Carrying Forward the Cause and Forging Ahead, Striving to Open a New Phase in the Cause of Scientific Atheism

Fellow council members, fellow delegates:

各位理事，各位代表：

Greetings to all! From November 2005 to August 2013, the Third Council of the China Atheism Society has served for nearly eight years. During this period, Mr. Ren Jiyu, President of the China Atheism Society, and Mr. Guo Zhengyi, Vice President, passed away due to illness. We express our profound condolences for these two predecessors who made outstanding contributions to the cause of scientific atheism in China.

大家好！自2005年11月至今2013年8月，中国无神论学会第三届理事会历时近八年。在此期间，中国无神论学会理事长任继愈先生，副理事长郭正谊先生先后因病逝世。对于这两位为中国科学无神论事业作出卓越贡献的前辈，我们表示深切的哀悼。

Now, entrusted by the Third Council, I present a work report to the Fourth Member Representative Conference of the China Atheism Society.

现在，我受第三届理事会的委托，向中国无神论学会第四届会员代表大会做工作报告。

I. The Historical Process of the Cause of Scientific Atheism in Contemporary China

一、当代中国科学无神论事业的历史进程

Atheism is the crystallization of human social civilization and thought. Marxist atheism is the advanced form of scientific atheism in its development. Scientific atheism is not only a worldview and a mode of thinking, but also an attitude toward life and a way of living. The current focus of the cause of scientific atheism is to advance the strategy of "rejuvenating the country through science and education," to free society from the burden of ignorance and superstition, to enable every family to live a healthy, harmonious, and happy life, and to allow every individual to achieve independent, free, and all-round development. To put it in fashionable terms, it is to let everyone possess the Chinese Dream.

无神论是人类社会文明和思考的结晶。马克思主义无神论是科学无神论发展的高级形态。科学无神论不仅是一种世界观和思维方式，也是一种人生态度和生活方式。当前科学无神论事业的重心是推动“科教兴国”战略，让社会摆脱愚昧迷信的负担，家家过上健康和谐幸福的生活，每个人得到独立自由全面的发展,用时尚的话说，让人人拥有中国梦。

The research, propaganda, and educational work of scientific atheism is an important component of the ideological work of the Communist Party of China. Scientific atheism is the philosophical foundation of the system of core socialist values, a happy way of life, and an important pathway for building a harmonious society. Strengthening the research, propaganda, and education of scientific atheism is a consistent policy of the Chinese Communists.

科学无神论的研究和宣传教育工作，是中国共产党意识形态工作的重要组成部分。科学无神论是社会主义核心价值体系的哲学基础，是一种幸福的生活方式，也是构建和谐社会的重要途径。加强科学无神论研究和宣传教育，是中国共产党人的一贯方针。

(1) The Party Central Committee Attaches High Importance to Strengthening Atheism Research, Propaganda, and Education

（一）党中央高度重视加强无神论研究和宣传教育工作

Over the past decade, the Party Central Committee has successively issued many important directives and many important documents. These are our "sword of authority" [n] in carrying out our work.

十年来，党中央相继做出许多重要批示，发出许多重要文件。这是我们开展工作的上方宝剑。

On August 15, 2003, Comrade Chen Kuiyuan, then President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, addressed a letter to Comrade Hu Jintao, then General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, forwarding the "Proposal on Further Strengthening the Research, Propaganda, and Education of Scientific Atheism" by Mr. Ren Jiyu, President of the China Atheism Society, and others. On August 19, Comrade Hu Jintao instructed on Comrade Chen Kuiyuan's letter: "The research, propaganda, and education of atheism is a long-term task that needs to be incorporated into the overall planning of scientific research and the general deployment of propaganda and ideological work, and pursued with perseverance. In particular, Communist Party members should firmly establish a materialist worldview. This is not contradictory to implementing the Party's policy of freedom of religious belief." Comrade Li Changchun, then member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Comrade Liu Yunshan, then member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department, respectively issued instructions, requiring the implementation of Hu Jintao's important directive.

2003年8月15日，中国社会科学院前院长陈奎元同志致函时任中共中央总书记胡锦涛同志，转交中国无神论学会理事长任继愈先生等《关于进一步加强科学无神论研究和宣传教育的建议》。8月19日，胡锦涛同志在陈奎元同志的信函上批示：“关于无神论研究和宣传教育是一项长期任务，需纳入科学研究规划和宣传思想工作的总体部署，锲而不舍地进行。尤其是共产党员应牢固地确立唯物主义的世界观。这与贯彻党的宗教信仰自由政策并不矛盾。”时任中央政治局常委的李长春同志、时任中央政治局政治局委员、中宣部部长的刘云山同志等分别批示，要求贯彻胡锦涛的重要指示。

To implement the important directives of Comrade Hu Jintao and others, on May 28, 2004, six ministries and commissions, including the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, issued the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Research, Propaganda, and Education of Marxist Atheism," stating: "It is necessary to strengthen the disciplinary construction and talent cultivation of Marxist atheism, properly manage atheism research institutions and relevant university programs, and establish and cultivate a contingent of atheism research workers armed with Marxism."

为落实胡锦涛等同志的重要指示，2004年5月28日，中共中央组织部、宣传部等六部委发出《关于进一步加强马克思主义无神论研究和宣传教育工作的通知》，提出“要加强马克思主义无神论学科建设和人才培养，办好无神论研究机构和高校有关专业，建立和培养一支用马克思主义武装起来的无神论研究工作队伍。”

On March 12, 2005, Comrade Li Changchun, then member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, instructed on Mr. Ren Jiyu's "Proposal on Establishing Atheism Research Institutions": "It is suggested that the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences strengthen research on atheism." Comrade Chen Kuiyuan instructed: "At present, feudal superstition is rampant and religious propagation is widespread. Conducting research, propaganda, and education on atheism is indeed a task that cannot be ignored in the construction of civilization."

2005年3月12日，时任中共中央政治局常委的李长春同志在中国无神论学会理事长任继愈先生《关于创建无神论研究机构的建议》上批示：“建议中国社科院加强对无神论的研究。”陈奎元同志批示：“现在封建迷信泛滥、宗教传播深广，进行无神论的研究、宣传和教育的确是文明建设中不容忽视的任务。”

On January 14, 2009, Comrade Chen Kuiyuan, then President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, instructed on a letter from Mr. Ren Jiyu, President of the China Atheism Society: "Mr. Ren Jiyu's tireless advocacy for atheism commands our admiration. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences should, as a matter of course, contribute to the research and promotion of atheism. This is entirely consistent with implementing the 'Three Represents Important Thought' and the 'Scientific Outlook on Development.' If the broad masses of the people constantly go to worship gods and Buddhas, 'people-centered' would become empty talk."

2009年1月14日，中国社会科学院前院长陈奎元同志在中国无神论学会理事长任继愈先生的信函上批示：“任继愈老先生为宣扬无神论奔走呼号，其精神令我们钦佩。中国社科院理应为研究、弘扬无神论作出贡献。这与落实‘三个代表重要思想’和‘科学发展观’是完全符合的。如果广大人民群众经常去跪拜神佛，‘以人为本’岂不成了空话。”

On May 15, 2011, Document No. 18 of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee forwarded the "Opinions on Doing a Good Job in Resisting the Use of Religion by Foreign Forces to Infiltrate Universities and Preventing Campus Proselytization" issued by six ministries and commissions, including the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Education. The document requires: "Make Marxist atheism education a foundational task in resisting infiltration and preventing campus proselytization, enrich its content in ideological and political theory courses and relevant professional courses, and strengthen propaganda and education through various forms." "Strengthen the management of teaching and research institutions for religious studies, integrate Marxist atheism throughout disciplinary construction and talent cultivation, and adhere to Marxism as the guide to deeply carry out religious studies research." This is an unprecedented important measure. It is evident that strengthening the disciplinary construction of scientific atheism is an important component of the work to resist foreign religious infiltration and prevent campus proselytization.

