A Study of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Original Theoretical Achievements on Marxist Atheism

On June 30, 2023, during the sixth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The project on the study and development of Marxist theory must continuously deepen theoretical research and interpretation, focusing on researching and interpreting the original theoretical achievements among the new concepts and new theses our Party has put forward, grasping their internal interconnections, and educating and guiding the entire Party and the whole country to better learn and grasp the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era.”

2023年6月30日，习近平总书记在中共中央政治局第六次集体学习时强调：“马克思主义理论研究和建设工程要不断深化理论研究阐释，重点研究阐释我们党提出的新理念新论断中原创性理论成果，把握相互的内在联系，教育引导全党全国更好学习把握新时代中国特色社会主义思想的理论体系。”

In his important speeches at the two National Conferences on Religious Work in 2016 and 2021, as well as at conferences on organizational work, propaganda work, and others, General Secretary Xi Jinping comprehensively and profoundly expounded on upholding and propagating Marxist atheism. He put forward such theses as: “Communist Party members must of course uphold atheism; if they do not uphold atheism, they are not Marxists, nor are they thorough materialists.” “Communist Party members must be firm Marxist atheists and must never seek their own values and beliefs in religion.” Communist Party members must be firm atheists and strictly observe the political discipline that Party members are not permitted to believe in religion; Marxist atheism is a major principle; it is necessary not only to uphold Marxist atheism but also to actively propagate Marxist atheism; Marxist atheism must always be maintained as the mainstream ideology, occupying a dominant position in the thinking of the masses; the relationship between freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle must be properly handled; propaganda for Marxist atheism must be strengthened in a targeted manner so that atheism takes deep root in people’s hearts — these are all important expositions.

习近平总书记在2016、2021年两次全国宗教工作会议上的重要讲话和在全国组织工作、宣传工作等会议上的重要讲话中对坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论作了全面、深刻的阐述，提出“共产党员当然要坚持无神论，不坚持无神论就不是马克思主义者了，也就不是彻底的唯物论者了”,“共产党员要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”。共产党员要做坚定的无神论者，严格遵守党员不准信仰宗教的政治纪律；马克思主义无神论是大原则；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；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；把握好宗教信仰自由和意识形态斗争的关系；有针对性地加强马克思主义无神论宣传，让无神论深入人心等重要论述。

In studying General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on upholding and propagating Marxist atheism, we must focus on researching and interpreting the original important theses contained therein and grasp their internal interconnections. These important theses were never stated by the founding fathers, nor were they ever articulated by any previous leader of our Party. They both carry forward the tradition and keep pace with the times, manifesting the new concepts and new achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

学习习近平总书记关于坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论的重要论述，要重点研究阐述其中的原创性重要论断，把握相互间的内在联系。这些重要论断，老祖宗没有说过，我们党的历任领导人也没有讲过，既一脉相承，又与时俱进地展现了马克思主义中国化时代化的新理念新成果。

I. Upholding Marxist Atheism Is a Major Principle

一、坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则

In the history of the Communist Party of China, and even in the entire history of the international communist movement, General Secretary Xi Jinping is the first to have put forward the important thesis that “upholding Marxist atheism is a major principle.”

在中国共产党的历史上，乃至在整个国际共产主义运动的历史上，习近平总书记首次提出“坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则”的重要论断。

Why is upholding Marxist atheism a major principle? I believe there are four reasons.

为什么说坚持是马克思主义无神论是大原则呢?我认为有四条理由。

First, it is because the dialectical materialism and historical materialism worldview of the Communist Party of China is thorough and scientific atheism. Engels once said: “Our Party has a great advantage in that it has a new scientific worldview as its theoretical foundation.” Marx pointed out: “Communism begins straight away from atheism.” The starting point and foundation of dialectical materialism and historical materialism is atheism. It holds that the world is material and there are no ghosts or gods; the material world moves and develops of its own accord, without any divine impetus; the material world is infinite, with no heaven or hell; history is created by the people themselves, not dominated by gods; truth is tested and developed in practice, not reliant on divine revelation.

