History Main / GodlySidestep

* The motivation of the Creator/DCComics cosmic villain Krona is learning the truth behind the creation of the universe. To do this he created a machine that allowed him to observe the past, but all he saw was a hand full of stars before a bolt out of nowhere destroyed the machine. His attempt also harmed the universe (exactly how has varied over the years) and forced his people, the Oans, to become the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guardians of the Universe]] to make up for it. Krona has since continued trying, regardless of the consequences.

->''So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."''
-->-- '''[[Literature/ActsOfTheApostles Acts 1:6-8]]''', ''Literature/TheBible''

* When the crew of ''Manga/OnePiece'' meet an old man who was on the one ship in recorded history to make it to the end of the Grand Line. Usopp asks him about One Piece, the treasure allegedly stashed there (and, incidentally, [[MacGuffin the thing everyone's trying to get]], and the title of the series). However, his captain very angrily calls [[{{Spoiler}} No Spoilers]] on him, saying he [[RuleOfFun wouldn't like an adventure where he knew the outcome]].

* An episode of Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' has Zeus about to give the meaning of life on a chat show, however they run out of airtime just before he states it.

* When the crew of ''Manga/OnePiece'' meet an old man who was on the one ship in recorded history to make it to the end of the Grand Line. Usopp asks him about One Piece, the treasure allegedly stashed there (and, incidentally, [[MacGuffin the thing everyone's trying to get]], and the title of the series). However, his captain very angrily calls [[{{Spoiler}}No Spoilers]] on him, saying he [[RuleOfFun wouldn't like an adventure where he knew the outcome]].
* In the 3rd OVA to ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'', Taka [[spoiler: Tamahome]] asks Taiitsukun if the misfortune befalling the universe is Mayo's fault. She replies "Perhaps it is, perhaps it is not." [[spoiler: It's actually not ''entirely'' her fault, but a huuuge XanatosGambit makes it look that way.]] Additionally, she tells him what the [[{{Macguffin}} Shinzaho]] is using as a riddle. [[spoiler: It's the twelve-week-old fetus that was transferred out of his wife Miaka and into the aforementioned Mayo.]]

* While not the perfect example, no one in the ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' universe is better equipped to answer questions of a supernatural nature than Dr. Manhattan. He generally stays relatively quiet and respectful on the matter. When asked if he was god, he simply replied:
-->"I don't think there is a God. And if there is, I'm nothing like him."
* In ''ComicBook/JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac'', the eponymous character meets God. God is a sleeping fat man who, upon being woken up, refuses to answer any questions and insists he's earned a break after creating the entire universe.
* The motivation of the Creator/DCComics cosmic villain Krona is learning the truth behind the creation of the universe. To do this he created a machine that allowed him to observe the past, but all he saw was a hand full of stars before a bolt out of nowhere destroyed the machine. His attempt also harmed the universe (exactly how has varied over the years) and forced his people, the Oans, to become the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guardians Of The Universe]] to make up for it. Krona has since continued trying, regardless of the consequences.

* Averted in ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife''.
-->Well, that's the end of the film. Now, here's the meaning of life...Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.

-->'''Bethany Sloane''': Why are we here?
-->'''God''': [pokes Bethany's nose] Nweep.

* In ''Film/TimeBandits'', when Kevin actually asks what is the reason for evil, God steps behind a wall for a moment, then comes back and says "something to do with free will and all that."

-->'''[=McCoy=]''': You really have gone where no man's gone before. Can't you tell me what it felt like?
-->'''Spock''': It would be impossible to discuss the subject without a common frame-of-reference.
-->'''[=McCoy=]''': You mean I have to ''die'' to discuss your insights on death?

* In ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009'', Holmes claims that experimenting with one of the Hermetic rituals used by the Temple of the Four Orders has allowed him to reconcile nearly 2000 years of theological disparity... unfortunately, there's a madman currently trying to destroy parliament and have himself declared supreme ruler of the British Empire, so it's a story for another time.

