I watched the DS9 episode The Collaboator last night and I have a question.
Well actually it's two questions.

1, Am I right in thinking that the Cardassians banned the teaching of the Prophets in any way?
2, If so why was the Vedek Assembly and moreover the Kai allowed to remain in relative positions of power?

I may be having a dumb moment here but I am confused,
A big thank you for any help.
Bec

I don't recall that. I do know Cardassians tried to get their hands on all the orbs of the prophets. I had the impression the Kai and other religious leaders were allowed to practice their religion, but they had to hide an orb to keep it from being plundered.

Carol

Also, remember that although a colonizing government bans a religion, or a traditional practice, it doesn't mean it doesn't go underground.

I cannot remember the details and I may not really have proof to back it up, but I always assumed that there were two different groups of religious leaders under the occupation. Again, these is my own thoughts. Anyone have info to refute or support?

I guess there could be an official condoned assembly - as the presence and an intermediary between Cardassians and Bajorns. We know that there were collaborators, and people who worked as liasons. Perhaps Bajorans see these Vediks as collaborators, or maybe as doing the best they could under bad situations. If I remember, didn't Bariel operate this way - when he revealed the location of the resistance camp?

The second group of Vedeks could possibly be underground. I would imagine there would have to be some religious leaders -even if informally- who were involved or teaching in places like refugee camps. They may be operating under the radar of the Cardassians, in this case. Perhaps they resurface after the occupation is over.

Just some thoughts!

Can't remember Bareil ever to reveal the location of any resistance camp. I think that was the thing with Kai Opaka who sacrificed a couple of thousand people (including her son) to save another couple of thousand people. (Or wait, there was something with Bareil. Which was the reason for Winn to become Kai. It's been quite some time since I watched the early seasons. )

But in "Accession" Kira reveals that Bajor had cast system before the occupation. And they gave that up when it became necessary to fight the Cardassians. So I can imagine that religious rites weren't practised as strict as usual. But I also can't remember that the Cardassians ever banned anything concerning the prophets. They were just interested in the orbs because they wanted to discover the hidden powers.

As for the second question: I think they tried to keep people calm. Meaning that the Kai was supposed to prevent people from doing something "stupid".

Ulli

Bariel wasn't a collaborator. Opaka ordered the revealation of the resistance base to save the village. A very sad affair really.
Bec

Yes, that's what I meant! I need to watch those episodes again....

Ulli

Oh Yeah! I need a course in remedial Trek...