Two Issues Concerning Marxist Atheism and the Construction of Modern Chinese Civilization

On June 2, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping, in his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, proposed “building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” What is “modern civilization of the Chinese nation”? What is the relationship between adhering to Marxist atheism and building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation? This article offers some discussion on these questions.

2023年6月2日，习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上发表的重要讲话中提出“建设中华民族现代文明”。什么是“中华民族现代文明”？坚持马克思主义无神论同建设中华民族现代文明是什么关系？本文就此作一些讨论。

I. What Is Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation?

一、什么是中华民族现代文明？

“Modern civilization of the Chinese nation” is a concept newly introduced in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In accordance with Xi Jinping’s requirement to “promote the systematization and academicization of theory,” we should interpret the scientific connotation of this concept by linking it to Xi Jinping’s other important expositions, so that it is connected and integrated with other related concepts and propositions, unified within the same scientific theoretical system and discourse system. To this end, some work of conceptual refinement is necessary.

“中华民族现代文明”是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想中新提出的一个概念。按照习近平关于“推进理论的体系化、学理化”的要求，我们应该联系习近平的其他重要论述来解读这一概念的科学内涵，使其同其他相关概念、命题联系起来，结合在一起，统一在同一个科学理论体系和话语体系之中。为此需要做一点推敲概念的工作。

(1) The Relationship between “Building a Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation” and “a New Form of Human Civilization”

（一）“建设中华民族现代文明”与“人类文明新形态”的关系

General Secretary Xi Jinping stated: “The greatest respect for human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization. I hope everyone will shoulder their mission, work with vigor and promise, and jointly strive to create a new culture that belongs to our era and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation!” This indicates that “building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation” as mentioned in this speech is the same thing as “creating a new form of human civilization.” So, what is the “new form of human civilization” we have created? What is its relationship with socialism with Chinese characteristics? What is its relationship with the socialist material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization we are now building? The concept of “a new form of human civilization” was introduced by Xi Jinping at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China. He said: “We have upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoted coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization, created a new path of Chinese-path modernization, and created a new form of human civilization.” From this perspective, “a new form of human civilization” includes the coordinated development of “material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization.” It was created by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China through a century of struggle, created by “upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics,” and created simultaneously with “creating a new path of Chinese-path modernization.”

习近平总书记说：“对人类文明最大的礼敬就是创造人类文明新形态。希望大家担当使命、奋发有为，共同努力创造属于我们这个时代的新文化，建设中华民族现代文明！”这表明，这个讲话中所说的“建设中华民族现代文明”同“创造人类文明新形态”是同一件事情。那么，什么是我们创造的“人类文明新形态”，它同中国特色社会主义是什么关系，同我们正在建设的中国特色社会主义物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明是什么关系？“人类文明新形态”这个概念是习近平在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上提出来的，他说：“我们坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，推动物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展，创造了中国式现代化新道路，创造了人类文明新形态。”由此看来，“人类文明新形态”包括协调发展的“物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明”，它是中国共产党领导中国人民经过百年奋斗创造的，是“坚持和发展中国特色社会主义”创造的，是在“创造了中国式现代化新道路”的同时创造的。

(2) The Relationship between “a New Form of Human Civilization” and “Chinese-Path Modernization”

（二）“人类文明新形态”与“中国式现代化”的关系

General Secretary Xi Jinping stated: “Chinese-path modernization, as a new form of human civilization, will draw on the strengths of other civilizations and will surely greatly enrich the garden of world civilizations.” The proposition “Chinese-path modernization as a new form of human civilization” points out that “Chinese-path modernization” is precisely the “new form of human civilization” we have created in the garden of world civilizations, that is, “modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” From this perspective, “modern civilization of the Chinese nation,” “a new form of human civilization,” and “Chinese-path modernization” are concepts at the same level. They refer to the same object from different perspectives, and their extensions are consistent: from the historical perspective of the development of Chinese civilization, it is “modern civilization of the Chinese nation”; from the macroscopic perspective of the development of human civilization, it is “a new form of human civilization”; from the perspective of the process of human social modernization, it is “Chinese-path modernization.”