[[folder: Literature]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' - God is about to tell Homer the meaning of life when the episode ends.
-->'''Homer''': What's the meaning of life?
-->'''God''': Oh, Homer, I can't tell you that. You'll find out when you die.
-->'''Homer''': But I can't wait that long!
-->'''God''': You can't wait six months?
-->'''Homer''': No. Tell me now.
-->'''God''': Oh... all right. The meaning of life is- ''[closing credits]''

-->'''Leela:''' So the meaning of existence...?
-->'''Nibbler:''' ''(grunt)''
-->'''Leela:''' So every religion is wrong!

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Duckman}}'' - Finding himself in Heaven, Duckman gets an Etch-A-Sketch from God. He asks why and God tells him that it has the Meaning of Life written on it, but by then it has been erased from Duckman moving it around.
* An episode of Disney's ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'' has Zeus about to give the meaning of life on a chat show, however they run out of airtime just before he states it.

* In ''WesternAnimation/GodTheDevilAndBob,'' Bob asks God why he allows evil to exist. God takes a deep breath and explains to Bob, just as a train passes between them and the audience. Bob is impressed and accepting of God's answer, but we never get to hear it.

* PlayedWith on ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''--in one ChristmasEpisode that [[CompressedVice focuses on]] Stan always needing to be right, he dies, goes to Heaven and learns that his family are set to die soon too. He confronts God, Who insists that they must die for His divine plan, though He refuses to divulge what it is. When He asks Stan [[ArmorPiercingQuestion if he really thinks he knows better than God]], Stan reluctantly acquiesces and accepts His will on faith. [[spoiler:Naturally, this was a SecretTestOfCharacter, and Stan is resurrected to prevent the others' deaths]].

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[[folder: Film -- Animated ]]

[[folder: Film -- Live Action ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''
** Deep Thought is a computer programmed to answer the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. It reveals that the answer is "JustForFun/FortyTwo", and when its operators complain, points out that obviously the answer isn't going to make sense unless you know the precise wording of the Question. Then an even more advanced computer ([[spoiler:The Earth]]) was built to formulate the Ultimate Question, so that the Ultimate Answer could be understood. ''That'' computer was then destroyed five minutes before it would have completed its task. That's some grand sidestepping.
** Subverted at the end of ''Literature/SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish''. The protagonists travel to the planet where God's final message to his creation is written in 30-feet-high letters of fire. The entire message is revealed to the reader, and it goes like this: [[spoiler: We apologise for the inconvenience.]] The message's divine origin is accepted without question by the characters, although to the reader it comes off as [[FridgeLogic slightly suspect]] given that it's [[AliensSpeakingEnglish in English]] [[note]]it's given to the audience letter-by-letter, so TranslatorMicrobes are not to blame[[/note]] and uses the [[SeparatedByACommonLanguage etymologically incorrect British spelling]] to boot.
* In ''[[Literature/{{Deryni}} The Quest For Saint Camber]]'', Kelson converses via Mind Speech with a being who appeared [[spoiler: and helped him vanquish his treasonous cousin Conall]]:

* Knucker the Knower, who knows everything when he's drunk, tells Etjole Ehomba the meaning of life in Creator/AlanDeanFoster's ''Literature/IntoTheThinkingKingdoms''. Ehomba is pleased with the answer, but since Knucker whispered the answer, the reader never finds out.

-->'''Hermes:''' He' not really what you'd call a team player. Put it this way: We don't bother Him, He doesn't bother us.
-->'''Poseidon:''' I will allow no further questions on the subject.
* One lesser running theme in the UrbanFantasy works of Creator/SimonRGreen is that humans weren't originally intended to be as small and limited as we are. What we ''were'' meant to be is never explicitly clarified by any of the higher entities or [[GoMadFromTheRevelation enlightened madmen]] that might know, except that it's not what any human thinks it is, and it might actually be a mercy - whether to us or to the rest of the cosmos isn't clear - that we ''didn't'' turn out that way.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' ''Ghost Story'' Harry ends up in a rare moment of conversation with ArchangelUriel and able to ask the Archangel a few questions. When it comes to the big questions, Uriel cannot answer as there are several Laws mandated by God that prevent Uriel from taking about anything that could influence Harry's Free Will, which is a serious thing to Uriel and God. The only thing Harry can get from Uriel is Uriel saying, "No matter where you go, there you are."