2011年5月15日，中共中央办公厅18号文件转发中央统战部、教育部等六部委《关于做好抵御境外利用宗教对高校进行渗透和防范校园传教工作的意见》的通知。文件要求“把马克思主义无神论教育作为抵御渗透和防范校园传教的基础性工作，在思想政治理论课和有关专业课程中充实内容，通过多种形式强化宣传教育”。“加强宗教学教学科研机构管理，把马克思主义无神论贯穿到学科建设和人才培养之中，坚持以马克思主义为指导深入开展宗教学研究工作。”这是前所未有的重要举措。可见，加强科学无神论学科建设，是抵御境外宗教渗透和防范校园传教工作的重要组成部分。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary has made further strategic deployments to strengthen ideological work and maintain the Party's advanced nature and purity. General Secretary Xi Jinping, from the high ground of whether ideals and convictions are firm and whether political reliability is assured, has sharply criticized cadres who do not believe in Marxism but believe in gods and spirits, who seek spiritual sustenance from feudal superstitions, who are keen on fortune-telling, physiognomy, burning incense and worshipping Buddha, and who "consult the gods" when encountering problems. He has also demanded the strengthening and implementation of leadership responsibility for ideological work to ensure that mainstream thought and public opinion occupy the ideological battlefield.

党的十八大以来，以习近平为总书记的党中央对加强意识形态工作，保持党的先进性、纯洁性做出进一步战略部署。习近平总书记从理想信念是否坚定、政治上是否可靠的高度，对有的干部不信马列信鬼神，从封建迷信中寻找精神寄托，热衷于算命看相、烧香拜佛，遇事“问计于神”，提出尖锐批评；并要求强化和落实意识形态工作的领导责任，确保主流思想和舆论占领意识形态阵地。

These directives and documents indicate that, facing the more complex situation in Chinese society in the new period, the Party Central Committee attaches high importance to strengthening the research, propaganda, and education of scientific atheism, incorporating it into the overall planning of scientific research and the general deployment of propaganda and ideological work. In contemporary China, the research, propaganda, and educational work of scientific atheism is one of the important tasks in building the system of core socialist values.

这些批示和文件表明，面临新时期中国社会更加复杂的局面，党中央高度重视加强科学无神论研究和宣传教育，将其纳入到科学研究规划和宣传思想工作的总体部署中。在当代中国，科学无神论的研究和宣传教育工作，是建设社会主义核心价值体系的重要工作之一。

(2) Two Important Historical Windows of Opportunity for the Development of the Cause of Scientific Atheism in Contemporary China

（二）当代中国科学无神论事业发展的两个重要历史机遇期

Since reform and opening up, the development of the cause of scientific atheism in contemporary China has experienced two important historical windows of opportunity. The first was in the late 1990s. The second was from the winter of 2009 to the spring of 2010. During these two important historical windows of opportunity, Mr. Ren Jiyu, President of the China Atheism Society, led comrades of like mind, holding high the banner of scientific atheism, and made outstanding contributions that will shine in the annals of history.

自改革开放以来，当代中国科学无神论事业的发展经历过两个重要历史机遇期。第一次是上世纪90年代末。第二次是2009年冬至2010年春。在这两个重要历史机遇期，中国无神论学会理事长任继愈先生带领各位志士同仁，高举科学无神论的旗帜，作出了彪炳史册的卓越贡献。

As we all know, at the end of 1978, just after the Cultural Revolution ended, Mr. Ren Jiyu founded the China Atheism Society. Subsequently, due to various reasons, the work of the society once fell silent.

我们大家都知道，1978年底，文化大革命刚结束，任继愈先生就创建了中国无神论学会。其后，由于种种原因，学会的工作曾一度沉寂。

In the 1990s, new theism under the banner of "special functions" [n] ran rampant, becoming a major problem affecting social stability and development. In 1996, at the initiative of Mr. Ren Jiyu, the China Atheism Society resumed its work. In 1999, under the direct deployment of the Party Central Committee, the journal *Science and Atheism* was first published. This was the first important milestone in the development of the cause of atheism in contemporary China. Over the past decade or more, the China Atheism Society and the journal *Science and Atheism* have made important contributions to propagating the scientific spirit, conducting atheism education, promoting core socialist values, and building a harmonious socialist society. The society and the journal have become the most important academic community and academic platform in contemporary China for researching and propagating scientific atheism. With strong support from the Party Central Committee and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Atheism Society and the journal *Science and Atheism* have gathered a group of outstanding scholars engaged in the research and propagation of scientific atheism.

20世纪90年代，打着“特异功能”旗帜的新有神论泛滥成灾，成为影响社会稳定发展的重要问题。1996年，在任继愈先生的倡导下，中国无神论学会恢复工作。1999年，在党中央的直接部署下，《科学与无神论》创刊。这是当代中国的无神论事业发展的第一个重要标志。十多年来，中国无神论学会和《科学与无神论》杂志为宣传科学精神，开展无神论教育，弘扬社会主义核心价值，为构建社会主义和谐社会作出了重要贡献。学会和刊物成为当代中国最重要研究宣传科学无神论的学术社团和学术阵地。在党中央和中国社科院的大力支持下，中国无神论学会和《科学与无神论》杂志，凝聚了一批优秀的研究和宣传科学无神论的学者。

From the winter of 2009 to the spring of 2010, the development of the cause of scientific atheism encountered its second major historical window of opportunity. In September 2009, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences issued the *Implementation Plan for Strengthening the Construction of Marxist Theoretical Disciplines and Theoretical Research (2009-2014)*. In the plan for the construction of Marxist theoretical disciplines, scientific atheism was designated as an endangered discipline to receive key support, with a “Marxist Atheism Research Office” to be established within the Academy of Marxism, and concurrently a “Scientific Atheism Research Center” under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, to be affiliated with the Academy of Marxism. This was a pivotal measure of great significance. This move not only established a specialized research institution for scientific atheism, conducive to the construction of the core socialist values, but will also inevitably influence the ideological trends and academic structures in related fields nationwide toward a benign transformation, and can play a positive role in the construction of an advanced culture and the improvement of the nation’s quality.

2009年冬至2010年春，科学无神论事业的发展迎来了第二个重要历史机遇期。2009年9月，中国社会科学院发布了《加强马克思主义理论学科建设与理论研究实施方（2009-2014）》。在马克思主义理论学科建设方案中，将科学无神论作为濒危学科重点扶持，在马克思主义研究院组建“马克思主义无神论研究室”，同时成立中国社科院“科学与无神论研究中心”，挂靠在马研院。这是具有转折性的重要举措。此举不但组建了一个专业的科学无神论研究机构，有利于社会主义核心价值体系的建设，而且必将影响全国有关领域的思想趋势和学术结构向良性转变，对先进文化的建设和民族素质的提高，都能产生积极的作用。

On December 24, 2009, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences approved the establishment of the “Marxist Atheism Research Office.” This is the first substantive atheism research institution to reappear in China since the “Atheism Research Office” founded by Mr. Ren Jiyu in the last century was renamed. On April 20, 2010, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences approved the establishment of the “Scientific Atheism Research Center.” This is the first social platform for “scientific atheism research” in contemporary China. The development goal of this center is not only to become an academic research center for Marxist atheism and a base for propagating and educating scientific atheism, but also to become a strategic research center for responding to the ideologization of religion and the infiltration by hostile foreign forces using religion.

2009年12月24日，中国社会科学院批准成立“马克思主义无神论研究室”。这是自上世纪任继愈先生创建的“无神论研究室”被更名后，目前中国再次出现的实体性无神论研究机构。2010年4月20日，中国社会科学院批准成立“科学与无神论研究中心”。这是当代中国第一个“科学与无神论研究”的社会平台。该中心的发展目标，不仅要成为马克思主义无神论的学术研究中心，开展科学无神论宣传、教育的基地，而且要成为针对宗教意识形态化、境外敌对势力利用宗教渗透的应对战略研究中心。

(3) The Marxist Theoretical Disciplines Construction Project has designated scientific atheism as an endangered discipline for key support, and disciplinary construction has already taken solid steps.

（三）马工程将科学无神论学科作为濒危学科重点扶持，学科建设已经迈开坚实的步伐。

With the advancement of the project for the construction of Marxist theoretical disciplines and theoretical research, and with the support of leaders at all levels of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Atheism Society, the journal *Science and Atheism*, the CASS Scientific Atheism Research Center, and the Marxist Atheism Research Office of the Academy of Marxism have formed a four-in-one synergy. United with insightful individuals from all sectors of society, they are promoting the gradual recovery of this endangered discipline.