习近平总书记说：“中国式现代化作为人类文明新形态，与全球其他文明相互借鉴，必将极大丰富世界文明百花园。”“中国式现代化作为人类文明新形态”这一命题，指明了“中国式现代化”就是我们创造的世界文明百花园中的“人类文明新形态”，也就是“中华民族现代文明”。由此看来，“中华民族现代文明”“人类文明新形态”“中国式现代化”是同一层次的概念，它们从不同视角指向同一个对象，其外延是一致的：从中华文明发展的历史看，是“中华民族现代文明”；从人类文明发展的宏观视野看，是“人类文明新形态”；从人类社会现代化的进程看，是“中国式现代化”。

(3) The Relationship between “Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation” and Marxism

（三）“中华民族现代文明”与马克思主义的关系

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the Two Integrations [1]1 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. The Second Integration (第二个结合) specifically refers to the latter. “have created a new cultural life form that is organically unified.” “‘The Second Integration’ has made Marxism Chinese and the fine traditional Chinese culture modern, and has made the new culture formed through ‘integration’ the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.” This discussion concerns “culture,” not “civilization,” but culture and civilization, cultural form and form of civilization, are closely related. Civilization is a comprehensive category, a unity of material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization. Within it, cultural-ethical progress, relative to economy and politics, is “culture.” The fine traditional Chinese culture is the crystallization and essence of Chinese civilization. Therefore, this exposition on the relationship between Marxism and the fine traditional Chinese culture enlightens us that the relationship between Marxism and Chinese civilization is that the Two Integrations have made Marxism Chinese and made Chinese civilization modern, creating a new civilizational entity: “modern civilization of the Chinese nation.”

习近平总书记指出，两个“结合”“造就了一个有机统一的新的文化生命体”。“‘第二个结合’让马克思主义成为中国的，中华优秀传统文化成为现代的，让经由‘结合’而形成的新文化成为中国式现代化的文化形态。”这里论述的是“文化”，不是“文明”，但是文化与文明、文化形态与文明形态是密切关联的。文明是综合性的范畴，是物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明的统一体，其中的精神文明，相对于经济、政治而言，就是“文化”。中华优秀传统文化是中华文明的智慧结晶和精华所在。所以，这一关于马克思主义同中华优秀传统文化关系的论述启示我们，马克思主义同中华文明的关系是，“两个结合”让马克思主义成为中国的，让中华文明成为现代的，造就了“中华民族现代文明”这一新的文明体。

In summary, the author believes that, based on the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important expositions, the concept of “modern civilization of the Chinese nation” refers to the new form of human civilization created by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, guided by Marxism, through over a century of continuous struggle. It is the civilization of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the result of opening up a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics through the Two Integrations and carrying out Chinese-path modernization. The fundamental nature of modern Chinese civilization lies in the fact that it is both a civilization of the Chinese nation and a socialist civilization, a unity of socialism and Chinese civilization. For the development of Chinese civilization, it has brought the long-standing Chinese civilization into the New Era [2]2 The New Era (新时代) refers to the period since the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, marking a new historical juncture for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics under Xi Jinping’s leadership. of socialism with Chinese characteristics, making it a socialist civilization and making Chinese civilization modern; for the development of Marxism and socialism, it has developed scientific socialism from a theoretical form into a civilizational form in China, making socialism appear in the history of human civilization as an existing new type of civilization, making Marxism and socialism Chinese. Examined from several different perspectives, in the garden of world civilizations, it is the civilization of the Chinese nation; in the historical development of human social formations, it is a socialist civilization; in the long-standing Chinese civilization, it is a modern civilization: this is “modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” The basic spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s introduction of the concept of “modern civilization of the Chinese nation” at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development lies in emphasizing that, in the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, greater attention must be paid to the history and culture of the Chinese nation, and the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture must be upheld.

综上所述，笔者认为，根据习近平总书记一系列重要论述的精神，“中华民族现代文明”这一概念，指的是中国共产党以马克思主义为指导，领导中国人民在100多年的接续奋斗中创造的人类文明新形态，也就是中国特色社会主义文明，它是经由“两个结合”开辟出一条中国特色社会主义道路，进行中国式现代化建设的成果。中华民族现代文明的根本性质在于，它是中华民族的文明，又是社会主义的文明，是社会主义和中华文明的统一体。对于中华文明的发展来说，它使源远流长的中华文明进入中国特色社会主义新时代，成为社会主义文明，使中华文明成为现代的；对于马克思主义和社会主义的发展来说，它使科学社会主义从理论形态在中国发展成为一种文明形态，使社会主义作为现实存在的新型文明出现在人类文明史上，使马克思主义、社会主义成为中国的。从几个不同的视角考察，在世界文明百花园中，它是中华民族的文明；在人类社会形态的历史发展中，它是社会主义的文明；在历史悠久的中华文明中，它是现代的文明：这就是“中华民族现代文明”。习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上提出“中华民族现代文明”这一概念，其基本精神在于，强调在建设中国特色社会主义的伟大事业中，要更加重视中华民族的历史和文化，坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合。

