Several Issues in the Construction of Marxist Religious Studies

This seminar is jointly hosted by the Institute of World Religions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the China Society for the Study of Religions, indicating that the new leadership of the Institute of World Religions and the China Society for the Study of Religions have attained a high degree of theoretical self-awareness in advancing the construction of Marxist religious studies in the New Era, which holds landmark significance in the history of religious studies in New China. Taking this opportunity, I will share some reflections and understandings on five fundamental issues in advancing the construction of Marxist religious studies in the New Era, for your reference.

今天这个研讨会由中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所和中国宗教学会联合主办，表明世界宗教研究所新一届领导班子和中国宗教学会对推进新时代马克思主义宗教学建设达到很高的理论自觉，在新中国宗教学史上有标志性意义。借此机会，我就新时代推进马克思主义宗教学建设的五个基本问题谈些思考和认识，供大家参考。

I. The Essence of Marxist Religious Studies: The Disciplinarization of the Marxist View on Religion

一、马克思主义宗教学的本质：马克思主义宗教观的学科化

In the present era, for any ideological doctrine to flourish and develop, it must be disciplinarized. The clarification in 2005 of the status of Marxism as a first-level discipline was carried out precisely against this historical backdrop. Marxist religious studies is an important discipline with a supporting role in the system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, guided by Marxism. Marxism is the science of the liberation of the proletariat and humanity, encompassing politics, economics, culture, society, ecology, and other aspects. The scientific understanding and attitude of Marxism toward religion are summarized as the Marxist view on religion, the most fundamental of which are the view on the essence of religion, the view on the roots of religion, the view on the forms of religion, the view on the role of religion, and the view on religious policy. The view on the essence of religion is the theory of fantasy reflection, holding that all religion is nothing but the fantastic reflection in the minds of human beings of those external forces which dominate their daily life, a reflection in which earthly forces assume the form of supernatural forces; in layman's terms, it means using fantasized ghosts and gods to explain the world. The view on the roots of religion is the theory of three major roots, holding that the emergence and existence of religion are caused by natural domination, social domination, and cognitive errors. The view on the forms of religion is the theory of three major forms, holding that religion has formed three major forms in its long historical development: tribal religion, national religion, and world religion. The view on the role of religion is the theory of dual roles, holding that the social role of religion has a dual nature, possessing both positive and negative aspects. The view on religious policy is the theory of separation of church and state, which on the one hand implements freedom of religious belief, and on the other hand conducts propaganda and education in atheism. It can be seen that the Marxist view on religion is essentially a form of scientific atheism. Marxist religious studies is the theorization and disciplinarization of the ideological content of the Marxist view on religion. It must, in conjunction with the Party's historical mission and the historical development of religion, elucidate the essence and laws of religion as well as the relevant theories and policies of the Party and the state, providing theoretical basis and academic support for correctly understanding and dealing with religion.

在当今时代，任何思想学说要想繁荣发展都必须学科化。2005年明确马克思主义的一级学科地位，就是在这种时代背景下进行的。马克思主义宗教学是以马克思主义为指导的中国特色哲学社会科学体系中具有支撑作用的重要学科。马克思主义是关于无产阶级和人类解放的科学，涉及政治、经济、文化、社会、生态等各个方面。马克思主义对宗教的科学认识和态度被概括为马克思主义宗教观，最基本的是宗教本质观、宗教根源观、宗教形态观、宗教作用观和宗教政策观。宗教本质观即幻想反映论，认为一切宗教都不过是支配着人们日常生活的外部力量在人们头脑中的幻想的反映，在这种反映中，人间的力量采取了超人间的力量的形式，通俗地说就是借助幻想出来的鬼神来解释世界。宗教根源观即三大根源论，认为宗教的产生和存在是由自然支配、社会支配和认识错误造成的。宗教形态观即三大形态论，认为宗教在长期的历史发展中形成了部落宗教、民族宗教和世界宗教三大形态。宗教作用观即两重作用论，认为宗教的社会作用具有两重性，既有积极的一面，也有消极的一面。宗教政策观即政教分离论，一方面实行宗教信仰自由，一方面进行无神论宣传教育。可见，马克思主义宗教观本质上是一种科学无神论。马克思主义宗教学就是把马克思主义宗教观的思想内容学理化、学科化，要结合党的历史使命和宗教的历史发展阐明宗教的本质和规律以及党和国家的相关理论政策，为正确认识和对待宗教提供学理依据和学术支撑。

