Adhering to Marxist Atheism Is a Major Principle

Marxism is a doctrine concerning the liberation of the proletariat and the whole world. To realize human liberation, Marx and Engels closely observed real human beings and put forward the two highly abstract concepts of the masses and the people, which have different connotations. Accordingly, based on Marx and Engels’ doctrine of human liberation, and on the premise of accurately grasping the evolutionary logic of their concepts of the masses and the people, the logical boundaries between these two different concepts can be comprehensively demonstrated.

马克思主义是关于无产阶级和全世界解放的学说，为了实现人的解放，马克思恩格斯密切关注现实的人，提出群众与人民两个不同内涵且高度抽象的概念。为此，依据马克思恩格斯关于人的解放学说，在准确把握马克思恩格斯关于群众与人民概念演进逻辑的前提下，可以全面地展现出群众与人民两个不同概念的逻辑界限。

I. We Must Adhere to the Major Principle of Marxist Atheism

一、必须坚持马克思主义无神论的大原则

In April 2016, at the National Conference on Religious Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out unequivocally: “Adhering to Marxist atheism is a major principle.” Adhering to Marxist atheism is a basic requirement for the Communist Party of China as a Marxist ruling party, and it is also a proper meaning for China as a socialist country guided by Marxism. All work in China’s legislation, administration, judiciary, as well as in the economic, political, social, cultural, and ecological spheres, must adhere to this major principle and must not intentionally or unintentionally violate it.

2016年4月，习近平总书记在全国宗教工作会议上旗帜鲜明地指出：“坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则。”坚持马克思主义无神论，是中国共产党作为马克思主义执政党的基本要求，也是中国作为以马克思主义为指导思想的社会主义国家的应有之义，我国立法、行政、司法，以及经济、政治、社会、文化、生态等方方面面工作都要坚持这个大原则，不要有意无意地违背这个大原则。

Atheism, as opposed to theism, is a theory that denies the existence of gods and various theological viewpoints. It is the antithesis of religious theology and a component and manifestation of materialism. Marx pointed out: “Atheism is the negation of God, and through this negation it posits the existence of man.” The focus of the struggle between atheism and theism is the question of whether there is a god or not; its essence is the struggle between materialism and idealism. Marxist atheism is a component of the basic theories of Marxism, the most thoroughgoing materialism, and an atheism more scientific and thoroughgoing than any in history. It not only explains that there is no god in the world, but also strives to liberate people from the ideological shackles of theism, taking the realization of socialism and communism as its own goal.

无神论是和有神论相对立的、否定神的存在和各种神学观点的理论,是宗教神学的对立面,是唯物论的组成部分和表现形式。马克思指出:“无神论是对神的否定,并且通过这种否定而设定人的存在。”无神论和有神论的斗争焦点是无神还是有神的问题,实质是唯物论和唯心论的斗争。马克思主义无神论是马克思主义基本理论的组成部分，是最彻底的唯物论，也是比历史上任何无神论都更科学、更彻底的无神论。它不仅要说明世上无神，而且要致力于使人们从有神论的思想束缚中解放出来，把实现社会主义、共产主义作为自己追求的目标。

In the *Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844*, Marx pointed out: “Atheism and communism are the real becoming of man’s essence, the true realization of man’s essence for man, or, the realization of man’s essence as something real.” Marxism is thoroughgoing materialism. The first principle of materialism is to uphold material ontology, to insist that matter is primary and determines consciousness, and to oppose all idealism. Marxist atheism’s critique of theism began with the critique of religious theology. In the *Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right: Introduction*, he pointed out: “The critique of religion is the prerequisite of every critique.” “The basis of irreligious critique is: man makes religion, religion does not make man.” “Religion is the fantastic realization of the human essence because the human essence has no true reality. Therefore, the struggle against religion is indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion.” “Religious suffering is at the same time the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people.” “The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The critique of religion is therefore in embryo the critique of the vale of tears of which religion is the halo.” “The critique of heaven turns into the critique of earth, the critique of religion into the critique of law, and the critique of theology into the critique of politics.” It was precisely from the critique of religious theology that Marxism turned to the political critique of society. The critique of theism is the theoretical premise on which Marxism was established. In this sense, atheism is the starting point of Marxist theory.

