Read on Twitter
Yeah President Kim Il Sung himself wrote about the influences of Christianity & Chondoism in his youth. His father Kim Hyong Jik attended meetings of Korean nationalists at a local church. He told him it was more important to serve the people and nation than it was to serve a god https://twitter.com/BolshevikPotato/status/1281657764217909248
Comrade Kim Il Sung went to a Presbyterian church a few times out of curiosity but was kind of bored by the lectures there. He believed that the Christians had a lot to offer in humanitarianism, but didn't hold the real solutions for the problems faced by the Korean nation.
"I see no contradiction between the Christian doctrine of 'peace on earth and good will for all mankind' and my 'Juche' doctrine of self-determination for all mankind."
- President Kim Il Sung, in his memoirs 'With The Century'
- President Kim Il Sung, in his memoirs 'With The Century'
Comrade Kim Il Sung accompanied his mother Kang Pan Sok to church a number of times. He asked if she went because she believed and she explained that she only went to escape the toils of home life. He felt very sorry seeing her exhaustion and falling asleep during sermons.
Some of the very first meetings of Comrade Kim Il Sung's "Down With Imperialism Union" were held at Christian churches which in many cases were an epicenter of Korean nationalist organizing in the bordering Chinese provinces.
Comrade Kim Il Sung on the destruction of religious buildings during the war and many peoples renouncement of faiths as a direct result of growing mass consciousness during the fierce wartime.
Comrade Kim Il Sung on religious policy of the state: "At present, as in the past, we do not consider religion as bad or persecute its followers. On the contrary, the state builds churches free of charge for them and provides them with living quarters."
Comrade Kim Il Sung on his religious allies: "I had no intention to transform them into followers of Marx or supporters of the Communist Party. I only respected their faith, personality and human rights."
also Comrade Kim Il Sung literally wrote an entire section of his book on Chondoism (a traditional Korean folk religion) and its influences on him :)
Comrade Kim Il Sung expanding some on his introduction to Christianity
Comrade Kim Il Sung on his early introduction to Islam
Comrade Kim Il Sung explaining some of the basic ideas of Chondoism
Comrade Kim Il Sung on the debates he had regarding Chondoism and his criticism that the movement at that time emphasized nothing more than total reliance on the faith.
Comrade Kim Il Sung further analyzing the Chondoist beliefs and his thoughts regarding its place in the united front for Korea's liberation.
Comrade Kim Il Sung expanding on some of the relatively progressive ideas of Chondoism compared to some other religions.
Comrade Kim Il Sung on the role of the Chondoists during the March 1st Independence Movement.
Comrade Kim Il Sung on Kim Jong Ju, the first communications minister of the DPRK and a member of the Young Chondoist Party, a predecessor of the Chondoist Chongu Party which still holds many seats in the government at all levels.
Comrade Kim Il Sung on more of the history of the Chondoist movement in Korea's history of popular struggle.
Comrade Kim Il Sung on the millions of Chondoists joining the Association for the Restoration of the Fatherland to form a united front.
"If the aim and ideal we communists have fought for, devoting our lives for the good of the nation, are realized, and if the 70 million compatriots live in lasting happiness in a reunified country, I think this is the very earthly paradise, which the Tonghak martyrs yearned for."
This thread could go on 30 more tweets easily of Comrade Kim Il Sung talking about religion and especially the Chondoists, you can find a LOT more in the President's memoirs https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hP6olIGEOqPb-ESLmGcmSt4WTNyjaPRy/view?usp=sharing