II. The Distinctive Character of Marxist Religious Studies: A Socialist Religious Politics

二、马克思主义宗教学的特质：社会主义性质的宗教政治学

Marxism is the ideological arsenal of the proletariat, essentially a revolutionary socio-political doctrine with strong ideological attributes, constituting an organic unity of class character and scientificity. Historically, the first weapon forged by Marx and Engels for this ideological arsenal was precisely the Marxist view on religion. In early 1844, Marx stated unequivocally in his “Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Law: Introduction”: “For Germany, the criticism of religion is in the main complete, and criticism of religion is the premise of all criticism.” Because “religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritualistic point of honor, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification.” Religious criticism removed the “sacred halo” that beautified the “vale of tears,” tore apart the “imaginary flowers” decorating the “chains,” and cleared the fog for eliminating suffering and chains. Therefore, it was necessary to turn “the criticism of heaven into the criticism of earth, the criticism of religion into the criticism of law, and the criticism of theology into the criticism of politics.” Through participating in and summarizing the religious criticism in Germany and even Europe, Marx and Engels founded the Marxist view on religion, and then advanced revolutionary criticism into the political, economic, and social fields, founding Marxist philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism. It can be seen that the starting point and ultimate goal of the Marxist view on religion are class struggle and human liberation, and it is essentially a theory of religious politics. To disciplinarize the Marxist view on religion, the most important thing is to adhere to using Marxist political theory and methods to study religion, and to establish a socialist religious politics. Marxist religious studies is not only religious politics but also includes religious anthropology, religious sociology, religious psychology, and especially the principles of religious studies and the history of religions; however, the most fundamental is religious politics. To advance the construction of Marxist religious studies in the New Era, it is necessary to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, adhere to observing and understanding religion from a political perspective, and correct the tendencies of theologization and Westernization existing in religious studies research. A number of research bases for Marxist religious studies should be established, promoting the think-tank-oriented development of religious research institutions to serve religious governance in the New Era.

马克思主义是无产阶级的思想武库，本质上是一种革命性的社会政治学说，具有很强的意识形态属性，是阶级性和科学性的有机统一。从历史上看，马克思恩格斯为这一思想武库锻造的第一件武器就是马克思主义宗教观。1844年初，马克思在《〈黑格尔法哲学批判〉导言》中开宗明义指出：“就德国来说，对宗教的批判基本上已经结束；而对宗教的批判是其他一切批判的前提。”因为“宗教是这个世界的总理论，是它的包罗万象的纲要，它的具有通俗形式的逻辑，它的唯灵论的荣誉问题，它的狂热，它的道德约束，它的庄严补充，它借以求得慰藉和辩护的总根据。”宗教批判打掉了美化“苦难尘世”的“神圣光环”，撕碎了装饰在“锁链”上的“虚构花朵”，为消除苦难和锁链扫清迷雾。因此要把“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。”通过参与和总结德国乃至欧洲的宗教批判，马克思恩格斯创立了马克思主义宗教观，进而把革命的批判推进到政治、经济和社会领域，创立了马克思主义哲学、政治经济学和科学社会主义。可见，马克思主义宗教观的出发点和落脚点是阶级斗争和人类解放，本质上是一种宗教政治学说。把马克思主义宗教观学科化，最重要的是坚持用马克思主义政治学理论与方法研究宗教，建立社会主义性质的宗教政治学。马克思主义宗教学不仅是宗教政治学，还包括宗教人类学、宗教社会学、宗教心理学特别是宗教学原理和宗教史学，但最根本的是宗教政治学。推进新时代马克思主义宗教学建设，必须以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚持从政治上观察和认识宗教，纠正宗教学研究中存在的神学化、西方化倾向。建立一批马克思主义宗教学研究基地，推动宗教研究机构智库化发展，为新时代宗教治理服务。

III. The Foundation of Marxist Religious Studies: Principles of Religious Studies and General Histories of Major Religions