马克思在《1844年经济学哲学手稿》中指出:“无神论、共产主义才是人的本质的现实的生成，是人的本质对人来说的真正的实现,或者说,是人的本质作为某种现实的东西的实现。”马克思主义是彻底的唯物主义，唯物主义的第一原则是坚持物质本体论，坚持物质是第一性的、物质决定精神，反对一切唯心论。马克思主义无神论批判有神论，是从批判宗教神学开始的。他在《〈黑格尔法哲学批判〉导言》中指出:“对宗教的批判是其他一切批判的前提。”“反宗教的批判的根据是：人创造了宗教,而不是宗教创造人。”“宗教是人的本质在幻想中的实现,因为人的本质不具有真正的现实性。因此,反宗教的斗争间接地就是反对以宗教为精神慰藉的那个世界的斗争。”“宗教里的苦难是现实的苦难的表现,又是对这种现实的苦难的抗议。宗教是被压迫生灵的叹息,是无情世界的情感,正像它是无精神活力的制度的精神一样。宗教是人民的鸦片。”“废除作为人民的虚幻幸福的宗教,就是要求人民的现实幸福。要求抛弃关于人民处境的幻觉,就是要求抛弃那需要幻觉的处境。因此,对宗教的批判就是对苦难尘世——宗教是它的神圣光环——的批判的胚芽。”“对天国的批判变成对尘世的批判,对宗教的批判变成对法的批判,对神学的批判变成对政治的批判。”马克思主义正是从对宗教神学的批判转向对社会的政治批判。对有神论的批判是马克思主义得以确立的理论前提。在这个意义上，无神论是马克思主义理论的起点。

Not adhering to Marxist atheism means not being a thoroughgoing materialist, not being a true Marxist. The 2016 *Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Strengthening and Improving Religious Work in the New Situation* emphasized the need to “strengthen the propaganda of dialectical materialism, historical materialism, the socialist theory of religion with Chinese characteristics, and atheism throughout society, always maintain Marxist atheism as the mainstream ideology occupying a dominant position in the minds of the people, and effectively safeguard ideological security.” We must attach importance to the research and propaganda-education work on Marxist atheism from the height of consolidating Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain. We must clearly see that certain religious fanaticism currently constitutes a serious impact on and influence over the mainstream ideology. To always maintain Marxist atheism as the mainstream ideology occupying a dominant position in the minds of the people, we must consciously resist the spiritual temptation and ideological penetration of religious fanaticism among the masses. We must attach importance to the propaganda-education of Marxist atheism and place Marxist atheism within the framework of the Party’s ideological work. This is a very important and urgent task of ideological construction, bearing on the security of the Party’s mainstream ideology, on consolidating Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, and on consolidating the ideological foundation for the common unity and struggle of the people of the whole country.

不坚持马克思主义无神论，就不是彻底的唯物论者，不是真正的马克思主义者。2016年发出的《中共中央、国务院关于加强和改进新形势下宗教工作的意见》强调，要“在全社会加强辩证唯物主义、历史唯物主义、中国特色社会主义宗教理论和无神论的宣传，始终保持马克思主义无神论作为主流意识形态在人民群众思想中占据主导地位，切实维护意识形态安全”。必须从巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位的高度,重视马克思主义无神论的研究和宣传教育工作。必须清醒地看到，当前某些宗教狂热已经构成对主流意识形态的严重冲击和影响。要始终保持马克思主义无神论作为主流意识形态在人民群众思想中占据主导地位，必须自觉地抵御宗教狂热对群众的精神诱惑和思想渗透。必须重视马克思主义无神论的宣传教育，把马克思主义无神论放在党的意识形态工作格局中来布局，这是十分重要和迫切的思想建设任务，关系到党的主流意识形态安全，关系到巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，关系到巩固全国人民共同团结奋斗的思想基础。

