====== The Time Being ======

Followers of the Time Being -- and its chosen few, the Time-Makers -- believe in the divinity of change. The world began in constancy (known as 'the Book'), and the Time Being gave it life by allowing it to evolve. The Time Being itself is conceived variously as a deity, the manifestation of time itself, or something between the two. A key idea in the beliefs of the Time Being is that time is created by our actions -- it cannot be wasted or saved, rather it is something to be produced. As a result, followers of the Time Being prefer to measure things in terms of tasks rather than seconds and minutes. For example, rather than agreeing to meet at 4pm, two followers may instead agree to meet after the post-lunch harvest.

===== Methodology =====
>//...And so came the first change away from the Book -- Decay. Plants withered and carcasses rotted, striking through those ordained lines. And soon after came the second change -- Rebirth. From the mulch came new shoots, from the corpses the buzzing of flies...//
//-- Excerpt from a retelling of how the world began, recorded by Talli Zola (1985)//
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Much of the study of followers of the Time Being is focused on the so-called 'Great Cycle' of Decay and Rebirth, the two fundamental changes. Through understanding the nature of Decay and the Rebirth it produces (and vice versa), practicioners can induce certain Decays and Rebirths in order to achieve a desired result.
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>//By looking at people who recovered, scientists discovered that the Decay of disease caused the Rebirth of 'antibodies', special chemicals which were very good at causing more Decay of the disease. Now, medics can make the disease's Decay in a lab, and give it to people to trigger this Rebirth -- making them safe from the disease.//
//-- 'Medicine for Kids' by Lesebo Obea (2030)//
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Belief in a sort of cosmic balancing is common, that the amount of Decay and Rebirth in the universe ultimately balances out. Karma is a similarly prevalent belief as an example of the Great Cycle: acting to produce Rebirth will cause Decay of the opposite nature. For example, the Rebirth of antibodies causes the Decay of disease, or the Rebirth of a thoughtful gift may cause the Decay of a malicious prank.
===== The Time-Makers =====

While followers of the Time Being believe that everyone has an impact, there are certain figures in history who could be considered 'world-changing'. These are the Time-Makers, imbued by the Time Being with the capability to divert the stream of time. While there is some aspect of being divinely chosen, practically, it is only possible to tell who was a Time-Maker well after the fact, once the rapids have run their course.

Most followers select a specific Time-Maker to prioritise in worship, though not to the point of ignoring the others. Each Time-Maker has specific ways to worship them in order to gain their favour (or avoid their anger). The first three Time-Makers are a prominent feature of myths of the origin of the world, and while their existence is generally accepted, how literally to take their actions within the myths is up to interpretation.

[[The First Time-Maker]]\\
[[The Second Time-Maker]]\\
[[The Third Time-Maker]]\\
[[The Fourth Time-Maker]] [disputed]

===== Today =====

The End, more commonly known as the Great Decay, is believed by followers of the Time Being to precede a Great Rebirth. While believers of [[the Fourth Time-Maker]] take it upon themselves to bring about this Rebirth, most followers are more reserved, focusing more on the day-to-day and trusting in the Time Being's will. The only noticeable difference, if any, in worship is an increase in the frequency of rituals.