II. Upholding Marxist Atheism and the Unity and Inclusiveness of Chinese Civilization

二、坚持马克思主义无神论同中华民族文明的统一性、包容性

General Secretary Xi Jinping elucidated the characteristics of Chinese civilization. He pointed out that the fine traditional Chinese culture contains many important elements that together shape the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization. Chinese civilization has prominent continuity, prominent creativity, prominent unity, prominent inclusiveness, and prominent peacefulness. These five natures of Chinese civilization are also the prominent characteristics of “modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” Upholding Marxist atheism is closely related to each of these five prominent characteristics of modern Chinese civilization, and in-depth research is needed. This article mainly offers some discussion from the perspectives of unity and inclusiveness and their interrelationship.

习近平总书记阐明了中华文明的特性。他指出，中华优秀传统文化有很多重要元素，共同塑造出中华文明的突出特性。中华文明具有突出的连续性、突出的创造性、突出的统一性、突出的包容性、突出的和平性。中华文明的这五种性质，也是“中华民族现代文明”的突出特性。坚持马克思主义无神论，同中华民族现代文明的这五种突出特性都密切关联，需要深入研究。本文主要从统一性、包容性及其相互关系方面做一些讨论。

Chinese civilization has taken shape through a continuous, long-term development, and its prominent characteristics have been constantly developing, enriched, and deepened in the course of history. The development of Chinese civilization into a modern Chinese civilization represents a great historic leap in the process of Chinese civilization, as well as a leap in the development of its prominent characteristics. In modern Chinese civilization, the five prominent characteristics formed historically have all been elevated, acquiring richer content and more precious value. Mao Zedong pointed out in *On Contradiction*: “We must not only study the particular contradiction and the essence determined by it in the material movement of each major system, but also study the particular contradiction and essence of each process in the long journey of development of each form of material movement.” He also noted: “In the various stages of the development of a process, there are also their own characteristics, which must also be paid attention to.” Modern Chinese civilization, as a new stage in the development of Chinese civilization, possesses all the prominent characteristics of the long-standing Chinese civilization—that is, the universal qualities of Chinese civilization—while simultaneously possessing the particularities of this new stage. Universality exists within particularity, and its nature is the unity of particularity and universality. In studying the relationship between upholding Marxist atheism and building modern Chinese civilization, we should conduct in-depth research into the prominent characteristics of modern Chinese civilization, which are a unity of particularity and universality.

中华文明是在连续不断的长期发展中形成的，其突出特性是在历史进程中不断发展、丰富、深化的。中华文明发展成为中华民族现代文明，是中华文明发展进程中具有伟大历史意义的飞跃，也是其突出特性发展中的飞跃。在中华民族现代文明中，历史上形成的五种突出特性都得到了升华，有了更加丰富的内容和更加珍贵的价值。毛泽东在《矛盾论》中指出：“不但要研究每一个大系统的物质运动形式的特殊的矛盾及其所规定的本质，而且要研究每一个物质运动形式在其发展长途中的每一个过程的特殊的矛盾及其本质。”他还指出：“在过程发展的各个阶段中，也各有其特点，也必须注意。”中华民族现代文明，作为中华文明发展的一个新阶段，具有历史悠久的中华文明的一切突出特性，即中华文明的普遍性品质，同时又具有新阶段的特殊性，普遍性存在于特殊性之中，其性质是特殊性和普遍性的统一。我们研究坚持马克思主义无神论同建设中华民族现代文明的关系，应该深入研究特殊性和普遍性相统一的中华民族现代文明的突出特性。