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

** In "Planet of the Dead", the Doctor knows the true story of Easter. Right after he says "What REALLY happened was--", he gets cut off and forgets what he was talking about.
** In "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit" two-parter, the Doctor battles against the Devil himself. When the Doctor asks him "from which religion?", the Devil answers "All of them" and further states that he existed before time. They have other things to worry about than where exactly it came from and what this means for the universe, so they don't inquire too closely.

* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' has an episode where SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Q Jr. is told to write an essay about the origins and aspirations of his species. Kathryn Janeway treats the result as if it was an ordinary, though well done, student work. The audience, naturally, doesn't get to hear any of the juicy bits.

* The creators of ''Series/JoanOfArcadia'' made this the rule, actually listing things God couldn't say with regards to universal truths and religion. God conversed with Joan on a regular basis and always refused to answer any major questions.
* ''Series/TheGoodPlace'': Upon reaching the titular afterlife, Eleanor asks which religion was the "right" one. Michael tells her that, basically, all religions got "about 5% right". There's an even bigger sidestep: [[spoiler:The Good Place is actually the Bad Place, and everything Michael has said could be a lie.]]
* In ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', the life and death of Jesus Christ is unofficially off-limits to all time travellers for fear of ButterflyOfDoom-type consequences.

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[[folder: Religion ]]

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* In ''Webcomic/ItsWalky'', The Cheese claims to know which religion is the correct one, but refuses to tell anyone, claiming that if you don't figure it out for yourself, you won't understand the answer (and adds that even if he did tell anyone, chances are he wouldn't be taken seriously).

* Not a divine example, but [[spoiler: Jones]] from ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' has been around as long as the Earth itself and perfectly remembers every moment of her existence. As such, she has in fact born witness to the origins of life on Earth, the evolution/extinction of species (including humans ''and'' dinosaurs) and countless other bits of priceless moments in history. When this is revealed, she explains that she decided long ago to just observe and interfere as little as possible with human society (hence her nickname, [[spoiler: Wandering Eye]]). Over the years, she has sometimes taken on the role of a teacher, but only of knowledge which humanity has already discovered for itself.
* In ''Webcomic/DinosaurComics'', T-Rex can hear the voice of God, and at one point, God is asked to settle whether intelligent design is right or wrong. God's response is...[[KingOfAllCosmos less than helpful]].
-->'''God:''' '''[[NoIndoorVoice I LIKE TO DANCE IN MY UNDERPANTS T-REX]]'''
* ''ComicBook/BuckGodotZapGunForHire'' has the Winslow, an immortal, indestructible (seriously, when the universe ends it will ask "Hey! Who turned out the lights?") creature that looks like a lizard plushie and is annoying. Multiple religions have sprung up declaring it an object of worship or an abomination to be destroyed. The Primes hid it away on Earth to avoid the religious wars, but they refuse to say ''why'' it's so important to the fate of the universe.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* While not the perfect example, no one in the ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' universe is better equipped to answer questions of a supernatural nature than Dr. Manhattan. He generally stays relatively quiet and respectful on the matter. When asked if he was god, he simply replied

* ''Webcomic/BuckGodot'' has the Winston, an immortal, indestructible (seriously, when the universe ends it will ask "Hey! Who turned out the lights?") creature that looks like a lizard plushie and is annoying. Multiple religions have sprung up declaring it an object of worship or an abomination to be destroyed. The Primes hid it away on Earth to avoid the religious wars, but they refuse to say ''why'' it's so important to the fate of the universe.

* When the crew of ''Manga/OnePiece'' meet an old man who was on the one ship in recorded history to make it to the end of the Grand Line. Usopp asks him about One Piece, the treasure allegedly stashed there (and, incidentally, [[MacGuffin the thing everyone's trying to get]], [[CaptainObvious and the title of the series]]). However, his captain very angrily calls [[{{Spoiler}}No Spoilers]] on him, saying he [[RuleOfFun wouldn't like an adventure where he knew the outcome]].

