This is off topic I appreciate, so apologies to the moderation team in advance, but I'd just like to restress Forte, that the points you have raised make it even more the case the proper way to resolve this is via mediation.
I'd also like to stress that there is no real difference between The Staff and The Players all of the CC, and many of the DM and Dev teams are also players. Some of them do so openly, some of them do so under covert usernames, but they're also out there in the same world as you are. They're people just like you.
None of them want anything but the best for this server. Do they make mistakes? Sure. Do I agree with all of their decisions? Definately not. But most of the time with most of the decisions they make there's no 'Everyone Wins' soultion. Hard calls have to be made, and sometimes people will lose out. Could the communication and management of these decisions be handled better? Again, sure.
But we're dealing with a strictly volunteer team of part time hobbists, and frankly there's nothing less fun than spending time telling people bad news. It's hard to write, it's hard to deliver. You don't exactly get many people lining up to deliver it, and you won't get many people willingly engaging in a thread like this to be critised for doing their best. It's just not most peoples idea of a fun way to unwind after a day of work/family.
Disagreements arise, and that's what the CC and the medation process is for. When two sides have a disagreement, even a very strong one, the CC is there to let both parties talk it out in a safe constructive space and work so everyone can leave the situation with a better perspective of how the other feels and how to do better next time.
Circling the wagons and devoloping an us vs them mentality is the exact opposite of something that is going to help either party in the future. Communities can only be built together.
And remember the CC that will be mediating is a player. Just like you. Just like me. They're not on anyones side, they're there to help ensure the best outcome for everyone involved.
It's clear with this particular issue there are people that feel unheard, people who feel wronged, and people who would like to get their point across. A mediated discussion with those parties with whom you want to discuss is the best way to do this.
I promise you, it is worth giving a chance. And if a mediation doesn't work, and you're still unhappy afterwards and don't feel anything has changed? What have you lost by the attempt?
All too often I see bad feelings and distrust generating on PoTM because people won't talk to each other directly. Trust me, the forum isn't the right place to resolve bad feelings, however justified.
I'm delighted to hear from MAB that something to that effect might be going on presently, and I encourage anyone with any concerns to participate with an open mind.
For my own on topic thought, I'd like a general idea of what the big picture is for these other forthcoming GE changes as I think that would put this religion piece into a bit more context.
In a perfect world, this meditation would've been done before pushing a change forth created by a a smaller vocal minority while only half-consulting the related players. My own opinion regarding CC meditation aside, yes, this would be the optimal path taken; I am not disagreeing with that, but rather it simply shows the lack of confidence in at a system considering the otherwise lack of crystal clear communication within this issue alone. As we see with Vandryn, going forward, we can only hope for a better conclusion to this than not. I just think it moderately shortsighted, if not borderline offensive- As he said, while Christianity is not discontinued, it sets a dangerous precedent of categorizing things similar to real life religion far too harshly and making people raise some brows. For me, personally, if my own faith from my native religion was actively being categorized in a similar way and done so without much consulting, I'd be more than just upset about things roleplay wise.
It is good to hear that something, to that effect of course, will be going forward. It is probably the only way to keep the conversation constructive. People are upset, and most of all, it's not that I believe it has to be this perceived us/them argument that you employ; Rather that the divide of communication creates that mentality with players unintentionally, and that is what creates this lack of desire to communicate with one another. That is my thesis regarding it, anyway, and previously recorded situations like this is what builds this confidence in this ideology.
'
Hard calls have to be made, and sometimes people will lose out', however, is not the mentality I would expect to be witnessing when trying to make a fun environment for players. Compensation and ensuring the fun of those players should come first, rather than returning the machine back to its well-oiled status quo state. The Red Masque changes can be perfectly good; Helping limit the flux of GE/related characters that very clearly come in to be harmful stereotypes (these usually get banned or reported within a few days) is a grand goal, but if the wider brush to this ends up limiting the roleplayers who contribute much to the server, then I do not think it is a hard call to make. That is, again, merely my own personal thesis on such.
'
You don't exactly get many people lining up to deliver it, and you won't get many people willingly engaging in a thread like this to be criticized for doing their best', however, is not a defense I can agree with. Volunteer they are, thankless, they are not. Many of the staff put forth a great appreciated effort to maintaining the integrity of the server, and often times, for the best. However, being a volunteer, no matter what it is, does not exempt someone from being questioned on the validity and actual reception of a change being put forth, especially when it also affects a wider group of players who try and also, funnily enough, volunteer their time to try and add to the setting, just in a different sense than a developer or DM would. That is not a slight, of course, against your own personal view on it- I think for volunteer work what is done here is often very impressive as lesser teams would often crumble underneath many of the workloads involved on PoTM.
However, for this, it is not for the best, which is why I came out of my hideyhole to be vocal regarding it. That being said, my continued posting is no longer necessary- With meditation being found and some talk to happen privately, all we can hope is that people find some without further conflict. It will be for the best.