The neutral side wasn't an easy one to take. Neutrality often meant pleasing neither side and being targeted and ostracized by both.
Given the Goddess of Light's influence, no leader of any race dared openly oppose the Church of Light or forbid their people from practicing its faith.
But it was an undeniable fact that the Church of Light's reach had steadily diminished over the years.
The church's radiant image and its favors had led the people to believe that whenever they ran into trouble, Light Priests would step in to resolve it.
Once war broke out, the absolutely neutral Light Priests didn't take part in the fighting. The positive image they'd once enjoyed then turned into negative sentiment many times over.
The Church of Light had declined because of its stance. Ordinary people didn't care about lofty principles. If you didn't help them when they needed you, you were bad.
Amid this hostility, a little covert prodding from those in power was enough to make the people ostracize the Church of Light.
The Church of Light couldn't attack unruly commoners, and under pressure from the people, many Light Churches had to close.
The Church of Light remained committed to the Goddess's ideals and didn't change its neutral stance in response to the people's rejection.
The Goddess of Light knew full well that if Light Priests fought on behalf of their respective races, their faith would no longer be pure.
If the Church of Light turned against itself and fell apart, who would resist evil?
The Goddess of Light forbade the Gods from starting wars over faith. Her own church certainly couldn't take part in racial wars.
She didn't need faith for herself. She didn't care whether those who worshipped many gods believed in her.
She held fast to her