** In ''ComicBook/JLAAvengers'', he ''destroyed several universes'' trying to find the answer. He eventually finds the one being who knows it (ComicBook/{{Galactus}}) but is turned himself into a "cosmic egg" like the one the MarvelUniverse was created from in the process. Technically, he found the answer he wanted- but whether he feels fulfilled ([[AndIMustScream or anything else]]) as a result is unknown.

-->"I don't think there is a god. And if there is I'm nothing like him."

* In the 3rd OVA to ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'', Taka [[spoiler: Tamahome]] asks Taiitsukun if the misfortune befalling the universe is Mayo's fault. She replies "Perhaps it is, perhaps it is not." [[spoiler: It's actually not ''entirely'' her fault, but a huuuge XanatosGambit makes it look that way.]] Additionally, she tells him what the [[{{Macguffin}} Shinzaho]] is using a riddle. [[spoiler: It's the twelve-week-old fetus that was transferred out of his wife Miaka and into the aforementioned Mayo.]]

-->'''God''': You'll find out when you die.
-->'''Homer''': But I wanna know now!

-->'''God''': All right, Homer. The meaning of life is- ''[closing credits]''

* One lesser running theme in the UrbanFantasy works of Creator/SimonRGreen is that humans weren't originally intended to be as small and limited as we are. What we ''were'' meant to be is never explicitly clarified, except that it's not what any human thinks it is, and it might actually be a mercy - whether to us or to the rest of the cosmos isn't clear - that we ''didn't'' turn out that way.

* In ''[[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan The Wrath of Khan]]'', [[HeroicSacrifice Spock dies.]] In ''[[Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock The Search for Spock]]'', [[BackFromTheDead he comes back.]] In ''[[Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome The Voyage Home]]'', Bones asks him about what he experienced, prompting this response.

* In ''Film/SherlockHolmes'', Holmes claims that experimenting with one of the Hermetic rituals used by the Temple of the Four Orders has allowed him to reconcile nearly 2000 years of theological disparity... unfortunately, there's a madman currently trying to destroy parliament and have himself declared supreme ruler of the British Empire, so it's a story for another time.

* The motivation of the Creator/DCComics cosmic villain Krona is learning the truth behind the creation of the universe. To do this he created a machine that allowed him to observe the past, but all he saw was a hand full of stars before a bolt out of nowhere destroyed the machine. His attempt also harmed the universe (exactly how has varied over the years) and forced his people, the Oans, to become the [[GreenLanternCorps Guardians Of The Universe]] to make up for it. Krona has since continued trying, regardless of the consequences.

* ''Series/DoctorWho''

* {{Subverted}} on ''SouthPark''--a bunch of dead people show up in Hell, and many complain that they're not supposed to be there, because they were devout followers of (insert religion here) all their lives! Hell's orientation leader explains that sorry, that was wrong, and that the correct religion is actually [[spoiler:Mormonism]]. Later we see Heaven and yeah, those seem to be the only ones up there (other than God, Who's Buddhist).

:: Considering that the circumstances of his death and resurrection involved some Vulcan telepathic AppliedPhlebotinum not generally available to humans, it's unclear whether he made it to anything resembling the afterlife that humans experience (if there is one) in any case.

** Granted, if She had actually said anything, Bethany's head would have exploded, so....

** "So, who's actually still alive: Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, JFK, or Adolf Hitler?" "Umm ... Morrison and Hitler."

* The creators of ''Series/JoanOfArcadia'' made this the rule, actually listing things God couldn't say with regards to unversal truths and religion. God conversed with Joan on a regular basis and always refused to answer any major questions.
* ''TheGoodPlace'': Upon reaching the titular afterlife, Eleanor asks which religion was the "right" one. Michael tells her that, basically, all religions got "about 5% right". There's an even bigger sidestep: [[spoiler:The Good Place is actually the Bad Place, and everything Michael has said could be a lie.]]

* The song (not the album) "God Shuffled His Feet" by the CrashTestDummies.

* Knucker the Knower, who knows everything when he's drunk, tells Etjole Ehomba the meaning of life in the second book of Creator/AlanDeanFoster's ''Journeys of the Catechist''. Ehomba is pleased with the answer, but since Knucker whispered the answer, the reader never finds out.