随着马克思主义理论学科建设与理论研究工程的推进，在中国社科院各级领导的支持下，中国无神论学会、《科学与无神论》杂志、中国社科院科学与无神论研究中心和马研院马克思主义无神论研究室四位一体，形成合力，联合社会各界有识之士，正在推动这个濒危学科的逐步复苏。

Over the past six years, the journal *Science and Atheism*, the organ of the China Atheism Society, has completed its transformation from a popular science journal to a professional academic journal. From its very inception, *Science and Atheism* has shouldered an important social mission. Initially, the journal’s main responsibility was to counter the rampant spread of organizations like

六年以来，中国无神论学会的会刊《科学与无神论》杂志，实现了由科普宣传性期刊向专业学术性期刊的转型。自《科学与无神论》创办之初起，就肩负着重要的社会使命。最初刊物的主要责任是针对法轮功等“特异功能”组织的泛滥成灾，向社会大众宣传科学精神，开展无神论教育。刊物刊登大量短小生动的文章，批判重点批判法轮功等新有神论组织，产生了积极的社会影响。自2007年9月起，《科学与无神论》杂志编辑部连续刊登征稿启事，说明自2008年第1期起，刊物将承担“更加深刻繁重的历史任务”，为建立无神论研究学科，重点转向科学无神论专业学术性期刊。正如征稿启事所指出的：“没有这样一个学科，这样一支队伍，科学无神论的宣传教育就不能持之以恒、深入人心，马克思主义意识形态的指导地位就不免沦为空谈。”自2008年起至今，《科学与无神论》杂志已经出版35期，在专业研究队伍十分单薄的条件下，刊物在主编杜继文老师的带领下，积极寻找稿源，精心策划编辑，已经成为科学无神论专业研究的旗舰刊物。据我们统计，每年科学无神论专业论文大约有70%左右发表在《科学与无神论》杂志上。许多重要文章思想深刻，旗帜鲜明。

For example, the book *The Laws of Faith* by American Christian scholars Rodney Stark and Roger Finke has recently become popular in mainland China. After this theory was introduced into the country, it won deep admiration from certain researchers in academic circles. This book became an important reference work for a "China-US-Europe Advanced Seminar on Religious Studies" at a famous university in Beijing, and soon "became a bestseller in religious studies circles in recent years," hailed as a "Copernican revolution." [3]3 A "Copernican revolution" refers to a fundamental paradigm shift in a field of knowledge, analogous to the shift from a geocentric to a heliocentric model of the solar system. Regarding this latest masterpiece of "religious sociology" produced by American Christian scholars, *Science and Atheism* took the lead in publishing a critical article, pointing out that the "laws of faith" it discovered are: monotheism is the most competitive, polytheism is weak and incompetent; "tension" and "exclusivity" are the internal driving forces that make religion powerful; religious conflict, especially serving as a vehicle for social conflict, is the most effective channel for attracting believers to "commit." It elevates the economic benefits of religion to the highest interest, incites all areas of society to open up to religion and engage in free competition, despises democratic constitutionalism, attacks state leadership, and belongs to the trend of religious supremacy and religious anarchism. In China, it challenges the policy of law-based governance and directly impacts the national legislation of "separation of education from religion." The guiding concept of this book is to disparage religion's adaptation to the social environment and its integration with the cultural environment, instigating religion to emerge abruptly from social turmoil and seek opportunities for religious revitalization in the "clash of civilizations." Therefore, inciting religious exclusivity, breaking the existing social order and cultural structure, and resisting the principles of the national constitution have become its greatest characteristics. This kind of critical research stands out uniquely in the current field of religious studies and has attracted widespread attention.

比如，美国基督教学者罗德尼．斯达克(Rodney Stark)和罗杰尔．芬克（Roger Finke)撰写的《信仰的法则》一书近来在中国大陆的走俏。该学说引入国内后，深得学界某些研究者的推崇。此书成为北京某著名大学“中美欧宗教学高级研讨班”重要参考著作，很快“成为近年来宗教学界的畅销书”，被视为一场“哥白尼式革命”。对于这部美国基督教学者推出的“宗教社会学”最新力作，《科学与无神论》率先撰文批判，指出它发现的“信仰法则”是：一神教最具竞争力，多神教软弱无能；“张力”和“排他性”是宗教得以强大的内驱力，宗教冲突特别是担当社会冲突的载体，是吸引教徒“委身”最有力的渠道。它把宗教的经济收益定为最高利益，鼓动社会一切领域都应该对宗教开放，自由竞争，蔑视民主宪政，抨击国家主导，属于宗教至上，宗教无政府思潮。其在中国是向依法治国的方针挑战，直接冲击“教育与宗教相分离”的国家立法。该书的指导性观念，是贬斥宗教对社会环境的适应以及与文化环境的融合，教唆宗教从社会动乱中横空出世，在“文明冲突”中寻求宗教振兴的契机。因此，鼓动宗教的排他性，打破既有的社会秩序和文化结构，抗拒国家宪法原则，就成了它的最大特色。这种批判性的研究在当前宗教学研究领域中独树一帜，引起广泛的关注。

Over the past five years, the annual academic conference of the China Atheism Society has moved out of Beijing and been held in various parts of the country, gradually amplifying the voice of scientific atheism. Due to various constraints, five years ago, the annual academic conference of the China Atheism Society was usually held in Beijing; the Society could not afford to provide travel expenses for scholars, so few scholars from outside Beijing participated. Starting in 2009, with the joint efforts of colleagues in the Society, the annual academic conference of the China Atheism Society moved out of Beijing to be held in various parts of the country. The 2009 annual conference was co-hosted by Shanghai Normal University and the Institute of Religious Studies of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences; the 2010 annual conference was co-hosted by Zhejiang Normal University; the 2011 annual academic conference was co-hosted by the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences and Xinjiang Normal University; the 2012 annual conference was co-hosted by Shaanxi Normal University. By moving out of the capital city and holding the annual academic conference of the China Atheism Society across the country, we have made friends who support the cause of scientific atheism and have had the opportunity to spread the voice of scientific atheism more widely.

五年以来，中国无神论学会的学术年会走出北京，到祖国各地举办，逐步扩大科学无神论的声音。由于种种条件的限制，五年以前，中国无神论学会的学术年会通常在北京举办，学会无力提供学者旅费，因此外地学者也很少参加。自2009年起，在学会各位同仁的共同努力下，中国无神论学会的学术年会走出北京，到全国各地举办。2009年的学会年会由上海师范大学、上海社科院宗教研究所联合承办；2010的学会年会由浙江师范大学承办；2011年的学术年会由新疆社会科学院和新疆师范大学联合承办；2012的学会年会由陕西师范大学承办。走出京城，到大江南北举办中国无神论学会的学术年会，我们结识了一批支持科学无神论事业的朋友，有机会更加广泛地传播科学无神论的声音。

In October 2007, the China Research Institute for Science Popularization, the China Atheism Society, and other units, jointly with the Center for Inquiry, held an international symposium in Beijing on "Scientific Exploration and Human Well-being." The theme of the conference was "Promoting the Scientific Spirit, Building a Harmonious Society." Participants came from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Norway, Brazil, and other countries, including American scientists who had won the Nobel Prize in Physics, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and representatives of contemporary Chinese university students, totaling about 400 people. Professor Du Jiwen, Vice President of the China Atheism Society, delivered a plenary report titled "China's Humanist Tradition and the Spirit of Atheism." Society Secretary-General Xi Wuyi presided over the sub-forum on "Science and Secular Humanism." Scholars from various countries attending the conference reached a consensus: "Rational and scientific thinking is the best way to guide human behavior and should be disseminated to the public." This was a pioneering international academic symposium.

2007年10月，由中国科普研究所和中国无神论学会等单位与国际探索中心联合，在北京举办了“科学探索与人类福祉”国际研讨会。会议主题是“提升科学精神，建设和谐社会”。与会人士来自中国、美国、英国、法国、俄罗斯、挪威、巴西等国家，既有美国获得诺贝尔物理奖的科学家、中国科学院院士，也有当代中国大学生代表，大约有400位。中国无神论学会副理事长杜继文教授作大会报告，题目是《中国的人本主义传统和无神论精神》。学会秘书长习五一主持了“科学与世俗人文主义”分场研讨。与会各国学者达成共识，即：“理性与科学的思考是指导人类行为的最好方式，应当向大众传播。”这是一次具有开拓性的国际学术研讨会。

Over the past four years, the Research Center for Science and Atheism and the Research Office for Marxist Atheism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences have undertaken the arduous task of pioneering the disciplinary construction of scientific atheism within the field of Marxist research. Since 2011, the *Yearbook of Marxist Theoretical Research and Discipline Construction* has added an eighth secondary discipline, scientific atheism, to the original seven secondary disciplines in its disciplinary research section. For three consecutive years, we have written manuscripts for the Yearbook's columns such as Disciplinary Research, Hotspot Focus, Selected Papers, and Selected Works Introduction. The discipline of scientific atheism has already made its voice heard in the national field of Marxist research.