II. Communists Must Be Resolute Marxist Atheists

二、共产党人要做坚定的马克思主义无神论者

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Communist Party members must be resolute Marxist atheists, strictly abide by the provisions of the Party Constitution, firmly uphold their ideals and convictions, keep in mind the Party’s purpose, and must never seek their own values and beliefs in religion.” For Communist Party members to be resolute Marxist atheists is a concrete manifestation of maintaining the Party’s advanced nature and purity, and a basic requirement for being a qualified Party member. To be a resolute Marxist atheist, one must firmly believe in Marxist atheism and actively propagate Marxist atheism.

习近平总书记强调：“共产党员要做坚定的马克思主义无神论者，严守党章规定，坚定理想信念，牢记党的宗旨，绝不能在宗教中寻找自己的价值和信念。”共产党员做坚定的马克思主义无神论者，是保持共产党的先进性和纯洁性的具体体现，是做一个合格的党员的基本要求。做坚定的马克思主义无神论者，要坚信马克思主义无神论，要积极宣传马克思主义无神论。

Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has always taken Marxism as its guiding ideology and action guide. All of the Party’s theories, lines, and actions are built on the foundation of the dialectical materialist and historical materialist world outlook. Communist Party members are Marxists, vanguard fighters of the working class, the most advanced and most conscious elements among the masses. Their advanced nature is manifested in their world outlook as adhering to the dialectical materialist and historical materialist world outlook, opposing idealist and metaphysical world outlooks, and striving for communism all their lives.

中国共产党从成立开始，就始终把马克思主义作为自己的指导思想和行动指南。党的全部理论、路线和行动都是建立在辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义世界观基础之上的。共产党员是马克思主义者，是工人阶级的先锋战士，是群众中最先进、最有觉悟的分子，先进性体现在世界观上，就表现为坚持辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义世界观，反对唯心主义和形而上学世界观，为共产主义奋斗终身。

Marx pointed out: “Communism begins straight away with atheism.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping once said: “Faith in Marxism is a spiritual driving force for the victory of the Chinese revolution.” Adhering to the Marxist atheist world outlook is the inherent spiritual pillar of the Communist Party. It is precisely because Chinese Communists, as practical atheists, adhere to the atheist world outlook, rather than leading the people to place hope in divine protection, pursue illusory heavens and afterlives, or beg for divine revelation and subjective fantasies, that they have led the Chinese people through their own long-term struggle, conforming to the laws of social development, and over the course of 96 years of journey, step by step brought the Chinese people onto the bright path of liberation and prosperity. If the ideological cornerstone of atheism is removed, the Party’s theoretical edifice will collapse, and everything the Party strives for will become illusory. If Marxist atheism is not adhered to, it will lead to wavering in the Marxist world outlook and socialist convictions, losing the Marxist stance, resulting in an inability to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong, losing the necessary political discernment and political acumen, and becoming a captive of erroneous ideas such as idealism and theism. An important characteristic and advantage of socialist society, which distinguishes it from other societies, lies in the fact that people consciously create a new world under the guidance of Marxist faith. Therefore, in this sense, the state of belief of the majority of people, especially whether the beliefs of the members of the ruling Party are correct, profound, and firm, and whether they can adhere to Marxist atheism, is of decisive significance for the success or failure of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