(I) Upholding the Prominent Unity of Chinese Civilization

（一）坚持中华文明突出的统一性

General Secretary Xi Jinping has expounded on the prominent unity of Chinese civilization, pointing out: “The long-standing tradition of great unity in Chinese civilization has formed a unity characterized by diversity in unity, solidarity, and centralization. The pursuit of ‘inward cohesion’ in unity is both a prerequisite for the continuity of civilization and a result of that continuity. Unity and solidarity bring blessings; division and turmoil bring calamity—this is a precious lesson learned by the Chinese people at the cost of blood. The unity of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines that the cultures of all ethnic groups in the Chinese nation merge into one and remain firmly cohesive even in the face of major setbacks; it determines the shared belief that the territory must not be divided, the state must not be thrown into chaos, the nation must not be fragmented, and civilization must not be interrupted; it determines that national unity is forever the core of China’s core interests; and it determines that a strong and unified state is the foundation of the destiny of all ethnic groups.” These discussions profoundly reveal the rich content, core embodiment, and lofty value of the unity of Chinese civilization. The prominent unity of Chinese civilization has been formed over a long period of the “great unity tradition” and is manifested in various aspects, including the economy, politics, ideology, and culture. In terms of conceptual form, the “great unity tradition” is concentratedly expressed as a shared belief: the firm conviction that unity and solidarity bring blessings and division and turmoil bring calamity; the firm conviction that the territory must not be divided, the state must not be thrown into chaos, the nation must not be fragmented, and civilization must not be interrupted; and the firm conviction that national unity is forever the core of China’s core interests and that a strong and unified state is the foundation of the destiny of all ethnic groups. This precious “great unity tradition,” as a universality, runs through all historical stages of the development of Chinese civilization, is embodied in the particularities of different stages, and is combined with these particularities, thus taking on different specific contents in different historical stages. Because “Marxism brought advanced ideological theories to China, activated the genes of Chinese civilization with the light of truth, led China into the modern world, and promoted the renewal and modern transformation of Chinese civilization,” the “great unity tradition” has achieved creative transformation and innovative development in modern Chinese civilization, acquiring entirely new content on the basis of inheriting excellent traditional culture. National unity is no longer unity under “all under heaven is the king’s land,” but unity under “all power in the People’s Republic of China belongs to the people”; it is no longer unity under a feudal autocratic centralized state power, but unity under the state system of the people’s democratic dictatorship and the form of government of the system of people’s congresses, and unity under the comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party of China. In terms of ideology, it is no longer unity under “sole reverence for Confucianism,” but unity under the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and unity under the guidance of Marxism and the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. It is precisely here that we see the significant importance of upholding Marxist atheism for building modern Chinese civilization.

习近平总书记论述了中华文明突出的统一性，指出：“中华文明长期的大一统传统，形成了多元一体、团结集中的统一性。‘向内凝聚’的统一性追求，是文明连续的前提，也是文明连续的结果。团结统一是福，分裂动荡是祸，是中国人用血的代价换来的宝贵经验教训。中华文明的统一性，从根本上决定了中华民族各民族文化融为一体、即使遭遇重大挫折也牢固凝聚，决定了国土不可分、国家不可乱、民族不可散、文明不可断的共同信念，决定了国家统一永远是中国核心利益的核心，决定了一个坚强统一的国家是各族人民的命运所系。”这些论述深刻揭示了中华文明统一性的丰富内容、核心体现和崇高价值。中华文明突出的统一性，是在长期的“大一统传统”中形成的，表现在经济、政治、思想文化等各个方面。在观念形态上，“大一统传统”集中表现为一种共同信念，那就是坚信团结统一是福、分裂动荡是祸，坚信国土不可分、国家不可乱、民族不可散、文明不可断，坚信国家统一永远是中国核心利益的核心、坚强统一的国家是各族人民的命运所系。这一珍贵的“大一统传统”，作为普遍性贯穿中华文明发展的各个历史阶段，体现在不同阶段的特殊性之中，与特殊性结合在一起，因而在不同历史阶段有不同具体内容。由于“马克思主义把先进的思想理论带到中国，以真理之光激活了中华文明的基因，引领中国走进现代世界，推动了中华文明的生命更新和现代转型”，使得“大一统传统”在中华民族现代文明中实现了创造性转化、创新性发展，在继承优秀传统文化的基础上有了全新的内容。国家的统一，不再是统一于“普天之下，莫非王土”，而是统一于“中华人民共和国的一切权力属于人民”；不再是统一于封建专制的中央集权的国家政权，而是统一于人民民主专政的国体和全国人民代表大会制度的政体，统一于中国共产党的全面领导。在思想观念上，不再是统一于“独尊儒术”，而是统一于中国特色社会主义共同理想，统一于以马克思主义为指导、坚持马克思主义中国化时代化。正是在这里，我们看到了坚持马克思主义无神论对于建设中华民族现代文明的重要意义。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for building the Party and the country, and for rejuvenating the Party and the country.” Both the *Constitution of the People’s Republic of China* and the *Constitution of the Communist Party of China* clearly stipulate the guiding position of Marxism. Marxism, as the guiding ideology of the Party and the state, is the guiding ideology and theoretical foundation for our construction of modern Chinese civilization. Only by adhering to the Two Integrations and realizing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times has the Communist Party of China been able to blaze a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and initiate the cause of building modern Chinese civilization. The founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 put an end to the state of national division and chaos detested by the people. Since then, the unity of the state, the unity of the people, and the unity of all ethnic groups within the country have continuously developed and consolidated, relying on the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics established by the Party leading the people. “The reason why the Communist Party of China can succeed and why socialism with Chinese characteristics works is, ultimately, because Marxism works, and because the sinicized and contemporary Marxism works.” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Marxism is the root of the great tree of the ever-growing cause of our Party and people, and it is the source of the long river of our Party and people’s continuous progress.” Without this root and source of Marxism, there would be no modern Chinese civilization. Therefore, upholding the guiding position of Marxism is of fundamental and foundational significance for building modern Chinese civilization.

