Editing Bajoran (section)

===Practices===

Religious practices are unclear. The Bajoran religion involves regular services which are intended to teach the "Will of the Prophets". Meditation and prayer (either in groups or privately) are commonly used, but not strictly observed. There are some orthodox groups within the religion who take a rather dim view of science (more specifically a scientific interpretation of the wormhole) and the beliefs of other species, but this is a small minority, with relatively little support among the people. In the ''Next Generation'' episode "[[The Next Phase]]", Ro Laren mentions that some traditional Bajoran funeral rites can go on for over three hours. Bajoran women cry out their grief at Funerals&mdash;similar to Irish [[keening]].

Prior to the events of ''Deep Space Nine'', Bajoran society was socially [[Social stratification|stratified]]; by religious edict, a person's place in society was determined by their caste (or ''d'jara'') (Kira Nerys would have been an artist if not for the Cardassian occupation). When the [[Cardassian Empire]] occupied Bajor, the ''d'jara'' system was abandoned so all Bajoran citizens could become soldiers and fight in the Resistance. When [[Akorem Laan]] attempted to reinstate the ''d'jara'' system in 2372, Bajor's application for Federation membership was put in jeopardy, as caste-based discrimination was specifically forbidden by the Federation Charter.

The non-canon Deep Space Nine Relaunch novels reveal the existence of a form of excommunication from the Bajoran faith: when Kira Nerys interferes in a growing civil war, despite being ordered not to do so by the Vedek Assembly, she is declared "attainted" and can no longer attend Bajoran services, set foot in a temple, or study from an Orb or the Bajoran sacred texts.