Theodophilus
New Member
Hello everyone!
I'm very new to LOTRO, about a month ago a gaming friend and myself, looking for a change, decided to try f2p LOTRO. In about a week of f2p, it was all golden, a really good experience, mostly mature helpful players, and the GMs did not even exist apparently, during this time there were occasional discussions and debates on the GLFF channel, such as of a political and religious nature, to which I would chime in my own views and move along, no harm no foul.
Because it was so mature and much of the profane behavior which plagues MMOs was non-existent there, I decided it would make a good cyberhome. I proceeded to subscribe and buy all expansions including Rohan Legendary, I am by no means rich in the Western sense of the word, and this pretty much encompassed my full entertainment budget for the year, and then some, but since it was going to be my only source of entertainment and it seemed worthy of supporting, I went ahead with this.
A few days ago, while on the character Theodophilus, the topic of religion came up in GLFF, including a pretty heated debate between a Mormon and an Atheist, I quickly expressed my own views then bade both the Mormon and Atheist that we should respect one another even in our differences and shouldn't be calling each other names etc, shortly thereafter I received a warning from a GM about spamming players or chat channels being against the rules, I asked if there was some mistake as I did not spam, a short while later I noticed my player name had been changed from Theodophilus to Thostoror. A couple of days of cold impersonal form letter responses and calls to account management and unanswered support tickets ensued. Finally, earlier this evening, a "Senior GM" engaged me in IM chat in-game, when asked point blank why my name was changed and after being reminded that Theod- was a valid Man-> Rohan name prefix, his official response that "It is too similar to the name Theophilus" which is a Biblical name. I expressed my upset, and how I would continue to try and find justice in this situation and "Thanks anyway" the chat ended and things moved along..
Perhaps an hour and a half later, the topic of religion and spiritual warfare came up in GLFF, among the represented groups there were atheists and at least one gnostic. I stated the facts and my personal beliefs on the subjects then the chat topic slowly changed to that of LOTR lore. While speaking with another payer about Tolkien lore, I received a black screen with a little sentence and button in the center, notifing me that my account was banned for three days and I could now exit the client.
My background is atheist, I know all too well that browbeating never saved anyone, I very much favor the doctrine and gospel of love, but the CoC as applied is obviously singling out Christians, and while it on the one hand seems almost an insult to the Third World and what our brothers and sisters endure there daily, on the other hand this very much feels like persecution.
You can be an atheist in-game and say that it's all make believe, fairy tales, and Jesus never existed, but if you're a Christian that simply says "Well if The Man said it, I believe it."ENDQUOTE, then you will be persecuted for His Namesake.
I know people may have mixed results here, I'm sure to some extent it matters which GMs are on duty, and which ones already loathe you because you wouldn't let an uncalled for forced name change drop, but nonetheless I'm very disappointed that I bought all the expansions for this now-unplayable game, and I'm seriously considering a chargeback before it's too late.
If the GMs are going to behave like this, my game will remain mostly unplayable. I will not go out of my way to push my beliefs, but I will stand up for Truth when topic comes up.
I'm prayerfully considering my course of action, and I would welcome any prayers regarding this situation.
I found this website while googling lotro banned christian, I would humbly ask that any fence-sitters not respond to my post, if there are any of those here to begin with. Our fight is very real, and we wrestle not against flesh and blood.
With Love in Christ Jesus the King
Theodophilus
I'm very new to LOTRO, about a month ago a gaming friend and myself, looking for a change, decided to try f2p LOTRO. In about a week of f2p, it was all golden, a really good experience, mostly mature helpful players, and the GMs did not even exist apparently, during this time there were occasional discussions and debates on the GLFF channel, such as of a political and religious nature, to which I would chime in my own views and move along, no harm no foul.
Because it was so mature and much of the profane behavior which plagues MMOs was non-existent there, I decided it would make a good cyberhome. I proceeded to subscribe and buy all expansions including Rohan Legendary, I am by no means rich in the Western sense of the word, and this pretty much encompassed my full entertainment budget for the year, and then some, but since it was going to be my only source of entertainment and it seemed worthy of supporting, I went ahead with this.
A few days ago, while on the character Theodophilus, the topic of religion came up in GLFF, including a pretty heated debate between a Mormon and an Atheist, I quickly expressed my own views then bade both the Mormon and Atheist that we should respect one another even in our differences and shouldn't be calling each other names etc, shortly thereafter I received a warning from a GM about spamming players or chat channels being against the rules, I asked if there was some mistake as I did not spam, a short while later I noticed my player name had been changed from Theodophilus to Thostoror. A couple of days of cold impersonal form letter responses and calls to account management and unanswered support tickets ensued. Finally, earlier this evening, a "Senior GM" engaged me in IM chat in-game, when asked point blank why my name was changed and after being reminded that Theod- was a valid Man-> Rohan name prefix, his official response that "It is too similar to the name Theophilus" which is a Biblical name. I expressed my upset, and how I would continue to try and find justice in this situation and "Thanks anyway" the chat ended and things moved along..
Perhaps an hour and a half later, the topic of religion and spiritual warfare came up in GLFF, among the represented groups there were atheists and at least one gnostic. I stated the facts and my personal beliefs on the subjects then the chat topic slowly changed to that of LOTR lore. While speaking with another payer about Tolkien lore, I received a black screen with a little sentence and button in the center, notifing me that my account was banned for three days and I could now exit the client.
My background is atheist, I know all too well that browbeating never saved anyone, I very much favor the doctrine and gospel of love, but the CoC as applied is obviously singling out Christians, and while it on the one hand seems almost an insult to the Third World and what our brothers and sisters endure there daily, on the other hand this very much feels like persecution.
You can be an atheist in-game and say that it's all make believe, fairy tales, and Jesus never existed, but if you're a Christian that simply says "Well if The Man said it, I believe it."ENDQUOTE, then you will be persecuted for His Namesake.
I know people may have mixed results here, I'm sure to some extent it matters which GMs are on duty, and which ones already loathe you because you wouldn't let an uncalled for forced name change drop, but nonetheless I'm very disappointed that I bought all the expansions for this now-unplayable game, and I'm seriously considering a chargeback before it's too late.
If the GMs are going to behave like this, my game will remain mostly unplayable. I will not go out of my way to push my beliefs, but I will stand up for Truth when topic comes up.
I'm prayerfully considering my course of action, and I would welcome any prayers regarding this situation.
I found this website while googling lotro banned christian, I would humbly ask that any fence-sitters not respond to my post, if there are any of those here to begin with. Our fight is very real, and we wrestle not against flesh and blood.
With Love in Christ Jesus the King
Theodophilus