马克思指出：“共产主义是径直从无神论开始的”。邓小平同志曾经说过：“对马克思主义的信仰，是中国革命胜利的一种精神动力。”坚持马克思主义无神论世界观，是共产党与生俱来的精神支柱。中国共产党人作为实践的无神论者，正是由于坚持无神论的世界观，而不是引领人民寄希望于神灵庇佑、追求虚幻的天国和来世、乞灵于神的启示和主观幻想，才领导中国人民通过自己的长期奋斗，顺应社会发展规律，在96年的征程中，一步一步地把中国人民带向了解放和富裕的光明大道。抽掉无神论这一思想基石，党的理论大厦就要坍塌，党所奋斗的一切就会变得虚无缥缈。如果不坚持马克思主义无神论，就会对马克思主义世界观、社会主义信念产生动摇，丧失马克思主义立场，导致真假不分，是非不分，丧失应有的政治鉴别力和政治敏锐性，成为唯心主义、有神论等错误思想的俘虏。社会主义社会区别于其他社会的一个重要特点和优势,就在于人们在马克思主义信仰指引下自觉创造新世界。因此，从这个意义上说，大多数人的信仰状况，特别是作为执政党的党员的信仰是否正确、深刻和坚定，是否能坚持马克思主义无神论，对中国特色社会主义事业成败具有决定意义。

Adhering to Marxist atheism inherently requires that Communists must not believe in religion. As vanguard fighters of the working class, Communists cannot abandon atheism and turn to religion to seek spiritual support and values. Communists can only be atheists, not theists, and cannot believe in religion. That Communists cannot believe in religion is a consistent principle of the Communist Party of China. In 1940, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out in *On New Democracy*: “Communists may form an anti-imperialist and anti-feudal united front in political action with certain idealists and even religious believers, but they can never approve of their idealism or religious doctrines.” [1]1 The *New Democracy* (1940) is a key text by Mao Zedong outlining the theory of New Democratic revolution, distinct from socialist revolution. In 1982, Document No. 19 of the Central Committee on religious work, formulated under the leadership of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, also stated: “The Party’s policy of freedom of religious belief applies to our country’s citizens and is not applicable to Communist Party members. A Communist Party member, unlike an ordinary citizen, is a member of a Marxist political party and should undoubtedly be an atheist, not a theist. Our Party has repeatedly made clear stipulations: Communist Party members must not believe in religion, must not participate in religious activities, and those who persist in such behavior after long-term education should be persuaded to withdraw from the Party. This stipulation is entirely correct, and for the entire Party, it must continue to be resolutely implemented in the future.” [2]2 Document No. 19 (1982) is the formal name of the central document *The Basic Viewpoint and Policy on the Religious Question during Our Country’s Socialist Period*, a foundational text for CPC religious policy. In 1990, Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out during a discussion with representatives of the National Conference on Religious Work: “The religious worldview and the Marxist worldview are fundamentally opposed. Communists are atheists, and the worldview of Communists should be the Marxist worldview.” In 2006, Comrade Hu Jintao pointed out in his speech at the National United Front Work Conference: “We Chinese Communists are atheists and do not believe in any religion.” At the National Conference on Religious Work held in April 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping reiterated the disciplinary regulation that Party members must not believe in religion, requiring Party members to be steadfast Marxist atheists and never to seek their values and beliefs in religion.

坚持马克思主义无神论，内在地要求共产党人不得信仰宗教。作为工人阶级的先锋战士，共产党人不能放弃无神论而转向宗教寻找精神支柱和价值。共产党人只能是无神论者，不能是有神论者，不能信仰宗教。共产党人不能信仰宗教是中国共产党的一贯原则。1940年，毛泽东同志在《新民主主义论》中指出：“共产党员可以和某些唯心论者甚至宗教徒建立在政治行动上的反帝反封建的统一战线，但是决不能赞同他们的唯心论或宗教教义。”1982年，在邓小平同志领导下制定的中央关于宗教工作的19号文件也指出：“党的宗教信仰自由的政策，是对我国公民来说的，并不适用于共产党员。一个共产党员，不同于一般公民，而是马克思主义政党的成员，毫无疑问地应当是无神论者，而不应当是有神论者。我们党曾经多次做出明确规定：共产党员不得信仰宗教，不得参加宗教活动，长期坚持不改的要劝其退党。这个规定是完全正确的，就全党来说，今后仍然应当坚决贯彻执行。”1990年，江泽民同志在与全国宗教工作会议代表座谈时指出：“宗教世界观与马克思主义世界观是根本对立的。共产党人是无神论者，共产党人的世界观应该是马克思主义的世界观。”2006年，胡锦涛同志在全国统战工作会议上的讲话中指出：“我们中国共产党人是无神论者，不信仰任何宗教。”在2016年4月召开的全国宗教工作会议上，习近平总书记重申了党员不得信教的纪律规定，要求党员做坚定的马克思主义无神论者，绝不能在宗教中寻找自己的价值和信念。