四年以来，中国社科院科学与无神论研究中心和马克思主义无神论研究室，承担起在马克思主义研究领域开拓科学无神论学科建设的艰巨任务。自2011年起，马克思主义理论研究与学科建设年鉴，在学科研究中，在原有的七个二级学科中，增加第八个学科科学无神论。我们已经连续三年为马年鉴的学科研究、热点聚焦、论文荟萃、著作选介等栏目，撰写文稿。科学无神论学科已经在全国的马克思主义研究领域发出自己的声音。

With the strong support of the Leading Group for the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, since 2012 the *Marxist Thematic Research Series* has added *Research on Marxist Atheism*, which annually selects and compiles important papers in the field of scientific atheism for publication. This project has been listed as a funded publication project of the Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

在中国社科院马工程工作领导小组的大力支持下，自2012年起，《马克思主义专题研究文丛》增加《马克思主义无神论研究》，每年选编本年度科学无神论专业重要论文汇编出版。该项目被列为中国社科院创新工程的学术出版资助项目。

With the support of the Institute of Marxism at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Research Center for Science and Atheism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences undertook, from 2011 to 2012, a key national conditions research project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences — "Survey of the Religious Believer Population among Contemporary University Students: Focusing on Peking University." The research group conducted multi-angle, in-depth investigations into the phenomenon of religious belief among contemporary university students. Members of the research group successively went deep into Peking University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Tsinghua University, and other institutions to collect data, distribute questionnaires, and conduct surveys and interviews. They not only carried out detailed and meticulous fieldwork among the religious believer population of university students but also investigated and analyzed the campus and social environment that fosters the phenomenon of religious belief among students. The policy recommendations proposed by the research group for preventing infiltration by foreign religious forces received an important directive from Comrade Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the new Party Central Committee.[1]1 "Sword of authority" (上方宝剑) is a Chinese idiom referring to an imperial sword bestowed by the emperor, symbolizing delegated authority to act decisively. Here it is used metaphorically to mean authoritative backing or a powerful tool.

在中国社科院马研院的支持下，中国社科院科学与无神论研究中心于2011-2012年，承担中国社科院重点国情调研项目——“当代大学生信教群体状况调查－以北京大学为重点”。课题组对当代大学生信教现象展开多角度深入的调查研究。课题组成员相继深入北京大学、中国人民大学、北京师范大学、清华大学等多所高校，收集资料，发放问卷，考察访谈。不仅对大学生信教群体进行深入细致的田野考察，而且对形成大学生信教现象的校园和社会环境进行调查分析。课题组提出的防范境外宗教势力渗透的对策建议，获得新一届党中央政治局常委俞正声同志的重要批示。

As one of the signs of the revival of the scientific atheism field, several works have been published in recent years. For example, *On Religion*, a three-volume work by Professor Li Shen, Vice President of the Chinese Atheism Society, was published by China Social Sciences Press (2006, 2008, 2010). *Contemporary Interpretation of Marxist Scientific Atheism* by Li Shiju was published by People's Publishing House (2006). *Theory and Practice of Scientific Atheism Education for Youth*, edited by Sun Qian, was published by China Social Sciences Press (2009). *A Study of Eastern and Western Atheist Philosophical Thought* by Wang Zhen was published by Religious Culture Press (2010). *Scientific Atheism and Religious Studies* by Xi Wuyi, as the first volume in the *Science and Atheism* research series planned by the Research Center for Science and Atheism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was published by China Social Sciences Press (2012).

作为科学无神论专业复苏的标志之一，近些年，有若干种著作相继出版。比如，中国无神论学会副理事长李申教授撰写的三卷本的《宗教论》，由中国社科出版社出版(2006年、2008年、2010年)。李士菊撰写的《马克思主义科学无神论的当代阐释》由人民出版社出版（2006年）。孙倩主编的《青少年科学无神论教育的理论与实践》由中国社科出版社出版(2009年)。王珍撰写的《东西方无神论哲学思想研究》 由宗教文化出版社出版(2010年)。习五一撰写的《科学无神论与宗教研究》，作为中国社科院科学与无神论研究中心策划的《科学与无神论》研究丛书的第一种，由中国社科出版社出版(2012年)。

II. The Current Situation and Tasks Facing the Cause of Scientific Atheism

二、当前科学无神论事业面临的形势和任务

In the history of the Chinese nation, humanist thought has been rich and varied, with Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexisting in a pluralistic and compatible manner, and religion occupying a subcultural zone. In contemporary society, the core system of socialist values is increasingly gaining popular support, yet it is simultaneously facing serious challenges from various extremist religious forces and trends of thought both domestically and internationally. This compels us to step forward and respond in the realm of ideology and culture. Strengthening research, education, and propaganda on scientific atheism is a task of utmost urgency.

在中华民族历史上，人文主义思想丰富多彩，儒释道多元兼容，宗教处于亚文化地带。在当今社会，社会主义核心价值体系日渐深入人心，但同时又受到国际国内各种极端宗教势力和思潮的严重挑战，迫使我们在思想文化领域必须挺身应对，加强科学无神论研究和宣传教育工作，迫在眉睫。

Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, as the socialist cause and Marxist ideological trends gradually emerge from their trough, the cause of scientific atheism in our country is showing encouraging signs. However, the situation we face is not optimistic. The main problems and challenges are as follows:

在党中央的领导下，随着社会主义事业和马克思主义思潮逐步走出低谷，我国的科学无神论事业正在出现喜人景象，但面临的形势不容乐观。主要问题和挑战如下：

(1) The cultural infiltration of international right-wing religious forces has become a major factor threatening our national cultural security.

（一）国际右翼宗教势力的文化渗透成为威胁我国文化安全的重要因素。

Since the end of the Cold War, the revival of religion and religious conflicts have become significant social phenomena in the international strategic landscape. A careful analysis of these social phenomena reveals that what is primarily at work is not theism on a spiritual level, but rather the social nature of religion being artificially elevated and intensified. Religious theism is being used by certain countries and certain interest groups as a means to seek political power and economic gain. From the perspective of scientific atheism, this phenomenon is a twist in the course of history, urgently requiring our research and the formulation of corresponding strategies. Currently, there are three main prominent issues where religion is used to affect China's national security:

冷战结束以来，在国际战略格局中，宗教的复兴和宗教的冲突，成为重要的社会现象。仔细分析这些社会现象，主要不是精神层面的有神论在起作用，而是宗教的社会性被人为的抬高和强化。宗教有神论被某些国家和某些利益集团，当作谋取政治势力和经济利益的手段。从科学无神论的视角考察，这种现象是历史进程中的曲折，急需我们进行研究，提出对应战略。当前利用宗教影响中国国家安全的突出问题主要有三个：即以达赖集团为首的藏独分裂势力；打着伊斯兰教旗帜的“东突”分裂势力；美国基督教新保守势力对华的扩张战略。在西方遏制中国的战略中，这些将成为敌对势力利用宗教因素的重要资源。

The global expansion strategy of Christian neoconservatism has become a tool of American hegemonism. The U.S. Congress passed the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which is a tool for the global strategic expansion of Christianity through state power. China has become a key region for the international religious right to spread the Christian gospel. Since 1999, the annual International Religious Freedom Reports issued by the U.S. government have, in dozens of pages, enumerated various so-called "cases," accusing the Chinese government of "seriously violating religious freedom."

基督教新保守主义的全球扩张战略，成为美国霸权主义的工具。美国国会通过《1998年国际宗教自由法案》，是以国家力量进行基督教全球战略扩张的工具。中国成为国际宗教右翼势力传播基督教福音的重点地区。自1999年以来，美国政府发布的历年《国际宗教自由报告》，均以数十页的篇幅，历数种种所谓“案例”，指责中国政府“严重侵犯宗教自由”。除了被界定为“精神运动”的“法轮功”外，美国政府重点关注某些基督教新教的团体，包括呼喊派、东方闪电、门徒会等等被中国政府依法治理的邪教组织。

Overseas religious infiltration has become one of the most important factors threatening China’s security. Its strategic intent is to change China’s ideology and political system. Attention should be paid to the “legal infiltration” of overseas Christian right-wing forces. The promotion of Christianity in China by overseas right-wing forces is in essence a form of cultural colonization and ideological infiltration. In the words of the veteran missionary Timothy Richard, cultural evangelism “seizes China’s head and spine.” [4]4 Timothy Richard (1845–1919) was a British Baptist missionary to China who advocated a strategy of “cultural evangelism,” seeking to influence China’s elite and reform its society through education, literature, and science. Western religious right-wing forces are particularly adept at using legal channels to penetrate deeply into China’s cultural, educational, and academic research positions, cultivating forces and propagating their worldview, values, and political outlook in opposition to China’s mainstream ideology. The main forms of so-called “legal infiltration” are “cultural exchange” and “academic research.” Through the education system and research institutions, they propagate among young intellectuals the notion of the superiority of Christianity, attribute modern Western civilization to religious faith, denigrate China’s traditional culture, and belittle socialist values. Religious infiltration has become the main content of foreign cultural infiltration. Cultural issues, religious issues, and even ideological issues require a response at the level of thought. We should seize the power of discourse and cultivate our own academic advantages.

