Fan Theory: The Prophets weren’t part of Bajor’s religion

On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the Prophets of Bajor were regarded as gods by the Bajoran people who worshipped the celestial beings

The Prophets supposedly guided the Bajorans in their every day lives and protected them. They spoke to the Vedeks so they could properly lead their people. And they used Captain Benjamin Sisko as their Emissary to Bajor. They were revered and trusted implicitly. But some fans have come up with a  theory that says all Bajorans would eventually lead the same lives as the Prophets.

According to these fans, the Prophets were previously average, ordinary Bajorans who evolved to a higher level of consciousness. They no longer needed their corporeal bodies. And in this non-corporeal state, their vast intelligence saw what Bajor needed, and thus, they were better able to guide Sisko on how to help their people.

And the theory goes on to speculate that all Bajorans would, at one day, rise to this level of consciousness just as the Organians, who were first introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series‘ season one episode, Errand of Mercy. In the case of the Organians, they showed themselves as corporeal beings when approached by Captain Kirk, Spock, and the Klingons; however, at the end of the episode, they revealed their true selves. That isn’t the case with the Prophets as they always showed themselves in a celestial existence, using familiar people to communicate with Sisko.

Certainly this theory has some merit as the Prophets proved themselves to be just a powerful as the Organians; however, it doesn’t explain their use of an Emissary to find the celestial temple. It’s possible the Prophets weren’t as evolved as the Organians and once the discovery of the temple was made, their evolutionary process would continue. Still, one would like to think that the Bajorans would have known their ancestors had passed on to a higher level of consciousness, and therefore, wouldn’t worship them or base their religion around them.

Additionally, this theory doesn’t explain why, when the Prophets first revealed themselves to Sisko, they had no knowledge of linear time and weren’t familiar with the way corporeal beings lived their lives. Had they previously been Bajorans, isn’t this knowledge they would have?

What do you think? Were the Prophets Bajorans who had evolved, or were they actually celestial beings who guided the people of Bajor?