In order to maintain the purity of Party members’ worldviews, all Party members should not only regard non-belief in religion as a disciplinary requirement but also as an inner conscious pursuit. They should actively study dialectical materialism and historical materialism, firmly believe in atheism from the height of worldview, take atheism as their ideological weapon for understanding and transforming the world, draw a clear line between materialism and idealism, between atheism and theism, and resolutely resist the erosion and infiltration of various decadent ideas into their worldviews. The high degree of consistency between the political program and the worldview, and the fact that Party members do not believe in any religion, are a major characteristic distinguishing our Party from most political parties at home and abroad, and also a major advantage. That Communist Party members must not believe in religion is an important political discipline. To exercise comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, this political discipline must be strictly enforced. If Party members believe in religion, it will inevitably shake the worldview foundation of the Party, weaken the adherence to ideals and convictions, impact the purity of Party organizations, harm the Party’s leadership, and harm the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

为了保持党员在世界观上的纯洁性，广大党员不仅应该把不信教作为一项纪律要求，更应该把其作为内心的自觉追求，主动学习辩证唯物主义与历史唯物主义，从世界观高度坚信无神论，把无神论作为自己认识世界、改造世界的思想武器，划清唯物主义与唯心主义、无神论与有神论的界限，坚决抵制各种腐朽思想对世界观的侵蚀、渗透。政治纲领同世界观高度一致，党员不信仰任何宗教，是我们党区别于国内外多数政党的一大特点，也是一大优势。共产党员不得信仰宗教是一条重要的政治纪律。全面从严治党，必须严格执行这条政治纪律。如果党员信仰宗教，必然会动摇党的世界观基础，弱化对理想信念的坚守，冲击党组织的纯洁性, 危害党的领导,危害中国特色社会主义事业。

III. We must dare and be adept at propagating Marxist atheism

三、要敢于和善于宣传马克思主义无神论

Communist Party members must not only adhere to atheism but also dare and be adept at conducting education and propaganda on atheism among the masses. Communists propagate atheism not only to uphold a scientific doctrine but, more importantly, to enable the masses to master atheism as an ideological weapon for understanding and transforming the world, to liberate the masses from the shackles of various theisms, to take control of their own destiny, and to become their own masters. Although Marxist atheism cannot resolve the social roots of theism, it can enhance people’s ability to distinguish truth from falsehood and to protect themselves, strengthen their sense of agency, and help them form a scientific worldview, a healthy lifestyle, and sound psychology.

共产党员不仅要坚持无神论，还要敢于和善于面向群众进行无神论的教育和宣传工作。共产党人宣传无神论，不仅是为了坚持一种科学的学说，更主要的是为了使广大群众掌握无神论这个认识世界、改造世界的思想武器，把群众从各种有神论的束缚中解放出来，自己掌握自己的命运，做自己的主人。马克思主义无神论虽然不能解决有神论的社会根源，但可以提高人们鉴别真伪和自我保护的能力，强化人们的主体意识，帮助人们形成科学的世界观、健康的生活方式和健全的心理。

