History Main / HolyIsNotSafe

* ''ComicBook/TheDarkness'': The Angelus 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.

** Artefacts blessed by gods in general, such as the Swords of the Cross, Mjolnir, Carol's uru shield (enchanted by Odin), also qualify. If they're nice, like Mjolnir, they'll just refuse to work. If you have any shred of supernatural darkness about you, maybe not even that, they'll outright burn you. And that's not even getting into the wielders, who tend to epitomise GoodIsNotSoft.

* ''Film/{{Dogma}}'' uses the idea that God's voice is fatal to mortals as a plot point. It places Metatron (whose purpose it is to relate God's words to mortals) in the role of MrExposition, and [[spoiler: is used to destroy the renegade angels]].
-->'''Metatron''': Humans possess neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the awesome power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode within your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out.
* ''Film/TheTenCommandments1956'': As with the [[Literature/BookOfExodus source material]], the presence of {{God}} is dangerous. The burning bush prematurely ages Moses, and so does the pillar of fire. The stone tablets destroy an idol and all it's worshipers.

* In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', the Borg see the Omega molecule as the pinnacle of perfection and seek it with an almost religious reverence. When Seven of Nine observes Omega molecules self-stabilizing in "The Omega Directive", she reacts as if she is having a religious experience. However, Omega molecules are among the most dangerous substance in the universe, capable of generating deadly radiation, creating massive explosions, and destroying the fabric of subspace.
* In ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' the [[MacGuffin Zeo Crystal]] can grant superpowers by accessing the Morphing Grid, however, it is protected by a force field that is deadly to anyone with evil in their hearts (thus explaining why [[BigBadDuumvirate Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa]] haven't already used it despite it being in a cave right under their palace.) Tommy Oliver ends up having to grab it, but is almost destroyed in the process due to having been [[BrainwashedAndCrazy forcibly turned evil by Rita at one point]], though he survives, presumably because it wasn't his fault he turned evil.

At another point in 1 Samuel (Chapters 4-7) the Israelites tried to use it as a good luck charm in battle against the Philistines. Its presence ended up galvanizing the Philistines who ripped the Israelites a new one and captured the Ark. Then the Philistines made the mistake of keeping it in the same room as an idol of Dagon, and God destroyed the statue and struck them with a plague of tumors and rats. The Philistine cities started playing hot potato with the thing and eventually decided to send it back to Israel with a guilt offering. Aaaand the Israelites promptly had a whole bunch of people die from looking into the Ark. Seriously, compared to the Ark of the Covenant, nuclear waste is ''safe''.

* The Wrathful Deities in Tanric Buddhism are monster-like hybrids whose work is to kill or subjugate demons.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'':
** The White Materia, Holy, is the Planet's ultimate defensive measure. It wipes away anything it judges to be a threat to the Planet. While this obviously includes the incoming Meteor, there is a risk it could consider ''humanity itself'' to be a threat to the Planet and wipe humans out too. [[spoiler:Its only thanks to a last-minute intervention by Aerith via the {{Lifestream}} that it actually ''doesn't'']].
** The various WEAPONS (giant monster creatures, not actual swords/guns/etc.) are the backup in case Holy doesn't work. However, since the BigBad who's actively trying to destroy the Planet is hiding behind a shield that even the WEAPONS can't penetrate, they opt to go after the #2 threat to the Planet instead. Which would be humanity.
* ''VideoGame/{{Hexen}} II'' weaponizes holiness with one of the crusader's weapons. It is a beam of holy light that burns even on the most minor of guilt that exists in all living things.
* At the end of ''VideoGame/RiddleOfTheSphinx'', clicking on the light from [[spoiler: TheArkOfTheCovenant]] knocks your character out temporarily.

* The ZombieApocalypse that nearly destroys New Tristram in ''Videogame/DiabloIII'' is eventually revealed to have been inadvertently caused by the power of Justice: [[spoiler:the zombies were the remains of people unjustly killed during previous conflicts between humans and demons, brought back to life because the power of Justice became unregulated after the Archangel of Justice, Tyrael, renounced his position and [[FallenAngel fell]] to Sanctuary to take a more active hand on humanity's behalf against the forces of Hell]].
* In ''Videogame/PlanescapeTorment'', Trias the Betrayer's has a pair of charred, skeletal wings. The first explaniation you get for this is that they were mutilated by prison guards (which is plausible, since he is currently imprisoned on a plane which is basically one giant prison). [[spoiler:In actual fact his wings were burned to a crisp when he was cast down from the heavens. He claims that all of the fury of the Abyss pales in comparison to the divine wrath that burned his wings off.]]
* In the ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta}}'' series, the Umbra Witches need to make a DealWithTheDevil with the demons of Inferno in order to gain their powers. The Lumen Sages, their light-based counterparts, do something similar, making contracts with angels in Paradiso... 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 it's insinuated that their souls are used to create CannonFodder soldiers for the angelic armies.