境外宗教渗透成为威胁我国安全的最重要因素之一。其战略意图是改变中国意识形态和政治制度。应当重视境外基督教右翼势力的“合法渗透”。境外右翼势力推动基督教在我国传播，实质上是一种文化殖民和意识形态渗透。用资深传教士李提摩太的话说，文化传教是“抓住了中国的脑袋和脊梁”。西方宗教右翼势力特别善于利用合法渠道，深入我国文化教育和学术研究阵地，培植力量，宣传他们的世界观、价值观和政治观，与我国主流意识形态对立。所谓“合法渗透”，主要形式是“文化交流”和“学术研究”。他们通过教育系统和研究机构，在青年知识分子中宣传基督教优秀论，将西方近现代文明归功于宗教信仰，诋毁中国的传统文化，贬低社会主义价值观。宗教渗透已经成为国外文化渗透的主要内容。而文化问题，宗教问题，以至意识形态问题，需要思想上的应对。我们应该掌握话语权，应该培植自己的学术优势。

The China Atheism Society held a seminar in Beijing in February 2012 to discuss “cultural evangelism” and the issue that “Communist Party members must not believe in religion.” Scholars attending the meeting pointed out that cultural evangelism is a “clever” strategy employed by the West against China. It attempts first to occupy certain institutions of higher learning and academic institutions, spreading religion and its ideology through certain literati. The essential attribute of religion is belief in ghosts, gods, and the other world; belief should be placed in the position of belief and become a private matter for individual citizens. In fact, allowing Communist Party members to believe in religion is precisely an important breakthrough point in the American strategy of cultural evangelism. Our insistence that Communist Party members must not believe in religion is of great significance for resisting overseas religious infiltration.

中国无神论学会于2012年2月在京举办研讨会，探讨“文化传教”和“共产党员不能信教”问题。与会学者指出：文化传教是西方对中国的一种“巧”的策略。它试图首先占领某些高等院校和学术机构，通过某些文人来传播宗教及其意识形态。宗教的本质属性就是对鬼神和彼岸世界的信仰，信仰就应该归在信仰的位置上，成为公民个人的私事。事实上，让共产党员信教，正是美国文化传教策略的一个重要突破口。我们坚持共产党员不能信仰宗教，对于抵制境外宗教渗透具有重要的意义。

Comrade Zhu Weiqun published an article titled “Communist Party Members Must Not Believe in Religion,” [5]5 Zhu Weiqun (born 1950) is a senior Chinese Communist Party official who served as head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee; his article “Communist Party Members Must Not Believe in Religion” was published in 2011. unequivocally responding to the clamor of certain people demanding that the Chinese Communist Party open itself up to religion. He pointed out that the dialectical materialist worldview is the foundation on which the Party formulates and implements the policy of freedom of religious belief, and that Communist Party members must not believe in religion is a consistent principle of the Party; allowing Party members to believe in religion would erode and disintegrate the Party’s organism. He analyzed in depth the various evil consequences if Party members were allowed to believe in religion: (1) It would mean allowing the coexistence of idealism and materialism, theism and atheism within the Party, which would inevitably lead to the shaking and loss of Marxism’s guiding position, causing a split in the Party ideologically and theoretically; (2) It would mean allowing some Party members to accept both the leadership of the Party organization and the leadership of various religious organizations, which would inevitably cause a split in the Party organizationally; (3) Party members who believe in religion would inevitably become spokespersons for a certain religious force, some localities would see the phenomenon of using government resources to fuel a religious fever, and they would be unable to treat every religion equally, fundamentally shaking the Party’s religious work. In short, if Party members were allowed to believe in religion, our Party would ideologically and organizationally disarm itself, degenerating from a Marxist political party into a non-Marxist political party, and it would be utterly impossible to continue leading the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This righteous voice is deafening and thought-provoking!

朱维群同志发表《共产党员不能信仰宗教》一文，旗帜鲜明地回应某些人要求中国共产党向宗教开放的呼喊。他指出，辩证唯物主义世界观是党制定和贯彻宗教信仰自由政策的基础，而共产党员不能信仰宗教是党的一贯原则，允许党员信教将侵蚀涣散党的肌体。他深入分析了如果允许共产党员信教的种种恶果：（1）就是允许党内唯心主义与唯物主义两种世界观并存，有神论和无神论并存，势必会造成马克思主义指导地位的动摇和丧失，在思想上、理论上造成党的分裂；（2）就等于允许一些党员既接受党组织的领导，又接受各类宗教组织领导，势必会在组织上造成党的分裂；（3）信教的党员势必会成为某一种宗教势力的代言人，一些地方将会出现利用政府资源助长宗教热的现象，他们也不可能平等地对待每一种宗教，党的宗教工作将从根本上动摇。总之，如果允许党员信教，将使我们党从思想上、组织上自我解除武装，从一个马克思主义政党蜕变为一个非马克思主义政党，也就根本谈不上继续领导中国特色社会主义伟大事业。正义的声音振聋发聩！

(2) Adhering to the separation of education from religion, and resisting the use of religion by overseas forces to infiltrate institutions of higher learning and prevent campus proselytization, is an important and urgent strategic task at present.

（二）坚持教育与宗教相分离，抵御境外势力利用宗教对高校进行渗透和防范校园传教，这是当前一项重要而紧迫的战略任务。

Upholding the separation of education from religion has been a key issue to which the China Atheism Society has continuously devoted its attention in recent years. Colleagues in the society have held multiple seminars on this account. The separation of education from religion is an important principle clearly stipulated in China’s Constitution and Education Law. In today’s world, implementing the “separation of religion from education” is a common consensus among modernized countries. After the founding of New China, the Chinese government nationalized all educational authority of church-run schools, established a new type of modern educational system, and religion completely withdrew from the national education system. However, in recent years, within the sphere of public education in contemporary China, the principle of “separation of education from religion” has faced open challenges. Since the mid-1990s, with the gradual intensification of the “religion fever,” religious proselytizing activities in institutions of higher learning have gradually shifted from covert to open. In particular, the Christian Sino-theology movement has entered university lecture halls and national research institutions. A certain prestigious university in Beijing has long employed foreign theologians to offer courses, teaching the Bible in the classroom and guiding student Christian fellowships in extracurricular activities. Some missionaries have ascended university podiums in the capacity of professors, organizing the publication of proselytizing works. A certain prestigious university in Beijing, through a translation series, published American William A. Dembski’s *The Design Inference*, vigorously promoting the modern version of creationism—intelligent design. Certain renowned universities have consciously or unconsciously given the green light to the infiltration of missionaries into universities. The alliance between universities and theologians has become an important means for Western Christian circles to penetrate China’s higher education sector.

坚持教育与宗教相分离，是近些年来，中国无神论学会持续关注的重要议题。学会同仁为此，曾多次召开研讨会。教育与宗教相分离是我国宪法和教育法明确规定的重要原则。当今世界实行“宗教与教育相分离”是现代化国家的普遍共识。新中国成立以后，中国政府将教会学校的教育权全部收归国有，建立了新型的现代教育制度，宗教完全退出国民教育体系。然而，近些年来，在当代中国的公共教育领域里，“教育与宗教相分离”的原则，受到公开挑战。自90年代中叶以来，随着宗教热的逐渐升温，宗教在高等院校的传教活动逐渐由秘密转向公开，特别是基督教汉语神学运动，进入大学讲堂和国家研究机构。北京某著名大学，聘请外国神学家长期开课，课堂上讲授《圣经》，课外活动指导学生基督教团契。一些传教士以教授的身份登上大学讲台，组织出版传教著作。北京某著名大学翻译丛书，出版美国威廉.邓勃斯基的《理智设计论》（William A.Dembski)，大力推销现代版的神创论——智能设计论。某些著名高校为传教士向大学渗透自觉不自觉地开启绿灯放行，高校与神学家联姻，成为西方基督教界向中国高等教育领域渗透的重要手段。

In recent years, overseas religious forces, in order to seize China’s ideological阵地 [positions] and young students, have made institutions of higher learning a key target for infiltration. On contemporary Chinese university campuses, overseas Christian churches have become one of the important forces for spreading the gospel. Through various means and channels, such as “English corners,” organizing seminars, academic exchanges, poverty-alleviation and student-aid programs, and the internet, some overseas missionaries and overseas religious teachers and students on campus continuously intensify their infiltration efforts, developing student converts and conducting illegal religious activities. The organizational form of campus Christian propagation is the continuous establishment and development of campus fellowships. Online proselytizing has become an important virtual form of this. The covert method of campus Christian propagation is entering the teaching field to conduct cultural evangelism. Many surveys and studies indicate that the proportion of religious believers among university students is higher than the proportion of religious believers in the total national population, and it is rising year by year. The healthy growth of contemporary university students concerns the future of our nation and our people, and concerns the success or failure of the socialist construction cause. The phenomenon of university students believing in religion must attract our high level of attention.