Our Party has always attached importance to the education and propaganda of atheism. On September 13, 1941, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “We believe in science, not in theology.” On November 18, 1957, he pointed out: “We must replace idealism with materialism, and replace theism with atheism.” On December 30, 1963, he pointed out in an instruction: “Without criticizing theology, it is impossible to write a good history of philosophy, nor a good history of literature or world history.” [3]3 Mao’s 1963 instruction refers to a comment on a report about philosophy and social science research, emphasizing the need to critique theology in academic disciplines. On October 19, 1979, Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Since the founding of the People’s Republic, we have always implemented the policy of freedom of religious belief. Of course, we also conduct propaganda on atheism.” On December 7, 1990, Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out: “Communists must not only not believe in religion but must also propagate atheism and a scientific worldview to the people.” On August 19, 2003, Comrade Hu Jintao pointed out: “Research and education on atheism are a long-term task that must be incorporated into the overall deployment of scientific research planning and propaganda and ideological work, and carried out 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.” On May 28, 2004, six ministries and commissions, including the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Civilization Office, the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, jointly issued the *Notice on Further Strengthening Research and Education on Marxist Atheism*.

我党历来重视无神论宣传教育。1941年9月13日,毛泽东同志指出：“我们是信奉科学的，不相信神学。”1957年11月18日,他指出:“要用唯物论代替唯心论，用无神论代替有神论。”1963年12月30日,他在一个批示中指出:“不批判神学就不能写好哲学史，也不能写好文学史或世界史。”1979年10月19日,邓小平同志指出：“我们建国以来历来实行宗教信仰自由政策。当然，我们也进行无神论的宣传。”1990年12月7日,江泽民同志指出：“共产党人不但不能信仰宗教，而且必须要向人民群众宣传无神论、宣传科学的世界观。”2003年8月19日,胡锦涛同志指出：“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世界观。这与贯彻党的宗教信仰自由政策并不矛盾。”2004年5月28日,中共中央组织部、宣传部、文明办和中央党校、教育部、中国社会科学院六部委联合下发了《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》。

The famous Marxist scholar of religion, Mr. Ren Jiyu, also said in 1988: “The only means the proletariat can employ in its struggle against theology is ideological means, that is, conducting education and propaganda on atheism.”

著名的马克思主义宗教学家任继愈先生在1988年也说过：“无产阶级同神学做斗争，能够采取的唯一手段只能是思想手段，即进行无神论宣传教育。”

A qualified Communist Party member must not only adhere to Marxist atheism but also unequivocally propagate Marxist atheism, popularize and disseminate scientific and cultural knowledge and healthy lifestyles, help and guide people to draw clear lines between materialism and idealism, atheism and theism, science and superstition, civilization and ignorance, gradually expand the influence of atheist thought, gradually eliminate the social and ideological foundations that give rise to theist thought, and always ensure that Marxist atheism, as the mainstream ideology, occupies a dominant position in the minds of the people. If theism is allowed to spread unrestrictedly in society and expand rapidly, even developing into the mainstream ideology, it will directly threaten the Party’s guiding ideology, seriously damage the Party’s governing foundation, and ultimately challenge the Party’s ruling position. All Party members must attach importance to the education and propaganda of Marxist atheism from the height of the Party’s governing security and the rise or fall of the Party’s cause.

一个合格的共产党员，不仅要坚持马克思主义无神论，而且要旗帜鲜明地宣传马克思主义无神论，普及宣传科学文化知识和健康的生活方式，帮助和引导人们划清唯物论和唯心论、无神论和有神论、科学和迷信、文明和愚昧的界限，逐步扩大无神论思想影响，逐渐消除有神论思想产生的社会基础和思想基础，始终保持马克思主义无神论作为主流意识形态在人民群众思想中占据主导地位。如果任由有神论无限制地在社会蔓延并迅速扩大，甚至发展为主流意识形态，那将直接威胁到党的指导思想，严重损害党的执政基础，最终挑战党的执政地位。广大党员要从关乎党的执政安全和党的事业的兴亡高度，重视马克思主义无神论的宣传教育。