* 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. It also houses Empress of Light, a {{Superboss}} that surpasses hardmode-upgraded versions of Corrupt bosses by a couple tiers if you fight her at night. If you let the fight run into daylight, her attacks will turn into unstoppable instant-kills. Fighting her ''entirely'' during the day is the hardest challenge in the game but also drops the most overpowered weapon if you manage to pull it off.
* Gaia/Yggdrasil/The Immaculate Machine in ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' is a massive divine supercomputer within and without the Hollow Earth, with its {{Magitek}} symbiotic bees being the source of all player characters' magical sensitivity. It also has the usual slew of AlienGeometries, [[GoMadFromTheRevelation unknowable truths]] and burning white light inflicted upon those with no magical aptitude who happen upon an entrance to Agartha.
* Large parts of the angelic plane of Elysium in ''VideoGame/NexusClash'' can and will burn anyone who isn't a full-blown angel to death no matter what their ranking on the KarmaMeter.

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'', Black Magic and White Magic alike are CastFromHitPoints. Many of the most expensive spells are White Magic, so it's always wise to keep a second healer around to heal your first healer (the basic heal spell only costs 1 HP).
* The land of Cvstodia in ''VideoGame/{{Blasphemous}}'' has been visited by an incarnation of divine will they [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast rightfully]] call "The Most Grievous Miracle"... which has twisted Cvstodia into a hellish realm where mortals are warped into undying, pain-fueled monsters of manifest guilt and sorrow. In fairness, there are hints that it might have been warped into doing this by Cvstodia's MartyrdomCulture... but there are also hints it might just be due to the cosmic entity behind the Grievous Miracle [[GodIsEvil being an utter dick]].

* After the final battle of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyDimensions'', all the light that had been sucked out of the world begins to flood back. When Diana asks if that isn't a good thing, Dusk says it is, except for the fact that they are right in its way. [[spoiler:In the end, Dusk and Alba are ready to perform a HeroicSacrifice to hold it back (although they're forestalled) and Castle Avalon is ''vaporized'' when the light rushes out of the gateway to Nil.]]

* 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 [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity monstrous (not just in appearance), crazy, extremist or all at the same time]].

*** The Words of Creation, a precursor tongue to Celestial considered inherently good to the extent that no evil creature can speak them or bear their sound. However, most uses of the Words cause the user to suffer varying amounts of nonlethal damage (for example, speaking another creature's [[IKnowYourTrueName true name]] inflicts [=5d4=] damage on the speaker).

** When you read the 5th Edition's version of the [[TomeOfEldritchLore 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 [[SacredScripture Book of Exalted Deeds]], no? Actually, if you try to read it and aren't Good-aligned, it instead ''vaporizes you''.
*** This is because Evil corrupts. Good respects Agency/Free Will, so if you are evil and choose to expose yourself to the epitome of Holiness, well then, you determined your own fate...

* In ''LightNovel/ScrappedPrincess'', [[FantasticNuke Ginnungagap]] is the highest known military grade offensive spell, and is so powerful that it must be sanctioned for use, by way of unanimous decision, by the High Council. The [[SphereOfDestruction attack itself]] covers a wide area and is devastating enough on its own, but the real threat is resulting shockwave triggered by it. When used, it [[spoiler: caused a mega-tsunami that devastated the majority of the continental coast!]]

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 and sin. 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.

** Oh hell, even ''angels'' aren't safe! The Seraphim are mentioned as using [[OurAngelsAreDifferent their first pair]] of [[WingedHumanoid wings]] to cover their faces while they cheer God on.

* 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. It also houses Empress of Light, a BonusBoss that surpasses hardmode-upgraded versions of Corrupt bosses by a couple tiers if you fight her at night. If you let the fight run into daylight, her attacks will turn into unstoppable instant-kills. Fighting her ''entirely'' during the day is the hardest challenge in the game but also drops the most overpowered weapon if you manage to pull it off.