三、马克思主义宗教学的基础：宗教学原理和各大宗教通史

Marxist religious studies has many sub-disciplines, the most fundamental of which are the principles of religious studies and the general histories of major religions. This is determined by the essence and distinctive character of Marxist religious studies. The essence of Marxist religious studies is the disciplinarization of the Marxist view on religion, the concrete form of which is the principles of religious studies. The distinctive character of Marxist religious studies is a socialist religious politics; it must focus on the liberation of the proletariat and humanity to study the essence and laws of religion, explain religion through history, and provide the knowledge base for a Marxist political party to correctly understand and handle religious issues. To this end, it is necessary to deeply study the historical development of religion, use historical materialism and historical facts to elucidate the origin and development of religion, especially the history of existing major religions, scientifically analyze the historical background and social conditions of the emergence of each major religion, profoundly reveal their historical changes and socio-political roots, and help people scientifically understand and deal with religion. Historically, Chinese Marxist religious studies was founded by Mr. Ren Jiyu in the 1950s and 1960s through in-depth research on Buddhism during the Han and Tang dynasties. In the early period of reform and opening up, the State Education Commission entrusted the Institute of World Religions, under the leadership of Director Ren Jiyu, to organize the compilation of *Principles of Religious Studies*, *History of Buddhism*, *History of Christianity*, and *History of Islam*, initially establishing the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of Chinese Marxist religious studies. These four books were originally compiled as university liberal arts textbooks, but *Principles of Religious Studies*, edited by Lü Daji, was ultimately published as the *General Theory of Religious Studies* in over 700,000 words, becoming a teaching reference book for graduate students in religious studies, while *Principles of Religious Studies* compiled by Chen Linshu of Sichuan University became the first undergraduate textbook recognized by the State Education Commission. Later, Lü Daji revised the *General Theory of Religious Studies* into the *New Edition of the General Theory of Religious Studies*, deleting the fourth part, “Religion and Socialism,” which focused on expounding the Marxist view on religion, and subsequently compiled the undergraduate textbook *Outline of Religious Studies* based on this. Meanwhile, the new edition of *Principles of Religious Studies* edited by Chen Linshu and Chen Xia also downplayed the Marxist view on religion, resulting in the two representative *Principles of Religious Studies* textbooks currently in use in China not adequately reflecting the Marxist view on religion. Therefore, in the New Era, there is an urgent need to compile a *Principles of Religious Studies* that fully embodies the Marxist view on religion. As for the histories of the three major religions, no better alternative textbooks have yet appeared, but their content and structure are already outdated, urgently requiring revision or the compilation of new textbooks on religious history.

马克思主义宗教学有很多分支学科，最基本的是宗教学原理和各大宗教通史，这是由马克思主义宗教学的本质和特质决定的。马克思主义宗教学的本质是马克思主义宗教观的学科化，具体形式就是宗教学原理。马克思主义宗教学的特质是社会主义性质的宗教政治学，必须着眼无产阶级和人类解放研究宗教的本质和规律，用历史说明宗教，为马克思主义政党正确认识和处理宗教问题提供知识基础。为此，必须深入研究宗教的历史发展，用唯物史观和历史事实阐明宗教的起源和发展特别是现存各大宗教的历史，科学分析各大宗教产生的历史背景和社会条件，深刻揭示它们在历史上的发展变化及其社会政治根源，帮助人们科学地认识和对待宗教。从历史上看，中国马克思主义宗教学是任继愈先生在20世纪五六十年代通过深入研究汉唐佛教创立的。改革开放初期，国家教委委托世界宗教研究所，在任继愈所长主持下组织编写了《宗教学原理》和《佛教史》《基督教史》《伊斯兰教史》，初步建立了中国马克思主义宗教学的学科体系、学术体系和话语体系。这四本书本来是作为大学文科教材编写的，但吕大吉负责主编的《宗教学原理》最后以70多万字的《宗教学通论》出版，成为宗教学研究生的教学参考书，而四川大学陈麟书编著的《宗教学原理》却成为第一本被国家教委认定的本科教材。后来吕大吉把《宗教学通论》修改为《宗教学通论新编》，删除了集中阐述马克思主义宗教观的第四编《宗教与社会主义》，又据此编写了本科教材《宗教学纲要》，而陈麟书和陈霞主编的新版《宗教学原理》也淡化了马克思主义宗教观，导致我国现行的两本代表性《宗教学原理》教材都没有很好体现马克思主义宗教观。因此，新时代亟待编写充分体现马克思主义宗教观的《宗教学原理》。至于三大宗教史，至今未见更好的替代性教材，但内容和体例已经落后，亟待修订或编写新的宗教史教材。

