History Main / SaintlyChurch

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' Throughout the series, the Temples of the Eight (later [[DeityOfHumanOrigin Nine]]) Divines are portrayed as uniformly benevolent. They are dedicated to the Aedric deities who sacrificed large portions of their divine power in order to [[CreationMyth create Mundus]], the mortal plane. According to some interpretations of the myth, the Divines sacrificed so much power that they actually are ''[[GodIsDead dead]]'', but "dream that they are alive" and can still influence events on Mundus [[GodNeedsPrayerBadly through the faith of their followers]]. Worship of the Divines has been the official religion of the various [[TheEmpire Cyrodiilic Empires]] of Tamriel since the foundation of the first (where it was adopted as part of the BargainWithHeaven struck with the Aedra which allowed the First Empire to form). Their benevolence is in sharp contrast to the [[ReligionOfEvil typically evil]] (or at least [[ScaryAmoralReligion ill-intentioned]]) Daedric cults (though the Daedra themselves operate on a very BlueAndOrangeMorality) and {{Corrupt Church}}es like the Tribunal Temple.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' The Temple of Time is the most famous and reoccurring example. It is always a safe place for Link because it has a wall around it, though it is open to all. Originally the sealed temple in [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]] and was used as the [[CoolOldLady Old One's]] home, and where [[MasterSwordsman Link]] places the [[CoolSword Master Sword]]. Between [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]] and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]] Rauru repurposes it as the entrance to the sacred realm, making a SecretRoom to hide the [[CoolSword Master Sword]] and the sacred realm entrance, so that evil cannot steal the [[CosmicKeystone Triforce]], and the Sealed Temple is renamed the Temple of Time. Tens of Thousands of years later it can be found in [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath Of The Wild]], though it's in a much worse state due to the [[ApocalypseHow The Great Calamity]]

* The church of Nisan in ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'', led by Sophia as its [[FriendToAllLivingThings Holy Mother]].

* The Chantry of the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series ''tries'' to be this, it honestly does. Unfortunately, history has shown us that it is also self-important, intolerant, and extremely brutal in many of its methods, not to mention that on several occasions it has removed verses from the Chant of Light (their version of a holy book) in order to suit their political aims. Given that it was created by an imperialist, it is no surprise that some nations and races see the Chantry as CorruptChurch. By the end of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', however, the player can [[VideoGameCaringPotential do a lot to remedy this]] through their choices in the story and by influencing the appointment of the new Divine. They can also just as easily [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential make things a whole lot worse]].

* The Chantry of the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series ''tries'' to be this, it honestly does. Unfortunately, history has shown us that it is also self-important, intolerant, and extremely brutal in many of its methods, not to mention that on several occasions it has removed verses from the Chant of Light (their version of a holy book) in order to suit their political aims. By the end of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', however, the player can [[VideoGameCaringPotential do a lot to remedy this]] through their choices in the story and by influencing the appointment of the new Divine. They can also just as easily [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential make things a whole lot worse]].

Most RealLife churches would see themselves this way, and [[TruthInTelevision a good many of them are right]], but even so, '''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease''' - This means that they are also NoRealLife/TooCommon anyway.

* ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'', unusually for a [=JRPG=], depicts religion positively. [[WhiteMage Ophilia]] is a full-fledged cleric who was adopted by the church's Archbishop years ago.

* ''LightNovel/TrinityBlood'' has Abel Nightroad as a friendly and goofy fellow. The head of the church is also a NiceGuy. Other members of the church are less heroic.

[[caption-width-right:350: The [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Holy Trinity]] of triangles]]

* ''Literature/SongAtDawn'' is said to be led by a "genuine innocent" (Innocent III) and the church in Nabornne is only antagonistic to the heroes because its archbishop has a personal grudge against one of them. The rank and file members are genuinely zealous about reclaiming the Holy Land, preaching self-discipline, and steer clear of KnightTemplar territory.

** The Catholic church which employs Yoko and Arikado in the ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow'' games, keeping an eye out for strange supernatural happenings and intervening when it is demonic.

In SpeculativeFiction settings, the more likely you have an AlwaysChaoticEvil monster race that is hurt by holy powers, the more likely it is that the church will be good instead of evil. Sometimes this kind of Church may be portrayed alongside one of the corrupt or evil ones for contrast and to help emphasize the pure goodness of the religion.

* The Chantry of the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series ''tries'' to be this, it honestly does. Unfortunately, history has shown us that it is also self-important, intolerant, and extremely brutal in many of its methods, not to mention that on several occasions it has removed verses from the Chant of Light (their version of a holy book) in order to suit their political aims.