* In ''Videogame/PlanescapeTorment'', Trias the Betrayer's has a pair of charred, skeletal wings. The first explaniation you get for this is that they were mutilated by prison guards (which is plausible, since he is currently imprisoned on a plane which is basicly one giant prison. [[spoiler:In actual fact his wings were burned to a crisp when he was cast down from the heavens. He claims that all of the fury of the Abyss pales in comparison to the divine wrath that burned his wings off.]]

* In '''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' the [[MacGuffin Zeo Crystal]] can grant superpowers by accessing the Morphing Grid, however, it is protected by a force field that is deadly to anyone with evil in their hearts (thus explaining why [[BigBadDuumvirate Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa]] haven't already used it despite it being in a cave right under their palace.) Tommy Oliver ends up having to grab it, but is almost destroyed in the process due to having been [[BrainwashedAndCrazy forcibly turned evil by Rita at one point]], though he survives, presumably because it wasn't his fault he turned evil.

* ''Series/AlienNation'': In order to open the ancient Tenctonese artifact ''The Heart of Tencton'' requires training as the artifact must be opened in a very precise manner. Aliens and Newcomers who opened the artifact without proper training meet with a very warm ending.

* ''Series/AlienNation'': In order to open the ancient Tenctonese artifact ''The Heart of Tecton'' requires training as the artifact must be opened in a very precise manner. Aliens and Newcomers who opened the artifact without proper training meet with a very warm ending.

** The White Materia, Holy, is the Planet's ultimate defensive measure. It wipes away anything it judges as a threat to the Planet. While this obviously includes the incoming Meteor, there is a risk it could consider ''humanity itself'' to be a threat to the Planet and wipe humans out too. [[spoiler:Its only thanks to a last-minute intervention by Aerith via the {{Lifestream}} that it actually ''doesn't'']].

** The White Materia, Holy, is the Planet's ultimate defensive measure. It wipes away anything it judges as a threat to the Planet, which could easily include humanity. [[spoiler:Its only thanks to a last-minute intervention by Aerith via the {{Lifestream}} that it actually ''doesn't'']].

Even when LightIsGood, it can still be too hot to handle. Maybe holiness is [[KnightTemplar judgment untempered by mercy]], and only the most [[IncorruptiblePurePureness incorruptible people]] can come in contact with it and come away unscathed. Maybe it's [[GoodIsNotNice really temperamental]], and objects violently to being used for any but the most noble causes. Maybe it's just that light ''burns'', and enough holiness in one place is naturally dangerous to ''anyone'', not just the wicked. In any event, you'll probably rest easier with some safe distance between yourself and anything ''really'' holy.

At another point in 1 Samuel (Chapters 4-7) the Israelites tried to use it as a good luck charm in battle against the Philistines. Its presence ended up galvanizing the Philistines who ripped the Israelites a new one and captured the Ark. Then the Philistines made the mistake of keeping it in the same room as an idol of Dagon, and God destroyed the statue and struck them with a plague of tumors and rats. The Philistine cities started playing hot potato with the thing and eventually decided to send it back to Israel with a guilt offering. Aaaand the Israelites promptly had a whole bunch of people die from looking into the Ark. Seriously, compared to the Ark of the Covenant nuclear waste is ''safe''.

* ''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''.

** Oh hell, even ''angels'' aren't safe! [[TheCheerleader The Seraphim]] are mentioned as using [[OurAngelsAreDifferent their first pair]] of [[WingedHumanoid wings]] to cover their faces while they cheer God on.

* Native American cultures, ''big time''. While magic (usually in the form of medicine and songs) is a big part of traditional life, its abuse (accidental or otherwise) is extremely dangerous, and practitioners are highly trained and expected to be diligent in its use. Sacred artifacts (especially those whose owners have died or place in the society [[LostCommonKnowledge has been lost]]) are treated about how a modern day person might treat a canister of radioactive materials or an improvised explosive, and for much the same reasons.

See also ArtifactofHope.

Everyone knows it's a bad idea to [[EvilIsNotAToy mess around with evil.]] If you're foolish enough to poke a [[MadeOfEvil concentrated ball of malevolence]], [[WhatAnIdiot you've got no one but yourself to blame for the consequences]]. Conversely, we should expect ''goodness'' to be more, well, user-friendly? Less liable to reduce you to a pile of ashes for looking at it crosswise?

** Oh hell, even ''angels'' aren't safe! [[TheCheerleader The Seraphim]] are mentioned as using [[OurAngelsAreDifferent their first pair of]] [[WingedHumanoid wings]] to cover their faces while they cheer God on.