习近平总书记指出：“马克思主义是我们立党立国、兴党兴国的根本指导思想。”《中华人民共和国宪法》和《中国共产党章程》都明确规定了马克思主义的指导地位。马克思主义作为党和国家的指导思想，是我们建设中华民族现代文明的指导思想和理论基础。中国共产党坚持“两个结合”，实现马克思主义中国化时代化，才开辟出一条中国特色社会主义道路，开创了建设中华民族现代文明的事业。1949年中华人民共和国的成立，结束了人民所厌恶的国家分裂和混乱的局面。从那时以来，国家的统一、人民的团结、国内各民族的团结不断发展、巩固，靠的是中国共产党的领导和党领导人民确立的中国特色社会主义共同理想，而“中国共产党为什么能，中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是马克思主义行，是中国化时代化的马克思主义行”。习近平总书记强调：“马克思主义就是我们党和人民事业不断发展的参天大树之根本，就是我们党和人民不断奋进的万里长河之泉源。”没有马克思主义这个根本、泉源，就没有中华民族现代文明。因此，坚持马克思主义指导地位，对于建设中华民族现代文明具有根本性、基础性意义。

Marxism is a complete and rigorous scientific worldview of the working class. Lenin emphasized: “It is complete and rigorous, providing people with a complete worldview that is irreconcilable with any superstition, any reactionary force, or any defense of bourgeois oppression.” Marxism is mainly composed of three major components: Marxist philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism. Marxist philosophy—dialectical materialism and historical materialism—forms the foundation of the entire scientific ideological system of Marxism. Marx and Engels thoroughly applied the materialist and dialectical viewpoint to all fields, including social history, viewing the world as a whole woven together by the interconnection and interaction of various changing and moving things, making Marxism a scientific worldview of thorough materialism and thorough atheism. It insists on explaining the world from the material world itself, without adding any extraneous components, fundamentally excluding the possibility of the existence of any gods, and is incompatible with all forms of theism. The original aspiration and founding mission of the Communist Party of China to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, its highest ideal of striving for communism, and its fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly are all built upon the worldview foundation of thorough materialism and thorough atheism. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The principle of the material unity of the world is the most basic and core viewpoint of dialectical materialism and the cornerstone of Marxist philosophy.” Lenin pointed out: “In this Marxist philosophy, cast from a single piece of steel, you cannot remove any single basic premise or any important part without departing from objective truth and falling into the embrace of bourgeois reactionary fallacies.” If the viewpoint of thorough materialism and thorough atheism is shaken, the worldview foundation of the Party’s entire theory and practice will be shaken. If Marxist atheism is not upheld, allowing theism to spread in our society and more and more people to believe in various religions, it will erode the ideological and theoretical positions of Marxism, affect people’s ability to observe society and understand problems using Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods, hinder unity in thought and action, and ultimately impact the Party’s guiding ideology and ruling foundation, endangering the construction of modern Chinese civilization. Therefore, consistently upholding and propagating Marxist atheism to the broad masses, especially young people, is an important task for consolidating the foundation of building modern Chinese civilization.

