship use holy power and Zauriel is horrified because he knows that such powers and objects are too much for the mortal world.
-->'''Zauriel:''' We're talking about a higher order of reality entering this plane. The world they come from, the world I come from, has... more of everything. I don't think you understand yet; the light of heaven would slash open your corneas. The music of heaven would puncture your eardrums and drive you insane. the air in heaven would burst your lungs and boil your blood. Only spirit can bear heaven's touch.
** Averted in a ChosenOne kind of way with Superman in the very same story arc. Just when Asmodel is about to finish the Martian Manhunter, [[BigDamnHeroes Superman shows up]] and tells J'onn to [[IAmYourOpponent stand down and let him take care of Asmodel.]] Not only does Superman hold his own and stand toe to toe with Asmodel, but when Asmodel gets desperate and blasts Superman with holy light, Clark completely [[NoSell no sells it]]. When Asmodel, [[EvilCannotComprehendGood baffled by this]], comments on it he also inadvertently [[IncorruptiblePurePureness confirms]] [[AllLovingHero what everyone already knows about Superman.]]
--->'''Asmodel:''' How!? How can you bear the scouring light of heaven!? Only the purest of souls can gaze upon this flame and not be driven mad!!

** Positive Energy is a type of magical energy closely associated with life, and spellcasters often channel it when casting healing spells, {{Holy Hand Grenade}}s, or [[TurnUndead Turning Undead]]. The [[http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Positive_Energy_plane Positive Energy Plane]] is made entirely of the stuff, and trying to visit it without appropriate protection will cause your body to become [[ExplosiveOverclocking overloaded with life energy]], which will vaporize you if you spend too long there. [[YourHeadAsplode Depending on your Constitution, "too long" ranges from a few minutes to literally seconds.]]

*** The same sourcebook also introduces sanctified spells, which are spells available only to good-aligned spellcasters who prepare spells before casting them. Like the Words of Creation, most are CastFromHitPoints in the form of varying levels of ability damage or, in the case of Exalted Fury, [[HeroicSacrifice death]].
** Never even mind the 5th Edition's versions of the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Book of Vile Darkness]] and the [[SacredScripture Book of Exalted Deeds]]. When you read the Book of Vile Darkness and have an alignment of Neutral or Good, you need to make a save or instantly become NeutralEvil. Obviously, the inverse would be so for the Book of Exalted Deeds, no? Actually, if you try to read it and aren't Good-aligned, it instead ''vaporizes you''.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', astropaths are psykers who make brief psychic contact with the nearly dead God Emperor of Mankind so they can safely use their psychic power for FTL communication. This has the unpleasant side effect of burning out the [[EyeScream astropath's eyes]].
* Happens in the fan made ''[[Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness World of Darkness]]'' game ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful'', where bathing in the Light of the Dreamlands is beneficial, but going any deeper then the shallow end of the pool will obliterate everyone, including the Light's own champions.
** The existence of the Twilight Courts is also an example; all three Courts still serve the Light in their own way, but they're often not the best Nobles to come to the attention of.
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' contains many white cards that brings holy destruction everywhere, every block usually containing at least one of these. The most iconic examples being [[http://magiccards.info/query?q=wrath+of+god&v=card&s=cname Wrath of God]] and [[http://magiccards.info/query?q=day+of+judgment&v=card&s=cname Day of Judgment]], both of which destroy all creatures (including the caster's). While LightIsNotGood is in effect in the setting, it does tend to be ''fair,'' and what's more fair than destroying ''everything''?

* In the '''Franchise/Hellboy'' novel ''On Earth As It Is In Hell'' by BrianHodge, Seraphim (angels) can be summoned by anyone for any purpose, as long as it involves destruction. Hellboy says they are described in scripture as "Heaven's stormtroopers." One of the renegade priests who has seen them describes them as beautiful, but "incomplete" - no more and no less than the purest manifestation of God's wrath.

* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', the protagonists make camp in the ruins of an ancient temple. Turns out the temple is haunted by ''the god himself''. Ciarra is possessed by the god, and Oreg suffers horribly because he couldn't protect her. Though the latter is caused by the magic with which Oreg was MadeASlave, the god doesn't seem to have much compassion, either. Needless to say, the main protagonist, Ward, is quite angry at that JerkassGod.

