The unofficial state religion in N Korea is a form of ancestor worship which makes it a lot easier for the government to control the people because if their ancestors are gods it's easier for the people to deify the ruling family. But it's not just the North Koreans who worship their ancestors — lots of people around the world do. Would you worship your ancestors?
I don't think I'd be able to worship my great-great grandfather though cause I never really knew him and he was thought to be quite the harsh man. But you know what if it's a reality for other people then what's the harm in letting them practice their religion right? It's a free country although I think most N. Koreans have been brainwashed by the ruling family.
Worship is the wrong word. Respect.. sure. That's logical. And just to add to your comment of "makes it a lot easier for the government to control the people".. that is true for every single religion. lnfact, a lot of people are convinced that controlling people is the main reason most modern religions exist.
Living with my Wifes family in Kazakhstan for ~8 months I would attune their culture as this. While it may be 70% Muslim there are very few women in nijabs or burkas. Headscarves yes but only as fashion or while working. There are mosques there and Allah is spoken of during prayers but it is a culture more focused on tradition rather than religion. Every week bread is fried and offered to our ancestors. On special occasions goats or sheep are sacrificed. (And not in a scary satanic cult way) Channeling or asking support from their forefathers would be common.
As others have said it's not worship as such but just a form of respect and looking up to the people in your past. There's nothing wrong with trying to live up to your ancestors and while I guess it can be seen as a form of worship, it's merely showing that you respect what they have achieved and want to carry on that reputation into the future.
I think if more people knew and learned from their ancestors, the world would be a more learned and centered place to live in. I don't think that's N.Korea's intent, but that would be the end result.
And what of when it involves offering them sacrifices, addressing prayers to them and actually believing that they will protect you? Wouldn't that be considered worshiping the dead [ancestors]?
To that extent though you could say that every culture in some ways worships the dead. People put flowers on a grave, on a relatives birthday, and maybe say a little prayer if they're religious. They believe that their grandparents or parents are looking down on them and people try to live their life making them proud, even though they aren't around and so in a way you can call it worship or paying respect to the dead. They both sound like they amount to the same thing?
No, I wouldn't worship my ancestors. Though I'm not devoutly religious, I only worship God. Ancestor worship is pretty foreign to me, and I can't imagine too many folks would willingly engage in such a silly false religion. Especially if the North Koreans practice it. That is one dark, depressing, totalitarian society. Nothing to admire about that.
