On July 15, the Fifth Scientific Atheism Forum Hosted by the Academy of Marxism Opens in Nanning

On July 15–16, 2017, the Fifth Scientific Atheism Forum of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences was held at Guangxi University in Nanning. The theme of this forum was “Scientific Atheism Propaganda and Education: Theory and Practice.” It was hosted by the Leading Group for the Construction of Marxist Theory and Theoretical Research Projects of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, jointly organized by the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Research Center for Science and Atheism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the Chinese Atheism Society, and co-organized by the School of Marxism of Guangxi University, the Guangxi Society for Dialectics of Nature, and the journal *Science and Atheism*.

2017年7月15-16日，中国社会科学院第五届科学无神论论坛在南宁广西大学召开。此次论坛的主题是“科学无神论宣传教育：理论与实践”，由中国社科院马克思主义理论学科建设与理论研究工程领导小组主办，中国社科院马克思主义研究院、中国社科院科学与无神论研究中心和中国无神论学会联合承办，广西大学马克思主义学院、广西自然辩证法研究会、《科学与无神论》杂志社协办。

Wang Weiguang, President and Party Group Secretary of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a long written speech at the forum titled “Upholding Marxist Atheism Is a Major Principle.” Centering on the study and implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on Marxist atheism, he conducted in-depth theoretical elaboration and made comprehensive arrangements for the relevant work of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His speech resonated strongly with the attending scholars.

中国社会科学院院长、党组书记王伟光在论坛上发表题为《坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则》的长篇书面讲话，围绕学习和贯彻习近平总书记关于马克思主义无神论重要思想，进行了深入的理论阐述，对中国社科院的相关工作做出全面部署。他的讲话引起与会学者强烈共鸣。

At the opening ceremony, Professor Zha Danming, Deputy Party Secretary and Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary of Guangxi University, and Researcher Fan Jianxin, Vice President of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered addresses.

开幕式上，广西大学党委副书记、纪委书记查丹明教授和中国社科院马克思主义研究院副院长樊建新研究员致辞。

In his address, Fan Jianxin stated that atheism is the foundation of the foundation and the cornerstone of the cornerstone of Marxist theory, and it should be propagated with full confidence. It cannot be allowed that the propaganda and education work on atheism be hollowed out by the simple pretext of “not provoking ethnic contradictions and religious contradictions.” The basic principles and bottom lines of the Communist Party of China in dealing with religion—that religion must never be allowed to interfere with state administration, judicature, school education, and social public education; that citizens have the freedom to believe in religion and also the freedom not to believe in religion; but that Communist Party members cannot believe in religion—must be upheld and are not open to challenge.

樊建新在致辞中说，无神论是马克思主义理论基础中的基础、基石中的基石，应当理直气壮地宣传，不能简单地用所谓“不要挑起民族矛盾和宗教矛盾”为借口架空无神论的宣传教育工作。绝不允许宗教干预国家行政、司法、学校教育和社会公共教育，公民有信仰宗教的自由也有不信仰宗教的自由，但共产党员不能信仰宗教，这些中国共产党对待宗教的基本原则和底线必须坚守、不容挑战。

Zhu Xiaoming, Chair of the Chinese Atheism Society, pointed out that in 2017 the Chinese Atheism Society was entrusted with undertaking the major project of the Central Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project, “Research on the Basic Theory and Education Issues of Marxist Atheism.” This is a powerful measure to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition on upholding and propagating Marxist atheism at the National Conference on Religious Work. This project includes six sub-topics: research on the status, role, scope, and connotation of Marxist atheism; research on the atheist thought of classical Marxist writers; research on the Sinicization of Marxist atheism; research on the atheist thought in Xi Jinping’s governance thought; research on the historical experience of Marxist atheist education; and research on the current situation, problems, and countermeasures of Marxist atheist education. At present, some interim results have been produced.

