Deng Chundong Attends the "Fourth Congress of the Chinese Society for the Study of Atheism and 2013 Academic Annual Conference" and Delivers a Speech

On August 18–19, 2013, the "Fourth Congress of the Chinese Society for the Study of Atheism and 2013 Academic Annual Conference" was held in Beijing. Comrade Deng Chundong, President and Party Secretary of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, attended the conference and delivered a speech.

2013年8月18-19日，“中国无神论学会第四届会员代表大会暨2013年学术年会”在京召开，中国社会科学院马克思主义研究院院长、党委书记邓纯东同志与会并致辞。

In his speech, Comrade Deng Chundong put forward three suggestions. First, he suggested that the new council unite researchers and propagandists of Marxist atheism nationwide to further improve the work of popularizing scientific knowledge and promoting the scientific spirit in Chinese society. The journal *Science and Atheism* has a high academic level and is well run; while continuing to uphold its professional character, it should strengthen its popular science function and intensify the work of popularizing various viewpoints and academic content of Marxist atheism. Second, he suggested that the new council make helping the entire people establish a scientific faith an important future work direction and content. It is necessary to help the masses establish a scientific and correct faith, that is, faith in Marxism and the theory and path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only when this correct faith is established will the propaganda of Marxist atheist viewpoints have a broader social foundation. Third, he suggested that while conducting academic research and academic exchanges, the society should also pay attention to social life and intervene in life. Comrade Mao Zedong once wrote a poem: "Today we cheer for the Great Sage Sun, / Only because the demon mist has returned again." [1]1 A couplet from Mao Zedong's 1961 poem "Reply to Comrade Guo Moruo" (*Qi lü: he Guo Moruo tongzhi*). The "Great Sage Sun" refers to Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from the classic novel *Journey to the West*, who defeats demons. Mao uses the image to call for combating contemporary ideological or political "demons." Today the demon mist is very thick and abundant, so we must invoke the spirit of the Great Sage Sun, oppose all kinds of cults, and actively intervene in social life, so as to truly establish a scientific spirit and rectify social mores among the entire people and the whole society.

邓纯东同志在致辞中提出三点建议。一是建议新一届理事会团结全国马克思主义无神论的研究者宣传者，进一步做好在中国社会普及科学知识、宣传科学精神的工作。《科学与无神论》这份刊物学术水平很高，办得很好，在继续坚持《科学与无神论》专业性的同时，应加强科普性，加强对马克思主义无神论各方面的观点、学术大众化的工作。二是建议新一届理事会把帮助全体人民树立科学信仰，作为今后重要的工作方向和工作内容。要帮助人民群众树立科学的信仰、正确的信仰，即树立对马克思主义、中国特色社会主义理论和道路的信仰，只有这种正确的信仰确立起来了，马克思主义无神论观点的宣传才会有更广泛的社会基础。三是建议学会在开展学术研究、学术交流的同时，也应该关注社会生活，干预生活。毛泽东同志过去有一句诗：“今日欢呼孙大圣，只缘妖雾又重来。”今日妖雾很多很浓厚，所以我们要搬出孙大圣的精神，反对各种邪教，积极干预社会生活，以便在全体人民全社会中真正树立科学精神，端正社会风气。