Dreamtime refers to the common polytheistic religious beliefs that developed autonomously in Oceanyka, being primarily dominant in Aboriginals societies. Thousands of sects dedicated to one deity or another exist, with varying degrees of organisation. Some remain shamanic and their interpretation of the Dreaming has been passed down orally over generations. Others, such as the influential Order of the Sacred Rainbow, follow an organised religious doctrine with a codified morality, rites and beliefs. However, all of them share the same pantheon, and believe that the world originated in more or less the same way. Furthermore, divine connection to the land is also a universal theme, as Dreamtime is inseparable from the land from which it originates and where it is practiced.
Moral and social systems vary immensely for Dreamtime believers, depending on the region and sect, though most have their origins in the stories of the gods, which tell of what must be done and what has to be avoided. Ever since the Ferozen Invasion, elements of Dreamtime have adhered to Ferozen social structures, and many have even renounced the Asterist faith over thousands of years of coexistence, choosing to believe in the land's ancestral gods and spirits.
Though there exist a number of temples and shrines dedicated to the Dreamtime faith, each with its own religious leaders, over 90% of adherents profess believing in the Order of the Heavenly Rainbow's teachings. This institution acts as a centralised religious authority with great sway over local ethics, philosophy and theology. In the past, it was also enormously influential economically, politically and scientifically. Over hundreds of years, its interpretations of religious history, values, faith and rituals have been published as the "Ancestral Tomes", currently in their 19th edition (1947). Dreamtime temples are known as "yarawu" (Greater Temple) while shrines, holy sites and effigies are known as "amarawu" (Lesser Temples).
To begin reading about Dreamtime mythological history: The Void
To begin reading about the Dreamtime pantheon and their stories: Bunjil