History Main / PhysicalReligion

* The Sage of Six Paths from ''Naruto'' fits this description, as his religion was jutsu, something that all ninja can do; except that he could do it better than anyone else, which is why they worshipped him. Surprisingly, Nagato also has a Religion in which followers pray to him because of his god-like strength and Dōjutsu. It seems as though all people with the Rinnegan are hailed as Physical Gods.

You should note that this doesn't always have to have a deity be the physical aspect. TheForce or other physically certifiable religious paths may also be used. It's just the the most used.

* The ''{{DCU}}'' - particularly the likes of ''{{Lucifer}}'', ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' and ''TheSandman''. Gods are quite real... and they might be waiting to cause hell for the protagonist - or, just to peacefully chat. Whichever.

* ''{{Discworld}}'' utilizes this trope, as there are gods, religions worshipping these gods, {{Nay Theist}}s, {{Flat Earth Atheist}}s, and cults worshiping [[HaveYouSeenMyGod gods that are MIA]].

* ''SouthPark'' has Jesus living in town in the early seasons and hosting a talk show. In one episode, Jimbo prays to Him for the local team to win, to which Jesus, who is sitting a few rows down, tells him to leave Him alone.
* In ''FamilyGuy'' God and Jesus will sometimes show up in earlier episodes. This only makes the "religion is stupid" messages in latter episodes [[BrokenAesop all the stupider]].
* The land of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Equestria]] is ruled by Princess Celestia, the local sun god.

* The land of [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Equestria]] is ruled by Princess Celestia, the local sun god.

* The ''{{DCU}}'' - particularly the likes of ''{{Lucifer}}'', ''{{Hellblazer}}'' and ''TheSandman''. Gods are quite real... and they might be waiting to cause hell for the protagonist - or, just to peacefully chat. Whichever.

* DeepSpaceNine shows us the Prophets, temporally disjointed ascended beings worshipped by the [[SpaceJews Bajorans]].

* The land of [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Equestria]] is ruled by Princess Celestia, the local sun god.

* In ''FamilyGuy'' God and Jesus will sometimes show up in earlier episodes. This only makes the "religion is stupid" messages in latter episodes [[BrokenAesop all the stupider]].

Subversions occur, [[GodGuise when someone falsely claims to be a deity for whatever reasons and gets a religion]].

* The ''{{DCU}}'' - particularly the like ''{{Lucifer}}'', ''{{Hellblazer}}'' and ''TheSandman''. Gods are quite real... and they might be waiting to cause hell for the protagonist - or, just to peacefully chat. Whichever.

* In the ''HeraldsOfValdemar'', the Tayledras, Shin'a'in and K'Leshya, collectedly known as the Kaled'a'in are called as such because they worship the Star-eyed goddess Kal'enel, who routinely provides divine intervention of the kind that cannot be mistaken for anything else, as well as being able to communicate with her devotees in 'the moonpaths'. Also in the Valdemas world is the god Vkandis, worshiped by the Karsites [[spoiler: and the Iftellians]] who actually sent a lightening bolt to vaporize a false Son of the Sun (like their pope) who wasn't abiding by his doctrines, choosing a new one himself through a statue of him, even going so far as to prove it wasn't a trick by removing the crown which was a permanent, non-removable part of the statue and placing it on the new Son of the Sun and putting the statue back, crownless.

* David Eddings tends to rely on this trope for his plots. {{The Belgariad}} universe has eight gods and two godlike consciousnesses of the universe, and the Elenium has more deities than anyone can count.

* This is all over the place in the Stargate verse. The Goa'uld are worshiped by human slaves all over the galaxy, and the Asgard have been deified by a few Nordic cultures.

** In the setting of ''{{Eberron}}'', the PhysicalGod trope is averted. The true gods, if they exist, do not manifest themselves physically. There are tales of them doing it, but that's nothing more that myths and legends. However this trope still apply, as ''faith'' powers divine magic, so someone believing in the divinity of a mortal can still have divine magic. This leads to certain mortal beings having become the "God" of their churches.
*** The Lord of Blade is the Warforged Messiah of The Blades, who worship him as a divine entity. His teachings are how Warforged are a superior race and fit to inherit the world.

Subversions occur, when someone falsely claims to be a deity for whatever reasons and gets a religion.

* ''{{Discworld}}'' utilizes this trope, as there are gods, religions worshipping these gods, {{Nay Theist}}s, {{Flat Earth Atheist}}s, and cults worshipping [[HaveYouSeenMyGod gods that are MIA]].

* In ''FamilyGuy'' God and Jesus will sometimes show up in earilier episodes. This only makes the "relgion is stupid" messages in latter episodes [[BrokenAesop all the stupider]].

!'''Examples:'''

-> '''Dionysus''': "Well of course they stopped worshiping us, we went to Everworld. How can you expect people to worship a god they can't see from time to time?" \\

* ''Warcraft'' has something that's not a religion but a philosophy: Path of Light - [[ReligionIsMagic it grants spells]]. Night Elves worship Elune, who most certainly exists as well. Draenei have a sort of a cult dedicated to Naaru. Dragons are kind of godlike as well, and they give quests in Wyrmrest Accord. Not sure whether people worship Titans, but they most certainly existed.

* There are many real gods in the ''{{DCU}}'' outside of{{Vertigo}}-based series. For example, the NewGods are quite prominent ones, most notably '''{{Darkseid}}''' for '''{{Darkseid}} Is'''.

* ''SouthPark'' has Jesus living in town in the early seasons and hosting a talk show. In one episode, Jimbo prays to Him for the local team to win, to which Jesus, who is sitting a few rows down, tells him to leave Him alone.

If someone still refuses to believe in God, he's a FlatEarthAtheist. If someone is not a member of this church, he is a NayTheist. Compare ReligionIsRight, where the religion came first, then the entity believed in is proven to be true. GodsNeedPrayerBadly is rather common. If ReligionIsMagic, then God will grant spells those who worship him. He may say "StopWorshippingMe!'' if he is bugged with that, though. A GodEmperor usually has both a PhysicalReligion ''and'' openly rules his worshipers, making for a "real" theocracy.

Would religion continue to exist if [(G/g)od(s?)] physically, observably existed and/or communicated with {{Muggles}}? This trope says a resounding yes.

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* In the {{Wheel of Time}}, Robert Jordan has used the following quote to explain the lack of organized religion: "This is a world where what might be called the proofs of religion are self-evident all the time. It seemed to me there was no necessity for the trappings of religion, which by and large are to reinforce us in our faith and to convince others. If your beliefs are made concrete and manifest around you at any given time there is not the need for that".

* In the Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan has used the following quote to explain the lack of organized religion: "This is a world where what might be called the proofs of religion are self-evident all the time. It seemed to me there was no necessity for the trappings of religion, which by and large are to reinforce us in our faith and to convince others. If your beliefs are made concrete and manifest around you at any given time there is not the need for that".

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Would religion continue to exist if [(G/g)od(s?)] physically, observably existed and/or communicated with Muggles? This trope says a resounding yes.