中国无神论学会理事长朱晓明指出，2017年中国无神论学会接受委托承担了中央马克思主义理论研究和建设工程重大课题“马克思主义无神论基础理论和教育问题研究”，这是贯彻落实习近平总书记在全国宗教工作会议上关于坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论重要论述的有力举措。该课题包括六个子课题：马克思主义无神论的地位作用和范畴内涵研究，马克思主义经典作家无神论思想研究，马克思主义无神论中国化研究，习近平治国理政思想中的无神论思想研究，马克思主义无神论教育的历史经验研究，马克思主义无神论教育的现状、问题及对策研究。目前，已产生部分阶段性成果。

Tian Xinming, a researcher at the Research Center for Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, emphasized that to uphold Marxism one must uphold atheism; if one does not uphold atheism, one deviates from Marxism. Therefore, atheism is an indispensable component of the Marxist view on religion; the Marxist view on religion cannot be separated from Marxist atheism. Upholding Marxist atheism requires propagating Marxist atheism, and this is unified with respecting the freedom of religious believers to believe in religion and upholding the patriotic united front. Propaganda and education on atheism cannot be limited to within the Communist Party of China but must be carried out among the broad masses.

教育部高校社会科学研究中心研究员田心铭强调，坚持马克思主义必须坚持无神论，不坚持无神论，就背离了马克思主义。因此，无神论是马克思主义宗教观中不可缺少的构成因素，马克思主义宗教观不能离开马克思主义无神论。坚持马克思主义无神论，必须宣传马克思主义无神论，这与尊重信教群众信仰宗教的自由、坚持爱国统一战线是统一的。无神论宣传教育不能仅仅限于中国共产党内，必须面向广大群众展开。

Zhang Xinying, President of the journal *Science and Atheism*, believed that to deepen the study and implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the National Conference on Religious Work, it is currently necessary to propose: while adhering to the Party’s basic policy on religious work, and in accordance with the new ideas, new viewpoints, and new orientations in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speech, boldly and rigorously consider carrying out appropriate discourse transformation, weight adjustment, or theoretical reconstruction of certain formulations, ways of thinking, and concepts that have long existed and been used in religious issues and religious work; concentrate on demonstrating and vigorously propagating Comrade Xi Jinping’s enrichment and development of the socialist theory on religion with Chinese characteristics; in this process, consciously complete the innovation of some ideological concepts and work models; and from the perspective of being conducive to satisfactorily answering the three major questions of “how” raised by the core leader of the Central Committee, formulate arguments and structure the discourse, so that all fronts involved in religious issues and religious work can usher in a new situation as expected by the Party and the people.

《科学与无神论》杂志社社长张新鹰认为，为将学习贯彻习近平总书记在全国宗教工作会议上的重要讲话引向深入，当前有必要提出：在坚持党的宗教工作基本方针的同时，根据习近平总书记讲话中的新思想、新观点、新导向，大胆而严谨地考虑对宗教问题和宗教工作中长期存在和运用的某些提法、思维、概念，进行适当的话语转换、权重调整或理论重构，集中论证和大力宣传习近平同志对中国特色社会主义宗教理论的丰富和发展，在这个过程中自觉完成对于部分思想观念、工作模式的推陈出新，多从有利于圆满回答中央领导核心提出的“三个如何”重大课题的角度去运思立论，谋篇布局，使涉及宗教问题和宗教工作的各条战线迎来党和人民所期待的新局面。

Jia Runguo, Deputy Director of the Religious Research Center of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, pointed out that regarding strengthening and improving religious work under the new situation, General Secretary Xi Jinping has clearly put forward the concept of “religious governance,” emphasizing that “religious issues are always major issues that our Party must handle well in governing the country,” and that “religious governance should be incorporated into the national governance system” to ensure it is “manageable and well-managed,” thus forming a new concept of the Party’s religious work and opening up a new realm of Marxist religious theory. In dealing with religious issues, we oppose “letting go” and must uphold Marxist atheism; we also oppose “tightening up” and must guarantee citizens’ freedom of religious belief; we should “guide,” adhere to the basic policy on religious work, build a positive and healthy religious relationship, and uphold the direction of Sinicization of religions in China. To do a good job of “guiding,” the key is to strengthen the Party’s leadership over religious work, improve the pattern of religious work, and raise the level of law-based governance.