IV. The Key to Marxist Religious Studies: Building the Three Systems with Textbooks as the Grip

四、马克思主义宗教学的关键：以教材为抓手建设三大体系

At the symposium on philosophy and social sciences work convened on May 17, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that philosophy and social sciences workers should, in conjunction with the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, accelerate the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, fully embodying Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner in terms of guiding ideology, disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system. The key to constructing the three major systems of Marxist religious studies in the New Era lies in focusing on textbook construction. Professional textbooks are systematic, normative, and authoritative; they are not only necessary tools for conducting teaching and cultivating talent but also effective levers for building the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system. The disciplinary system is inseparable from the textbook system. Without a mature disciplinary system, a complete textbook system cannot exist; conversely, without a complete textbook system, a mature disciplinary system cannot exist. A basic criterion for judging how well Marxist religious studies is being constructed is whether a complete textbook system has been formed. Measured by this standard, the publication in the early period of reform and opening up of *Principles of Religious Studies* and *History of Buddhism*, *History of Christianity*, and *History of Islam* indicates that China had initially established the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of Marxist religious studies. Nearly thirty years have passed since then, and China’s religious studies research has advanced by leaps and bounds, yielding rich and diverse academic achievements. However, textbook construction has not kept pace and appears very backward. Taking the most basic *Principles of Religious Studies* as an example, my preliminary count shows there are over a dozen versions. Among them, *Principles of Religious Studies* edited by Chen Linshu et al., *Outline of Religious Studies* edited by Lü Daji et al., and *Introduction to Religious Studies* compiled by Lai Yonghai are the three university textbooks designated by the Ministry of Education. Yet they all remain at roughly the level of about twenty years ago, and in terms of upholding and elucidating the Marxist view of religion, they have even regressed to some extent. The biggest problem is that they have strengthened the color of Western religious studies while diluting the color of the Marxist view of religion. As for the three major religious history textbooks, they are basically still in their original form. Overall, China’s construction of Marxist religious studies is still far from forming a textbook system that meets the development requirements of the New Era, is grounded in the forefront of international scholarship, and covers all categories.

习近平总书记在2016年5月17日主持召开的哲学社会科学工作座谈会上强调，哲学社会科学工作者要结合中国特色社会主义伟大实践加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学，在指导思想、学科体系、学术体系、话语体系等方面充分体现中国特色、中国风格、中国气派。构建新时代马克思主义宗教学三大体系，关键是抓好教材建设。专业教材具有系统性、规范性、权威性，既是开展教学和培养人才的必要工具，更是构建学科体系、学术体系、话语体系的有效抓手。学科体系同教材体系密不可分。没有成熟的学科体系，不可能有完备的教材体系；反过来，没有完备的教材体系，也不可能有成熟的学科体系。马克思主义宗教学建设得怎么样，一个基本的判断标准就是看有没有形成完备的教材体系。拿这个标准来衡量，改革开放初期《宗教学原理》和《佛教史》《基督教史》《伊斯兰教史》的出版，表明我国已初步建立了马克思主义宗教学的学科体系、学术体系、话语体系。从那时到现在已过去了近三十年，我国的宗教学研究突飞猛进，取得了丰富多彩的学术成果，但是教材建设却没有跟上，显得非常落后。就最基本的《宗教学原理》来说，我初步统计有十多种，其中陈麟书等主编的《宗教学原理》、吕大吉等主编的《宗教学纲要》和赖永海编著的《宗教学概论》是教育部指定的三本大学教材，但是都停留在大约二十年前的水平上，在坚持和阐发马克思主义宗教观方面甚至有所倒退，最大问题是强化了西方宗教学色彩而淡化了马克思主义宗教观色彩。至于三大宗教史教材，基本上也还是原来的样子。总的来看，我国的马克思主义宗教学建设距离形成适应新时代发展要求、立足国际学术前沿、门类齐全的教材体系还很远。

V. The Perfection of Marxist Religious Studies: Establishing a Textbook System According to Five Levels

五、马克思主义宗教学的完善：按照五个层次建立教材体系

To advance the construction of Marxist religious studies in the New Era, we should take the *Principles of Religious Studies*, *General Theory of Religious Studies*, and the major religious history textbooks published in the early period of reform and opening up as a foundation, and vigorously promote the construction of the three major systems by taking the textbook system as a lever. We should organize backbone forces nationwide, and with financial support and organizational leadership from relevant departments, gradually advance the construction of the textbook system, disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of Marxist religious studies from five levels, truly establishing contemporary Chinese and 21st-century Marxist religious studies.

推进新时代马克思主义宗教学建设，应该以改革开放初期出版的《宗教学原理》及《宗教学通论》和各大宗教史教材为基础，以教材体系建设为抓手大力推进三大体系建设。应该在全国范围内组织骨干力量，在有关部门的经费支持和组织领导下，从五个层次逐步推进马克思主义宗教学教材体系和学科体系、学术体系、话语体系建设，真正把当代中国和21世纪马克思主义宗教学立起来。

The first level is the Marxist view of religion, Marxist atheism, and the principles of religious studies. This is the theoretical foundation of Marxist religious studies in the New Era. First, the textbooks *Marxist View of Religion* and *Marxist Atheism* should be compiled. On the one hand, this is to restore the original meaning, uphold fundamental principles, and innovate; on the other hand, it is to meet the urgent needs of ideological and political education and team building.