马克思主义是十分完备而严整的工人阶级的科学世界观。列宁强调：“它完备而严密，它给人们提供了决不同任何迷信、任何反动势力、任何为资产阶级压迫所做的辩护相妥协的完整的世界观。”马克思主义主要由马克思主义哲学、政治经济学、科学社会主义三大组成部分构成。马克思主义哲学辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义是整个马克思主义科学思想体系的基础。马克思和恩格斯把唯物的、辩证的观点彻底地贯彻到包括社会历史在内的一切领域，把世界看作是各种运动变化着的事物相互联系、相互作用交织起来构成的整体，使马克思主义成为彻底唯物主义和彻底无神论的科学世界观。它坚持从物质世界本身去说明世界，不附加任何外来的成分，从根本上排除了任何神存在的可能性，同一切有神论不相容。中国共产党为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴的初心使命，为实现共产主义奋斗的最高理想，全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨，都是建立在彻底唯物主义和彻底无神论的世界观基础之上的。习近平总书记强调：“世界物质统一性原理是辩证唯物主义最基本、最核心的观点，是马克思主义哲学的基石。”列宁指出：“在这个由一整块钢铸成的马克思主义哲学中，决不可去掉任何一个基本前提、任何一个重要部分，不然就会离开客观真理，就会落入资产阶级反动谬论的怀抱。”如果动摇了彻底唯物主义和彻底无神论的观点，就会动摇党的全部理论和实践的世界观基础。如果不坚持马克思主义无神论，让有神论在我国社会蔓延开来，信仰各种宗教的人越来越多，就会侵蚀马克思主义的思想理论阵地，影响人们用马克思主义的立场观点方法去观察社会、认识问题，妨碍思想上行动上的统一，最终会对党的指导思想、执政基础产生影响，危害中华民族现代文明的建设。因此，始终坚持并面向广大群众特别是青少年宣传马克思主义无神论，是一项为建设中华民族现代文明培基固本的重要工作。

(II) Upholding the Prominent Inclusiveness of Chinese Civilization

（二）坚持中华文明突出的包容性

Adhering to Marxist atheism is also closely related to the prominent inclusiveness of modern Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Chinese civilization has a prominent characteristic of inclusiveness. Chinese civilization has never replaced diverse cultures with a single culture; rather, it has gathered diverse cultures into a common culture, resolving conflicts and building consensus. Chinese cultural identity transcends regional ties, blood lineage, religious belief, and the like, integrating a vast territory and a huge population with enormous internal differences into a diverse yet unified Chinese nation. The more inclusive it is, the more it is recognized and upheld, and the more it will endure without interruption. The inclusiveness of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines the historical orientation of the Chinese nation’s interactions, exchanges, and integration; it determines the harmonious pattern of coexistence among multiple religious beliefs in China; and it determines the open-mindedness of Chinese culture to absorb all that is fine from world civilizations.” The fact that diverse cultures have been gathered into a common culture, and that religious belief and other factors have been transcended to integrate a vast territory and a huge population with enormous internal differences into a diverse yet unified Chinese nation, fully demonstrates and proves the prominent inclusiveness of Chinese civilization. In our research on Marxist atheism, we must especially deeply understand the spirit of this discussion concerning Chinese civilization’s transcendence of differences in religious belief and its determination of the harmonious pattern of coexistence among multiple religious beliefs in China.

坚持马克思主义无神论同中华民族现代文明突出的包容性也密切相关。习近平总书记指出：“中华文明具有突出的包容性。中华文明从来不用单一文化代替多元文化，而是由多元文化汇聚成共同文化，化解冲突，凝聚共识。中华文化认同超越地域乡土、血缘世系、宗教信仰等，把内部差异极大的广土巨族整合成多元一体的中华民族。越包容，就越是得到认同和维护，就越会绵延不断。中华文明的包容性，从根本上决定了中华民族交往交流交融的历史取向，决定了中国各宗教信仰多元并存的和谐格局，决定了中华文化对世界文明兼收并蓄的开放胸怀。”由多元文化汇聚成共同文化，超越宗教信仰等把内部差异极大的广土巨族整合成多元一体的中华民族，历史充分显示和证明了中华文明突出的包容性。我们进行马克思主义无神论研究，尤其要深刻理解这里关于中华文明超越宗教信仰差异和决定了中国各宗教信仰多元并存的和谐格局的论述精神。