国家宗教事务局宗教研究中心副主任加润国指出，关于加强和改进新形势下宗教工作，习近平总书记明确提出了“宗教治理”概念，强调“宗教问题始终是我们党治国理政必须处理好的重大问题”，要“把宗教治理纳入国家治理体系”，确保“管得住、管得好”，形成了党的宗教工作新理念，开拓了马克思主义宗教理论新境界。对待宗教问题，我们反对“放”，要坚持马克思主义无神论；也反对“收”，要保障公民宗教信仰自由；应该“导”，要坚持宗教工作基本方针，构建积极健康的宗教关系，坚持我国宗教中国化方向。做好“导”的工作，关键要加强党对宗教工作的领导，完善宗教工作格局，提高依法治理水平。

Professor Xu Qinfa of the School of Marxism of Guangxi University stated that in the historical context of value pluralism and belief diversification, Marxist belief education is undoubtedly urgent and arduous. Clarifying from the essence and internal logic of Marxist belief, and completely and accurately grasping the spiritual connotation of Marxist belief, is the foundation and prerequisite for Marxist belief education. Analyzing the connotation and characteristics of the two basic dimensions of Marxist belief education—theory and practice—are the two basic levels for testing the implementation path and effect of Marxist belief education, and can highlight the scientific truth and practical practical quality of Marxist belief. Thus, it can be internalized into the dominant thoughts, concepts, and ways of thinking of the educated, enabling them to actively use Marxist theory and methodological principles to observe and analyze various problems in real life, make accurate judgments in line with history and reality, and consciously uphold and practice them in action.

广西大学马克思主义学院徐秦法教授表示，在价值多元、信仰多样化的历史语境下，马克思主义信仰教育无疑具有紧迫性和艰巨性。从马克思主义信仰的本质和内在逻辑上厘清，并完整、准确地把握马克思主义信仰的精神内蕴，是进行马克思主义信仰教育的基础和前提。剖析马克思主义信仰教育的理论和实践这两个基本维度的内涵和特质，是检验马克思主义信仰教育的实施路径及其效果的两个基本层面，可以彰显马克思主义信仰所具有的科学真理性与现实实践性品质。从而内化为受教育者主导的思想、观念和思维方式，使其主动地运用马克思主义的理论和方法论原则，观察、分析现实生活中各种问题，做出符合历史和现实的准确判断，并在行动中自觉坚守和践行。

More than 40 veteran, middle-aged, and young experts and scholars from nearly 20 research institutions and universities across the country participated in the forum. The attendees engaged in lively discussions on topics such as the atheist thought of classical Marxist writers, scientific atheism and Sinicized Marxism, the atheist worldview and the ideals and beliefs of Communists, and the methods and paths of atheist propaganda and education.

来自全国近二十家科研机构和高等院校的40余名老中青专家学者参加论坛。与会人士围绕马克思主义经典作家的无神论思想、科学无神论与中国化马克思主义、无神论世界观与共产党人理想信念、无神论宣传教育的方法和路径等论题展开热烈探讨。

Vice President Fan Jianxin and Lei Depeng, Dean of the School of Marxism of Guangxi University, made the forum summary, expressing the common will to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in the disciplinary construction of Marxist atheism. Xi Wuyi, Director of the Research Center for Science and Atheism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered closing remarks.

樊建新副院长和广西大学马克思主义学院院长雷德鹏做论坛总结，表达了在马克思主义无神论学科建设方面加强双方合作的共同意愿。中国社科院科学与无神论研究中心主任习五一发表了闭幕感言。