近年来，境外宗教势力为争夺我国思想阵地和青年学生，把高校作为渗透的重要阵地。在当代中国大学校园里，海外基督教教会成为传播福音的重要力量之一。通过一些境外传教士和高校境外信教师生，利用“英语角”、举办研讨会、学术交流、扶贫助学和互联网等多种方式和途径，不断加大渗透力度，发展学生教徒，进行非法宗教活动。校园基督教传播的组织形式是不断建立发展校园团契。而网络传教成为其重要的虚拟形式。校园基督教传播隐性方式是进入教学领域，进行文化宣教。很多调查研究表明，大学生的信教人数占学生总数的比例高于全国教徒占全国总人口的比例，而且呈逐年上升之势。当代大学生的健康成长，关系着我们国家和民族的未来，关系着社会主义建设事业的兴衰成败。大学生信教现象必须引起我们的高度重视。

Our opposition to the infiltration of religious belief into the educational field is in accordance with the trend of historical development; it is not hostility towards religious believers. Whether one believes or not should be entirely a private matter for individual citizens. Religious belief is a citizen’s right and should be respected and protected. However, in national decision-making, there is no place for God or spirits. Upholding the “separation of education from religion” is an important regulation repeatedly emphasized by the state. Using public educational resources to propagate religion on university podiums constitutes an illegal act. We believe that, to provide an ideological and cultural theoretical weapon to resist the theological penetration of overseas religions, the disciplinary construction of scientific atheism should be vigorously strengthened.

我们反对宗教信仰向教育领域渗透，是顺应历史发展的趋势，不是对宗教信仰者的敌意。信不信教，应当完全成为公民个人的私事，宗教信仰是公民的权利，应当得到尊重和保护，但是在国家的决策上，没有上帝和神灵的位置。坚持“教育与宗教相分离”是国家三令五申的重要法规，在大学讲坛上利用公共教育资源传播宗教属于违法行为。我们认为，为从思想文化上提供抵御境外宗教神学渗透的理论武器，应当大力加强科学无神论的学科建设。

As far as the national ideological and political theory courses in universities are concerned, the national *Introduction to the Basic Principles of Marxism (2008 Revised Edition)* has already added discussions on scientific atheism. Some teachers of ideological and political theory courses in universities also carry out propaganda and education on scientific atheism in the classroom, especially in border minority areas where extremist religious forces are relatively active. For example, in 2002, the Education Department of Xinjiang issued a document mandating the offering of a *Scientific Atheism* course in universities within the Xinjiang region, as the third public political theory course, with no fewer than 36 class hours. However, overall, the voice of scientific atheism within the educational field remains quite weak. According to the spirit of central Party documents, carrying out education on Marxist atheism on university campuses is foundational work for resisting the infiltration of overseas religious forces. At the same time, relevant departments at all levels should adopt proactive and effective measures to implement the provisions of the Education Law of the People’s Republic of China and uphold the principle of separating education from religion.

就全国高校思想政治理论课而言，在全国《马克思主义基本原理概论（2008年修订版）》中，已经增加了关于科学无神论的论述，也有部分高校思想政治理论课教师在课堂中进行科学无神论的宣传教育，特别在极端宗教势力比较活跃的边疆少数民族地区。如：2002年新疆教育厅就下发文件，在新疆地区高校开设《科学无神论》课程，作为第三门公共政治理论课程，课时数不少于36学时。但是总体而言，科学无神论的声音在教育领域还是相当薄弱。根据中央文件的精神，在大学校园里开展马克思主义无神论的教育，是抵御境外宗教势力渗透的基础性工作。同时，各级相关部门应采取积极有效的措施，贯彻中国人民共和国教育法的规定，坚持教育与宗教相分离的原则。

(III) To respond to the current severe domestic and international situation, carrying out the disciplinary construction of scientific atheism is an imperative course of action.

（三）为应对当前国内外严峻的时局，开展科学无神论学科的建设，势在必行。

In recent years, with the rise of the “religion fever,” an academic tendency to “meticulously nurture” religious culture has also gradually heated up, turning scientific atheism into an endangered discipline. Certain academic authorities who hold the banner vigorously advocate for “cultural theology” and “academic theology,” especially the “Sino-Christian theology movement,” and actively promote it as an academic direction for national research institutions and institutions of higher learning. This trend of thought has already begun to influence policy-making and public opinion guidance. Certain authoritative figures who claim to study the Marxist view of religion never utter a word about atheism, striving to castrate atheism from Marxism.

近些年来，随着”宗教热”的兴起，一种“精心呵护”宗教文化的学术倾向也逐渐升温，使科学无神论成为濒危学科。某些举旗的学术权威大力倡导“文化神学”和“学术神学”，特别是“汉语基督教神学神学运动”，并积极推动其成为国家研究机构和高等院校的学术方向。这种思潮已经开始影响政策制定和舆论导向。某些号称研究马克思主义宗教观的权威人士，绝口不谈无神论，力图把无神论从马克思主义那里阉割出去。

Within the system of core socialist values, the materialist worldview and positive outlook on life of scientific atheism occupy an important position. The Party Central Committee has repeatedly pointed out: to consolidate the guiding position of Marxism, to enhance the appeal and cohesive force of socialist ideology, the role of scientific atheism cannot be ignored. For a period of time, there has been a public opinion trend striving to expel scientific atheism from the Marxist view of religion and socialist ideology. This is dangerous; it is not only inconsistent with the developmental trends of human history and the secularization trend of contemporary society, but also contradicts China’s humanistic tradition.

在社会主义核心价值体系中，科学无神论的唯物主义世界观和积极人生观占有重要地位。党中央一再指出：要巩固马克思主义的指导地位，要增强社会主义意识形态的吸引力与凝聚力，科学无神论的作用不容忽视。一个时期以来，有种舆论力图把科学无神论从马克思主义宗教观和社会主义意识形态中剔除出去，这是危险的，既不符合人类历史的发展趋势和当代社会的世俗化潮流，也与中国的人本主义传统相悖。

With the strong support of the Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project [6]6 The Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project (马工程) is a major national academic initiative launched by the CPC Central Committee in 2004 to develop a system of Marxist textbooks and research for use in Chinese higher education., the research enterprise of scientific atheism has already achieved a qualitative leap. However, the overall situation remains far from optimistic. The problems faced in reality are exceptionally severe, and the tasks that should be undertaken are exceptionally heavy. Extraordinary measures are needed, handling special matters with special procedures, to fundamentally reverse the passive situation that has persisted for many years.

在马工程的大力支持下，科学无神论的研究事业已经出现质的飞跃。但是，整体形势仍不容乐观。现实面临的问题异常严峻，理应承担的任务异常繁重，需要采取非常的措施，特事特办解决，从根本上扭转多年来的被动局面。

– Lack of specialized research institutions for scientific atheism

－－科学无神论专业研究机构匮乏

Across the country, from central to local Party schools, academies of governance, universities, and research institutes, there are almost no specialized research institutions for scientific atheism. Consequently, there is a lack of substantive institutional and mechanism guarantees. Only high-level research achievements in scientific atheism can provide sustainable and up-to-date intellectual support for propaganda and education. Without specialized research institutions taking scientific research as the leading force and disciplinary construction as the core, it is difficult to advance the overall work of scientific atheism research and propaganda education comprehensively.