The inclusiveness of Chinese civilization in transcending differences in religious belief and in enabling the coexistence and harmonious cohabitation of multiple religious beliefs is centrally embodied in the modern Chinese civilization through the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China. Article 34 of our Constitution stipulates: “All citizens of the People’s Republic of China who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote and stand for election, regardless of ethnic status, race, sex, occupation, family background, religious belief, education, property status, or length of residence.” Article 36 of the Constitution stipulates: “Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief.” “No state organ, social organization, or individual may compel citizens to believe in or not believe in any religion, nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in or do not believe in any religion.” “The state protects normal religious activities. No one may use religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens, or interfere with the state’s educational system.” “Religious groups and religious affairs are not subject to the domination of foreign forces.” These provisions indicate that citizens’ political rights are unrelated to differences in religious belief, and that believing or not believing in a religion is a citizen’s freedom and right. This fundamentally guarantees citizens’ freedom of religious belief and also ensures the coexistence and harmonious cohabitation of multiple religions in China, embodying the inclusiveness of modern Chinese civilization. This is a manifestation in our country’s fundamental law of the result of the Communist Party of China integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, including its religious conditions, and with the fine traditional Chinese culture.

中华文明超越宗教信仰差异以及各宗教信仰多元并存、和谐共处的包容性，在中华民族现代文明中集中体现为中华人民共和国宪法的相关规定。我国宪法第三十四条规定：“中华人民共和国年满十八周岁的公民，不分民族、种族、性别、职业、家庭出身、宗教信仰、教育程度、财产状况、居住期限都有选举权和被选举权”。宪法第三十六条规定：“中华人民共和国公民有宗教信仰自由。”“任何国家机关、社会团体和个人不得强制公民信仰宗教或者不信仰宗教，不得歧视信仰宗教的公民和不信仰宗教的公民。”“国家保护正常的宗教活动。任何人不得利用宗教进行破坏社会秩序、损害公民身体健康、妨碍国家教育制度的活动。”“宗教团体和宗教事务不受外国势力的支配。”这些规定表明，公民的政治权利同宗教信仰差异无关，信仰宗教或不信仰宗教都是公民的自由权利，这就从根本上保证了公民宗教信仰的自由，也保证了中国各宗教多元并存、和谐共处，体现了中华民族现代文明的包容性。这是中国共产党把马克思主义基本原理同包括宗教教情在内的中国具体实际、中华优秀传统文化相结合的成果在我国根本大法中的体现。

(3) Combining the Unity and Inclusiveness of Chinese Civilization

（三）把坚持中华文明的统一性和包容性结合起来

The five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization are interrelated and form a whole. The unity and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization are closely linked and inseparable. Unity is an inclusive unity; without inclusiveness, there is no unity. Inclusiveness is inclusiveness within unity; without unity, there is no inclusiveness. The differences among citizens in religious belief are determined by certain social and historical conditions and possess objective inevitability. However, these differences do not hinder the unity of the fundamental interests of the entire people. Although differences in religious belief exist among the masses, our people share common fundamental interests in economic, political, cultural, and other aspects. Moreover, national unity and the unity of the people are themselves the fundamental interests of the Chinese people. Upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China, upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics, and upholding the guidance of Marxism are the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and also constitute the unity of modern Chinese civilization. This unity encompasses the differences among citizens in religious belief; the differences among citizens in religious belief are differences within this unity. Adhering to Marxist atheism, as a foundational task for maintaining unity, is entirely consistent with upholding citizens’ freedom of religious belief. This consistency is a manifestation of the alignment between the unity and inclusiveness of modern Chinese civilization.