When Communist Party members actively propagate Marxist atheism to society, they must proceed from the need to unite the broad masses, subordinate themselves to the Party’s central tasks, aim to rally the broad masses of the people closely around the Party to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and promote the improvement of the socialist system, and pay attention to uniting religious believers to strive for common goals. The opposition between theism and atheism must not be equated with political opposition. Under the socialist system, the fundamental interests of religious believers and non-believers are consistent, and their differences in worldview are secondary. Under the guidance of the Party’s correct religious principles and policies, as long as the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the National Conference on Religious Work is fully implemented, it is entirely possible to achieve “political unity and cooperation, mutual respect in belief,” and jointly work towards the grand strategic goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. [4]4 The phrase “political unity and cooperation, mutual respect in belief” is a standard formulation from CPC religious policy, first articulated in the 1990s. Education and propaganda on atheism are by no means about creating opposition between believers and non-believers, but about enabling more people to learn to view religious phenomena scientifically using the dialectical materialist worldview and methodology, to rationally choose their own worldview, and to actively create their own real happy life.

共产党员向社会积极宣传马克思主义无神论，要从团结广大群众出发，服从党的中心任务，以凝聚广大人民群众紧密团结在党的周围、为实现中华民族的伟大复兴和推进社会主义制度完善为目的，注意团结信教群众为实现共同目标而奋斗。不能把有神论和无神论的对立等同于政治上的对立，在社会主义制度下，信教群众与非信教群众在根本利益上是一致的，在世界观上的差异性是次要的。在党的正确的宗教方针政策指引下，只要全面贯彻习近平总书记在全国宗教工作会议上的重要讲话精神，完全可以做到“政治上团结合作，信仰上互相尊重”，共同致力于实现中华民族伟大复兴的宏伟战略目标。无神论教育、宣传绝不是制造信教与不信教群众的对立，而是使更多的群众学会用辩证唯物主义的世界观和方法论科学地看待宗教现象，理性地选择自己的世界观，主动创造自己的现实的幸福生活。

The vast majority of Party members must continuously improve their own level, arming themselves with rich knowledge of the natural sciences, the humanities, religious studies, and a broad global perspective; they must highlight youth as the key focus of atheist education, and pay attention to the policies, methods, approaches, and actual effectiveness of atheist propaganda, preventing harm to the religious feelings of believers, preventing the intensification of religious fanaticism, and preventing division among the masses over issues of belief. Believers must not be treated with contempt or cast aside; rather, in actual social life, they must be persistently, tactfully, and patiently enlightened. Only when atheism is truly accepted by the majority of the masses does the propaganda and education of atheism have complete meaning. Through persistent, extensive, and in-depth propaganda of atheism, we must gradually educate and guide the masses to consciously establish a positive atheist worldview, to treat the world and life with a scientific attitude, to rely on themselves to strive for a happy life, and to build a paradise on earth, just as the "Internationale" sings: "There has never been a savior, nor do we rely on gods or emperors; to create human happiness, we rely entirely on ourselves." "Say we have nothing, we will be the masters of the world."

广大党员要不断提升自身水平，用丰富的自然科学、人文科学知识、宗教学知识和宽阔的世界眼光武装自己，突出青少年这个无神论教育重点，注重无神论宣传的政策、方式、方法、实效,防止伤害信教群众的宗教感情,防止加剧宗教狂热,防止因信仰问题造成群众的分裂。不能以轻蔑的态度对待信教的群众,把他们一脚踢开,而是要在实际的社会生活中坚持不懈地、有分寸地、耐心地对他们进行启发。只有无神论真正为大多数群众所接受，无神论的宣传教育才有完全的意义。要通过坚持不懈、广泛、深入地进行无神论宣传，逐步教育和引导群众自觉树立无神论的积极的世界观，以科学的态度对待世界，对待人生，依靠自己去争取幸福的生活，建立人间的天堂，就像《国际歌》唱的那样：“从来就没有救世主，也不靠神仙皇帝，要创造人类的幸福，全靠我们自己。”“不要说我们一无所有，我们要做天下的主人。”

IV. Deeply Study and Comprehensively Implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Thought on Marxist Atheism

四、深入学习、全面贯彻习近平总书记关于马克思主义无神论重要思想

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the research and propaganda-education work on atheism, putting forward a series of clear-cut views and demands, mainly as follows:

党的十八大以来,以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视无神论研究和宣传教育工作，提出了一系列旗帜鲜明的观点和要求，主要有：

First, Communist Party members must be firm Marxist atheists; those who do not uphold atheism are not Marxists, nor are they thorough materialists.