全国从中央到地方的各级党校、行政学院、高校及科研院所，几乎没有专门设置科学无神论研究机构，因此而缺乏实体性的体制机制保障。只有高水平的科学无神论研究成果，才能为宣传和教育提供可持续的、与时俱进的智力支持。如果没有专门的研究机构以科研为龙头，以学科建设为中心，则难以推动科学无神论研究和宣传教育的整体工作全局。

In December 2009, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences approved the establishment of the “Research Office for Marxist Atheism.” If this move can promote the establishment of similar specialized institutions in relevant universities and research institutes nationwide, then China’s scientific atheism research enterprise will open up an unprecedented new situation.

2009年12月，中国社科院批准成立“马克思主义无神论研究室”。此举如果能推动全国相关院校、研究机构设立此类专门机构，则我国的科学无神论研究事业将开创前所未有的崭新局面。

– Scientific atheism research is on the verge of extinction, lacking successors

－－科学无神论研究濒临绝学，后继乏人

Over the past decade or more, with the strong support of the Party Central Committee and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Atheism Society and the journal *Science and Atheism* have gathered a group of outstanding scholars in scientific atheism research. Besides social science researchers, some natural scientists, science writers, journalists, and people from other walks of life have also joined the cause of atheism. However, as time passes, these scholars are getting older. Retirement and natural attrition are quite severe, and the issue of cultivating successors is becoming increasingly urgent.

十多年来，在党中央和中国社科院的大力支持下，中国无神论学会和《科学与无神论》杂志，凝聚了一批优秀的科学无神论研究学者。除社会科学工作者外，还有一些自然科学家、科普作家和新闻工作者等各界人士加盟无神论事业。但是随着时间的推移，这些学者们的年龄越来越大，退休和自然减员相当严重，后继人才培养问题日益紧迫。

An even more serious problem is the inability to “legitimately and justifiably” cultivate successors for the cause of scientific atheism, because the existing educational mechanisms and academic research mechanisms lack a corresponding disciplinary structure for scientific atheism. The research team has long been in a state of natural attrition, living and dying on its own.

更为严重的问题在于，无法“名正言顺”地培养科学无神论事业的接班人，因为现有的教育机制、学术研究机制没有相应的科学无神论学科建制。研究队伍长期以来处于一种自然减员、自生自灭的状态。

Currently, the Department of Marxist Studies at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has begun recruiting master’s students in the direction of scientific atheism education under the specialty of political and ideological education. If the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council can approve the establishment of master’s and doctoral programs in the direction of scientific atheism under the discipline of Marxist studies or philosophy, this would gradually change the situation of this specialty being on the verge of extinction.

目前，中国社科院研究生院马克思主义研究系，已经在政治思想教育专业下，招收科学无神论教育专业方向的硕士生。如果国务院学位委员会能批准在马克思主义学科或哲学学科下，增设科学无神论专业方向的硕士点和博士点，那将逐步改变这个专业濒临绝学的局面。

– Severe shortage of funding for scientific atheism research

－－科学无神论研究的资金奇缺

In recent years, in order to implement the important instructions of Comrade Hu Jintao, the National Social Science Fund has also added a small number of research projects on scientific atheism. However, compared with the substantial funds sponsored by domestic and foreign religious organizations for religious research, the research funds for scientific atheism are extremely limited. For the current grim situation and heavy tasks, this can be described as a drop in the bucket. The lack of dedicated financial support is also an important reason why the discipline of scientific atheism has long failed to develop.

近年来，为落实以胡锦涛同志的重要批示，国家社科基金也增设了少量的科学无神论研究课题。但是，与国内外宗教组织等对宗教研究赞助的大量资金相比，科学无神论的研究资金极其有限。这对于当前严峻的局面和繁重的任务而言，可以说是杯水车薪。缺乏专项资金支持，这也是科学无神论学科长期得不到发展的重要原因。

-- The disciplinary construction of scientific atheism spans multiple fields and requires a large amount of research funding.

－－科学无神论学科建设跨越多学科领域，需要大量科研经费。

Establishing a disciplinary system for scientific atheism and conducting research on response strategies involves a very wide range of academic professional fields, including many related disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Compared with the humanities, which involve collecting literature, sorting out ideas, and innovating culture, the social sciences require the use of sociological, statistical, and other technical means to conduct field surveys, requiring relatively large amounts of funding. As for the experimental methods of the natural sciences, even more financial support is needed.

建立科学无神论学科体系，开展应对战略研究，涉及的学术专业领域十分广泛，包括人文科学、社会科学和自然科学的许多相关学科。相对人文科学，收集文献、梳理思想、创新文化而言，社会科学要运用社会学、统计学等技术手段开展田野调查，所需要的资金数额较大。至于自然科学的实验手段，则需要更多的经费支持。

-- The lack of research materials and modern means for scientific atheism is a difficult problem plaguing the development of the discipline.

－－科学无神论研究资料和现代化手段的缺乏是困扰学科发展的难题。

To date, the domestic academic community lacks a basic database for research on scientific atheism. A few years ago, we selected twelve representative works of contemporary Western New Atheist thought and planned to systematically translate and publish them. According to estimates, the translation fees, review fees, copyright fees, and publication costs for this translation series would total 2.46 million yuan. In the end, due to a lack of both personnel and funds, we were unable to obtain support and had to abandon the project.

至今，国内学术界缺乏科学无神论研究的基本资料库。前几年，我们曾选购当代西方新无神论思潮的代表性著作12种，计划系统翻译出版。据估算，这套译丛的翻译费、审校费、版权费、出版费等，合计需要246万元。终因人财两缺，得不到资助而作罢。

In summary, the main problems with the current research work on scientific atheism in our country are a severe shortage of research personnel, an extreme scarcity of talent, a lack of necessary financial support, and a lack of an overall systematic research plan and development outline. To respond to the current grim domestic and international situation, it is imperative to carry out the construction of the discipline of scientific atheism.

总之，当前我国的科学无神论研究工作，主要问题在于研究力量严重不足，人才奇缺，缺乏必要的资金支持，缺乏整体系统的研究计划和发展纲要。为应对当前国内外严峻的时局，开展科学无神论学科的建设，势在必行。

III. The Social Responsibility of Contemporary Scientific Atheism Workers

三、当代科学无神论工作者的社会责任

Fellow council members, fellow delegates, "When the sea is in turmoil, heroes show their mettle." [7]7 A Chinese idiom meaning that true heroes reveal themselves in times of great difficulty or crisis. Contemporary scientific atheism workers bear a historical responsibility, and the task is heavy and the road is long. I remember that at the opening ceremony of the Third Congress of the Chinese Atheism Society, Comrade Ren Jiyu said: "The Atheism Society bears a great responsibility; it concerns the superstructure and the rise and fall of the nation. This is because atheism is the foundation of our nation's establishment. The Communist Party of China leads the masses of the people in revolution and construction, taking Marxist thought as its guiding ideology, precisely so that the working people can liberate themselves and create happiness. If atheism cannot stand firm and stable in our country, and the common people seek to settle their lives and establish their destiny by praying to gods, then our nation will have lost its foundation and may decline. This is a fundamental issue." "The fate of our Atheism Society is tightly bound together with the fate of the nation. If the nation is prosperous and thriving, we can be prosperous and thriving."

各位理事，各位代表 ，“沧海横流，方显出英雄本色”。当代科学无神论工作者肩负着历史重任，任重而道远。我记得任继愈先生在中国无神论学会第三届代表大会开幕式上说：“无神论学会责任重大，它关系到上层建筑问题，关系到国家兴亡问题。因为无神论是我们国家的立国之本。中国共产党领导人民群众进行革命和建设，把马克思主义思想作为指导思想，就是要劳动人民自己解放自己，创造幸福。如果无神论在我们国家站不住、立不稳，老百姓安身立命要靠求神，那么我们立国就失去了根本，就可能国家衰败。这是一个根本性问题。”“我们无神论学会的命运和国家的命运紧紧地捆在一起，国家兴旺发达，我们就可以兴旺发达。”

Here, I would like to discuss the responsibility of being a scientific atheism worker.

在这里，我想谈一谈，作为一位科学无神论工作者的责任。

(A) Strengthening the disciplinary construction of scientific atheism is a long-term strategic task.

（一）加强科学无神论学科建设是长期的战略任务。

Atheism is a product of labor and human self-consciousness, a result of human civilization and thought. Marxist atheism is an advanced form of scientific atheism. It inherits the outstanding achievements of humanity, such as 17th- and 18th-century British and French materialism and 19th-century German Feuerbachian humanism, and is demonstrated through the discovery of the materialist conception of history and the theory of surplus value. Scientific atheism, as the starting point and cornerstone of the Marxist worldview, moves from the realm of ideological culture into the practice of the scientific socialist movement.