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', Harry receives the Soulfire power from ArchangelUriel, an ostensibly holy ability that is basically the fires of Creation ... which is [[CastFromHitpoints powered by his own soul]]. Though according to Bob, this really isn't as big of a deal as Harry thinks it is. The soul is somewhat malleable, and any portion of his soul that he uses up will eventually come back. So long as he doesn't use Soulfire too much in a short amount of time, he'll be fine. If he does, then as Bob put it, "if you subtract five from five..."
** By the same token, the Knights of the Cross are holy warriors tasked to defend the world against the forces of darkness, each one wielding a blessed sword imbued with one of the nails from the Cross. Yes, the capital "C" Cross. They're also world-class swordsmen, capable of carving through baddies like a hot knife through butter. The Knights are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet, willing to lay down their lives to protect the innocent...as long as you're not on their bad side.

Closely related to HolyHandGrenade; the distinction is that this trope refers to holiness being inherently dangerous to {{Muggles}}, whereas Holy Hand Grenade is when holiness is weaponized. Also compare and contrast HolyBurnsEvil. Sometimes manifests as CastFromHitPoints or BrownNote. See also HumansAreFlawed for a possible reason Holy Is Not Safe. Contrast ReviveKillsZombie, in which something beneficial to normal beings is harmful to unholy and/or undead ones. The [[EvilCounterpart Good Counterpart]] to EvilIsNotAToy (though there are differences: Holy things will ''usually'' only vaporize the offender, while Evil is much more likely to corrupt the victim and turn them into a monster... [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible best not to make any assumptions, though]]).

* In later interpretations of [[KingArthur Arthurian legend]], the HolyGrail tended to be this. Only Sir Galahad, the [[IncorruptiblePurePureness purest of knights]], could survive looking upon it. This might also be said to apply to the Siege Perilous, Galahad's seat at the Round Table, which marked the knight destined to complete the Grail Quest. Anyone other than Galahad who sat in it would immediately die.

This may be the logical extreme of WhiteMagic. While BlackMagic involves drawing power from others, and has a tendency to kill or corrupt anyone, WhiteMagic generally helps others through self-sacrifice and purges evil. [[FridgeLogic Think about the implications of this]]: purging evil can range from the depraved villain to the NobleDemon to even an AntiHero to ''[[AllCrimesAreEqual anyone]]'' even remotely human, because all people are capable of evil. Another way to think about is thus: If you aren't willing to make the sacrifice, you get punished, but if you are worthy enough, [[BeingGoodSucks you get sacrificed]]. Likewise, anyone helped by your sacrifice is likely to be [[SoulsavingCrusader saved]] or [[KnightTemplar punished]] by its effects.

** [[{{God}} Eru Ilúvatar]], the ultimate Creator, left [[OurAngelsAreDifferent the Valar]] in charge of the world to guide and help the humans and elves. When the Númenoreans decided to [[RageAgainstTheHeavens declare war on the Valar]] and invade their land, however, the Valar were unsure what to do and asked Ilúvatar to momentarily take control of the world once again. He responded by immediately ''sinking the Númenoreans' whole country into the sea,'' leaving only three ships of faithful survivors.

** Angels and demons both have to possess a human in order to walk the Earth. Angels require the consent of the human who is to be their vessel, but just because they're angels doesn't mean it's all going to turn out okay. Many angelic vessels are killed or left broken like victims of bad lobotomies after the angel is finished with them.

* Happens in the fan made WoD ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful'', where bathing in the Light of the Dreamlands is beneficial, but going any deeper then the shallow end of the pool will obliterate everyone, including the Light's own champions.

-> ''"But He said, 'You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.' "''

* The Hallow in ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', a spreading biome filled with holy energy that forms colourful trees, and rainbows as opposed to TheCorruption and [[BloodyBowelsOfHell The Crimson]]. Sounds pleasant? It contains pixies, unicorns, and gastropods that will tear you apart (and in the case of the latter, BeamSpam you) with frightening ease.

* An important plot point in a JLA story where earth was being invaded by a renegade king angel called Asmodel to hunt down the fallen angel Zauriel, because Zauriel [[HeKnowsTooMuch knows about Asmodel's plan to rebel and try to take control of heaven.]] The angelic soldiers and their weapons including their massive flying ship use holy power and Zauriel is horrified because he knows that such powers and objects are too much for the mortal world.

* In Asian mysticism, Yang, the energy of light and Heaven[[note]]Which is not really "Heaven" in the Christian sense, even if they [[CallASmeerpARabbit share the name]][[/note]], has to be balanced with [[TheSacredDarkness Yin]], as otherwise your body will be unbalanced and suffer from excess Yang, with things like fever and excessive anger being common symptoms.