第一，共产党员要做坚定的马克思主义无神论者，不坚持无神论就不是马克思主义者，就不是彻底的唯物论者。

Second, China is a socialist country led by the Communist Party; it can neither use feudalist or capitalist ideologies and values as the spiritual pillar of the entire society, nor can it use religion as the spiritual pillar of the entire society.

第二，我国是共产党领导的社会主义国家，既不能用封建主义、资本主义思想意识和价值观念作为全社会的精神支柱，也不能用宗教作为全社会的精神支柱。

Third, in China, atheists and theists differ in their worldviews, but this does not hinder political identification.

第三，在我国，无神论者和有神论者在世界观上是不同的，但并不妨碍政治上的认同。

Fourth, we Communists must not only uphold Marxist atheism but also actively propagate Marxist atheism, popularize scientific and cultural knowledge, help and guide people to draw clear boundaries between materialism and idealism, atheism and theism, science and superstition, civilization and ignorance, and gradually eliminate the ideological and social foundations for the emergence and spread of religion.

第四，我们共产党人不仅要坚持马克思主义无神论，而且要积极宣传马克思主义无神论，普及科学文化知识，帮助和引导人们划清唯物论和唯心论、无神论和有神论、科学和迷信，文明和愚昧的界限，逐渐消除宗教产生和传播的思想基础和社会基础。

Fifth, adhering to Marxist atheism is a major principle; China’s legislation, administration, and judiciary, as well as all aspects of the economy, politics, society, culture, and ecology, must uphold this major principle and must not intentionally or unintentionally violate it.

第五，坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则，我国立法、行政、司法，以及经济、政治、社会、文化、生态等方方面面都要坚持这个大原则，不要有意无意违背这个大原则。

Sixth, always maintain Marxist atheism as the mainstream ideology, occupying a dominant position in the thinking of the people.

第六，始终保持马克思主义无神论作为主流意识形态，在人民群众思想中占据主导地位。

The discourse on upholding and developing Marxist atheism constitutes an important component of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches; it is the most sufficient, profound, and thorough exposition on the issue of Marxist atheism by a principal Party leader to date. It enriches and develops Marxist atheist thought, is the latest achievement in adapting Marxist atheism to the Chinese context, is the fundamental guideline for strengthening the research and propaganda-education of Marxist atheism, and is of great significance for opening up a new situation in the cause of Marxist atheism. To deeply study and comprehensively implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on Marxist atheism, it is necessary to: correctly handle the relationship between the propaganda-education of atheism and the implementation of the policy of freedom of religious belief, and not oppose the propaganda-education of atheism to the implementation of the policy of freedom of religious belief; vigorously strengthen the construction of positions for Marxist atheism; and attach great importance to the disciplinary construction and theoretical research of Marxist atheism.

关于坚持和发展马克思主义无神论的论述，构成习近平总书记系列重要讲话的重要组成部分,是迄今为止党的主要领导人对马克思主义无神论问题讲得最为充分、最为深刻和最为透彻的，丰富和发展了马克思主义无神论思想,是马克思主义无神论中国化的最新成果,是加强马克思主义无神论研究和宣传教育的根本指针,对开辟马克思主义无神论事业的新局面，具有重大意义。深入学习和全面贯彻习近平总书记关于马克思主义无神论的重要思想,必须做到:正确处理无神论宣传教育与贯彻宗教信仰自由政策的关系,不能把无神论宣传教育同贯彻宗教信仰自由政策对立起来；大力加强马克思主义无神论阵地建设；高度重视马克思主义无神论学科建设和理论研究。

Online editor: Rainbow

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