无神论是劳动和人性自觉的产物，是人类文明和思考的成果。马克思主义无神论是科学无神论发展的高级形态。它继承了17-18世纪英国和法国唯物主义、19世纪德国费尔巴哈人本主义等人类优秀成果，通过唯物主义历史观和剩余价值论的发现而展示出来。科学无神论作为马克思主义世界观的出发点和基石，由思想文化领域，进入科学社会主义运动的实践。

We believe that the Sinicization of Marxist atheism has formed two basic principles: First, guarantee complete freedom of religion at the level of belief. At the social and political-economic levels, religion must adapt to the overall interests of the Chinese people and to the historical process of social development. It is not permitted to use religion to threaten national security and ethnic unity, nor to use religion to subvert the socialist system, thereby strictly distinguishing belief issues from political issues. Second, the ideas of religious theism are erroneous and opposed to science and materialism, but they belong to the realm of worldview and thought; they cannot be resolved by administrative means, only through persuasion and education, and mainly through actual social change, decided consciously by the believers.

我们认为，马克思主义无神论的中国化形成两条基本原则：第一，保障宗教在信仰层面完全自由。在社会政治和经济层面，宗教必须适应中国人民的总体利益，适应社会发展的历史进程，不允许利用宗教威胁国家安全与民族团结，不允许利用宗教颠覆社会主义制度，从而把信仰问题与政治问题严格区分开来；第二，宗教有神论的观念是错误的，是与科学和唯物论相对立的，但它属于世界观思想问题，不能动用行政手段解决，只能采取说服教育，而且主要通过社会的实际变革，由信仰者自觉决定。

The emergence and development of atheism are closely linked to the historical process of human society. In class society, the ruling class often uses religious forces to maintain its rule; therefore, social forces demanding changes in the social system often wage ideological struggles criticizing religious theology. Consequently, the debate between atheism and theism often takes on a considerable political character. However, the theoretical explanation of supernaturalist phenomena—for example, whether ghosts and gods exist, whether God exists, and so on—is a philosophical question and is closely related to the natural sciences. The natural sciences are an important cornerstone of atheism. The development of the natural sciences promotes the development of atheist philosophy.

无神论的产生和发展与人类社会的历史进程紧密相连。在阶级社会中，统治阶级往往利用宗教势力来维护自己的统治，因此，要求变革社会制度的社会力量常常进行批判宗教神学的思想斗争。因此，无神论与有神论的论争常常具有相当的政治色彩。然而，从理论上对超自然主义现象的说明，比如，有无鬼神，上帝是否存在等等，却是哲学问题，而且与自然科学密切相关。自然科学是无神论的重要基石。自然科学的发展推动着无神论哲学的发展。

Besides social factors, theism and atheism also involve the realm of human spiritual life, encompassing many complex factors such as cognition and psychology. Both theism and atheism will persist in human society for a long time. From a philosophical category perspective, atheism and theism are a contradictory unity, existing interdependently. From the perspective of philosophical logic, the philosophical mission of atheism is to critique the illusions of religious theology, establish a scientific outlook on life and values, and promote the development of human society. As an abstract philosophical category, it will withdraw from the stage of history with the disappearance of religion.

除了社会因素外，有神和无神，还涉及人类精神生活领域，有认识的、心理的等许多复杂因素，有神论和无神论都将会在人类社会长期存在。从哲学范畴上讲，无神论和有神论是矛盾的共同体，相依而存。从哲学的逻辑性来看，无神论的哲学使命是批判宗教神学的虚幻、树立科学的人生观和价值观、推动人类社会的发展。作为抽象的哲学范畴，它将随着宗教的消亡退出历史舞台。

Compared with the propaganda and educational work of scientific atheism, the academic enterprise of atheism research is in an even weaker position. According to our statistics, there are only about a dozen or so academic works and popular reading materials in total. It can be said that in contemporary Chinese academia, scientific atheism has not yet formed an independent disciplinary system. Only by forming a systematic theoretical system of scientific atheism can we provide a solid ideological and theoretical foundation for response strategies and specific policies.

与科学无神论的宣传、教育工作相比，无神论研究的学术事业，处于更加弱势的地位。据我们的统计，学术著作和普及读物共计大约只有十几种。可以说，在当代中国学术界，科学无神论还没有形成独立的学科体系。只有形成系统的科学无神论理论体系，才能为应对战略和具体政策，提供坚实的思想理论基础。

To respond to the current grim domestic and international situation, we must adopt a strategic perspective. It is recommended to establish a "Scientific Atheism Discipline Innovation Project," with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences as the supervising unit, integrating multidisciplinary research forces nationwide to promote the development of scientific atheism research. This is a project that will benefit the present age and bring benefits for a thousand generations to come.

为应对当前国内外严峻的时局，要树立战略眼光，建议设立“科学无神论学科创新工程”，以中国社会科学院为主管单位，整合全国多学科的研究力量，推动科学无神论研究事业的发展。这是一件功在当代、利在千秋的事业。

(B) Cultivating high-quality professional talent is the most urgent core link in the current disciplinary construction of scientific atheism.

（二）培养高素质的专业人才，是当前科学无神论学科建设中最紧迫的核心环节。

With the continuous advancement of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project in recent years, academic research on scientific atheism has re-emerged in the field of academic research, not only surfacing in the field of religious studies but also appearing more frequently in the field of Marxist studies. Although scientific atheism has become a key discipline in the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, its strength remains very weak. From the perspective of the academic research field, there are very few scholars in China who specialize in scientific atheism research. Although the Chinese Atheism Society has made efforts to discover young scholars dedicated to scientific atheism research, their numbers remain very limited. Because there are numerous theoretical and practical issues requiring research, and various academic theological schools have proliferated, the few scholars currently engaged in scientific atheism research are all busy responding, striving to make their voices heard in the academic and ideological circles. To clarify fundamental issues in the ideological sphere, systematic academic research must be carried out, and team building remains the key link. The disciplinary construction of atheism requires a long-term strategic layout. We must unite all scholars across the country dedicated to this cause and, in the course of building the system of core socialist values, gradually establish the discipline of scientific atheism.

随着近年来马克思主义理论建设工程的不断推进，科学无神论的学术研究重新出现在学术研究领域，不仅在宗教研究领域浮出水面，而且更多地出现在马克思主义研究的领域中。虽然科学无神论已经成为中国社科院马工程重点建设学科，但力量仍然十分薄弱。从学术研究领域来看，国内专业从事科学无神论研究的学者寥寥无几。尽管中国无神论学会努力发掘有志于献身科学无神论研究的青年学者，但数量依然十分有限。由于需要研究的理论和现实问题众多，而各种学术神学流派丛生，因此，目前少数从事科学无神论研究学者都忙于应对，努力在学术思想界发出自己的声音。而要想在意识形态领域里正本清源，必须展开系统的学术研究，队伍建设仍是关键的环节。无神论的学科建设，需要长期的战略布局。我们要联合全国一切有志于这一事业的学者共同奋斗，在建设社会主义核心价值体系的事业中，逐步将科学无神论学科建设起来。

Currently, solving the acute shortage of academic talent is the most urgent core link. Recruiting and cultivating high-level researchers is the key to realizing the strategic deployment of the Party Central Committee. I sincerely hope that the council members and delegates present here will actively seek out, recommend, and cultivate young and middle-aged talent dedicated to the cause of scientific atheism disciplinary construction, so that we can successfully fulfill our historical mission of carrying forward the cause and forging ahead into the future. "The waves of the Yangtze River drive on the waves behind," [8]8 A Chinese proverb meaning that the new generation surpasses the old, or that successors drive forward progress. and "each generation has its own talents." [9]9 A line from a poem by the Qing-dynasty poet Zhao Yi, meaning that each era produces its own outstanding figures. Only with the continuous emergence of young talents can our cause gain inexhaustible and sustainable vitality.

当前，解决学术人才奇缺的问题，是最紧迫核心环节。招聘和培养高水平的研究人员，是能否实现党中央领导战略部署的关键所在。我真诚地希望，在座的各位理事和代表一起，积极寻找、推荐、培养有志于投身科学无神论学科建设事业的中青年人才，使我们顺利完成承上启下的历史使命。“长江后浪推前浪”，“江山代有人才出”，唯有青年英才不断涌现，我们的事业才能获得生生不息、持续发展的活力。

Thank you all!

谢谢各位！

Web editor: Jia Fei

网络编辑：嘉扉