中华文明的五个突出特性相互关联，构成一个整体。中华文明的统一性和包容性是紧密联系、不可分割的。统一性是有包容的统一性，没有包容就没有统一性；包容性是统一中的包容性，离开了统一就没有包容性。公民在宗教信仰上的差异性，是由一定的社会历史条件决定的，具有客观必然性。但是这种差异性并不妨碍全体人民在根本利益上的统一性。虽然人民群众中存在宗教信仰上的差异，但是我国人民具有经济政治文化等各方面共同的根本利益，而且国家的统一、人民的团结本身就是中国人民的根本利益。坚持中国共产党的领导、坚持中国特色社会主义、坚持以马克思主义为指导，是中国人民的根本利益所在，也是中华民族现代文明的统一性所在。这种统一性，包容了公民在宗教信仰上的差异性；公民在宗教信仰上的差异性，是这种统一性之中的差异性。坚持马克思主义无神论，作为维护统一性的一项基础性工作，同坚持公民宗教信仰的自由是完全一致的。这种一致性，是中华民族现代文明的统一性和包容性相一致的体现。

In the construction of modern Chinese civilization, the research, propaganda, and education of Marxist atheism must be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Xi Jinping’s discussions on religious work in the New Era and his discussions on Communist Party members being steadfast Marxist atheists are the results of integrating the Marxist view on religion with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. They embody the unity, inclusiveness, and their interrelationship within modern Chinese civilization, providing the fundamental guidance for atheism research and disciplinary construction. In accordance with the spirit of these discussions, in atheism research and propaganda, upholding the unity and inclusiveness of modern Chinese civilization and combining these two aspects requires properly handling the relationship between waging ideological struggle and upholding freedom of religious belief. On the one hand, unity must be upheld; the great principle of Marxist atheism must be maintained; the ideological and theoretical front of Marxist atheism must be firmly held; atheism propaganda and education must be carried out for the broad masses, especially young people; Marxist atheism must always be maintained as the mainstream ideology occupying a dominant position in the people’s thinking; the ideological foundation of the entire people’s adherence to the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics must be safeguarded; and the ideological and theoretical foundation of the Communist Party of China’s governance must be consolidated. On the other hand, inclusiveness must be upheld; citizens’ freedom to believe in religion must be respected; the struggle to propagate atheism and oppose theism must be confined to the ideological sphere and not resort to administrative means; it must be confined within certain limits, not propagating atheism in places of religious activity and not specifically targeting religious believers; it must be placed in an appropriate position, subordinate to and serving the central work of the Party and the state, and not elevated to the primary position; and the value of the fine traditional Chinese culture, including certain religious cultural elements, must be valued, and criticizing theism must not be equated with completely negating religious culture. Only in this way can we both uphold the prominent unity of Chinese civilization and uphold its prominent inclusiveness, closely unite the broad masses of religious and non-religious believers, and work together under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China to build modern Chinese civilization and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

在中华民族现代文明建设中做好马克思主义无神论的研究、宣传、教育工作，必须坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导。习近平关于新时代宗教工作的论述和关于共产党员要做坚定的马克思主义无神论者的论述，是马克思主义宗教观同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的成果，体现了中华民族现代文明的统一性、包容性及其相互关系，为无神论研究和学科建设提供了根本遵循。按照这些论述精神，在无神论研究和宣传中坚持中华民族现代文明的统一性和包容性，将这两方面结合在一起，要处理好开展意识形态斗争和坚持宗教信仰自由的关系。一方面，必须坚持统一性，坚持马克思主义无神论这个大原则，坚守好马克思主义无神论的思想理论阵地，面向广大群众特别是青少年开展无神论宣传教育，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，维护全国人民坚持中国特色社会主义共同理想的思想基础，巩固中国共产党执政的思想理论基础。另一方面，必须坚持包容性，尊重公民信仰宗教的自由，把宣传无神论、反对有神论的斗争限定在意识形态领域，不诉诸行政手段；限定在一定范围之内，不到宗教活动场所宣传无神论，不专门以信教群众为对象；摆在适当的位置，服从和服务于党和国家的中心工作，不提到首位；重视包括某些宗教文化成分在内的中华优秀传统文化的价值，不把批判有神论等同于全盘否定宗教文化。这样才能既坚持中华文明突出的统一性，又坚持中华文明突出的包容性，紧密团结广大信教和不信教群众，在中国共产党坚强领导下为建设中华民族现代文明、实现中华民族伟大复兴共同奋斗。

(Author’s bio: Tian Xinming, Researcher at the Social Sciences Research Center of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China)

（作者简介：田心铭，教育部高等学校社会科学发展研究中心研究员）