第一层次是马克思主义宗教观、马克思主义无神论和宗教学原理，这是新时代马克思主义宗教学的理论基础。首先要把《马克思主义宗教观》和《马克思主义无神论》教材编出来，一方面正本清源、守正创新，另一方面满足思想政治教育和队伍建设之急需。

The second level is the history of Buddhism, history of Christianity, history of Islam, history of Daoism, history of Chinese atheism, and history of Western atheism. This is the knowledge foundation of Marxist religious studies in the New Era. The major religious histories and the histories of Chinese and Western atheism should be compiled according to the high standards and strict requirements of the New Era “Marxist Project” [2]2 The “Marxist Project” (马工程) refers to the “Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project” (马克思主义理论研究和建设工程), a major national initiative launched by the CPC in 2004 to develop a standardized set of textbooks and academic resources grounded in Marxist theory for use in higher education. textbooks, doing the work of “studying religion and criticizing theology,” and perfecting the knowledge system of Marxist religious studies.

第二层次是佛教史、基督教史、伊斯兰教史、道教史和中国无神论史、西方无神论史，这是新时代马克思主义宗教学的知识基础。要按照新时代“马工程”教材的高标准严要求组织编写各大宗教史和中西无神论史，做好“研究宗教、批判神学”的工作，把马克思主义宗教学的知识体系完善起来。

The third level is *Critique of Chinese and Foreign Theological Thought* and *Critique of Western Religious Studies Theory*. This is the frontier position for the construction of Marxist religious studies in the New Era. Only by using the scientific principles of dialectical materialism and historical materialism to conduct analysis and critique of various religious theological thoughts can we help people deeply understand the essence and laws of religion. Only by using the Marxist view of religion to scientifically analyze Western religious studies theories can we take its essence and discard its dross, thereby developing Marxist religious studies theory.

第三层次是《中外神学思想评析》和《西方宗教学理论评析》，这是新时代马克思主义宗教学建设的前沿阵地。只有运用辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的科学原理做好对各种宗教神学思想的分析批判，才能帮助人们深刻认识宗教的本质和规律；只有运用马克思主义宗教观对西方宗教学理论进行科学分析，才能取其精华去其糟粕，发展马克思主义宗教学理论。

The fourth level is *History of Chinese Religion*, *History of World Religion*, and *History of Chinese and Foreign Atheism*. This is the macro perspective that must be established for Marxist religious studies in the New Era. Religion is a product of society, a historical phenomenon at a certain stage of the development of human society. Only by linking the history of Chinese society and the history of human society to clearly explain the laws of the emergence, development, and evolution of Chinese religion and world religion, and by clearly explaining the historical process and laws of scientific atheism developing and strengthening in struggle with religious theism, can we help people deeply grasp the essence and laws of religion as a whole, thereby correctly handling religious issues in the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and human liberation.

第四层次是《中国宗教史》《世界宗教史》和《中外无神论史》，这是新时代马克思主义宗教学必须建立的宏观视野。宗教是社会的产物，是人类社会发展一定阶段的历史现象。只有联系中国社会史和人类社会史把中国宗教和世界宗教产生发展演变的规律说清楚，把科学无神论与宗教有神论在斗争中发展壮大的历史过程和规律说清楚，才能帮助人们从总体上深刻把握宗教的本质和规律，从而正确处理中华民族伟大复兴和人类解放过程中的宗教问题。

The fifth level is religious anthropology, religious sociology, religious psychology, and religious politics. This is an important growth point for Marxist religious studies in the New Era. We should use the theories and methods of Marxist anthropology, sociology, and psychology to deeply study the current religious situation in Chinese society and the world, strive to obtain first-hand materials and detailed data, and serve the Party’s religious work and global religious governance. Finally, we should use the theories and methods of Marxist political science to establish a socialist religious politics, highlighting the Chinese characteristics of Marxist religious studies in the New Era.

第五层次是宗教人类学、宗教社会学、宗教心理学和宗教政治学，这是新时代马克思主义宗教学的重要增长点。要运用马克思主义人类学、社会学、心理学的理论与方法深入研究中国社会和全世界的宗教现状，努力掌握第一手资料和详细数据，为党的宗教工作和全球宗教治理服务。最后，要运用马克思主义政治学的理论与方法把社会主义性质的宗教政治学建起来，凸显新时代马克思主义宗教学的中国特质。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心