首先是由于中国共产党的辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义世界观，就是彻底的、科学的无神论。恩格斯曾经说过：“我们党有个很大的优点，就是有一个新的科学的世界观作为理论的基础。”马克思指出：“共产主义是径直从无神论开始的。”辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的起点和基础是无神论，认为世界是物质的，没有鬼神；物质世界是自己运动发展的，没有神的推动；物质世界是无限的，没有天堂地狱；历史是人民群众自己创造的，不是神的主宰；真理是在实践中检验和发展的，不靠神的启示。

The core requirement of our work on atheist education is not merely to make people memorize those points of knowledge, but to enable Party members, especially leading Party cadres, to achieve the following: first, to recognize the truth of atheism — atheism is a correct and genuine understanding of the world; second, to recognize the affinity of atheism with the people — upholding and propagating atheism conforms to the overall interests of the broad masses of the people; third, to recognize the practicality of atheism — to grasp the fate of oneself, one’s family, one’s team, and one’s cause in one’s own hands and in the hands of the people, rather than entrusting it to illusory deities and religions.

我们开展无神论教育的核心要求并不仅仅是让大家去记住那些知识点，而是要让党员特别是党员领导干部做到：一是认识无神论的真理性，无神论是对世界正确的、真实的认识；二是认识无神论的人民性，坚持和宣传无神论符合广大人民群众的整体利益；三是认识无神论的实践性，把个人、家庭、团队、事业的命运掌握在自己手中，掌握在人民手中，而不是寄托于虚幻的神祇和宗教。

Second, a “major principle” is defined in comparison with other principles. Both upholding Marxist atheism and implementing freedom of religious belief are basic principles of the Party’s relevant work, but their respective scopes of application differ. Freedom of religious belief is a basic principle and basic policy of religious work. Upholding Marxist atheism, however, is not only a principle related to religious work but also extends beyond the scope of religious work, running through and radiating across the five spheres of economy, politics, society, culture, and ecology, as well as running through and radiating across the three systems of legislation, judiciary, and administration. It is a major principle that covers all aspects and applies to all aspects. Leading Party cadres, as well as experts and scholars in the fields of Marxist religious studies and atheism, must all follow this major principle and must not, whether intentionally or unintentionally, violate it.

其次，大原则是和其他原则相比较而言的。坚持马克思主义无神论和实行宗教信仰自由，这两条原则都是党的相关工作的基本原则，但各自适用的范围有所不同。宗教信仰自由是宗教工作的基本原则、基本政策，坚持马克思主义无神论则不仅是与宗教工作有关的原则，而且超出了宗教工作的范围，贯穿和辐射经济、政治、社会、文化、生态五大领域，贯穿和辐射立法、司法、行政三大体系，是覆盖到方方面面，适用于方方面面的大原则。党的领导干部、马克思主义宗教学和无神论领域的专家学者，都要遵循这个大原则，不要有意无意违背这个大原则。

Third, there are the profound lessons of the former socialist countries of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. These countries did propose and propagate “Marxist-Leninist atheism,” but after their disintegration and drastic changes, atheism, which had once occupied the mainstream and dominant position in ideology, vanished without a trace. Religion once again occupied the spiritual realm of the masses. In some places, serious problems even arose, such as demands for independence and secession based on ethnic and religious factors, and the emergence of armed groups under the banner of ethnicity and religion. In international relations, the ethnic and religious factors that had been suppressed during the Cold War due to US-Soviet rivalry heated up again, even leading to conflicts and wars. China’s renowned diplomat Qian Qichen once said: “From a historical perspective, in international relations, when major changes occur in the world situation, ethnic and religious contradictions often cause problems that were originally controlled, handled, and resolved to break out again. Ethnic and religious issues suddenly become important and sensitive.” “Moreover, when some countries interfere in the internal affairs of other countries under the slogans of religious freedom, human rights, etc., it further intensifies the contradictions.”

第三，苏联东欧等前社会主义国家的深刻教训。这些国家不是没有提出和宣传过“马克思列宁主义无神论”,但是在解体和剧变之后，曾经占据意识形态主流主导地位的无神论销声匿迹，无影无踪，宗教再度占据了群众的思想精神领域，有的地方甚至出现了由于民族、宗教因素闹独立、搞分裂的严重问题，出现了以民族、宗教为旗帜的武装集团。在国际关系中，冷战时期由于美苏争霸掩盖的民族、宗教因素再度升温，甚至导致冲突和战乱。我国著名外交家钱其琛曾经说过：“从历史的角度看，在国际关系中，当世界局势发生重大变化的时候，民族的矛盾、宗教的矛盾往往使原来得到控制的、得到处理的、得到解决的问题重新爆发，民族、宗教问题会突然变得重要、敏感起来。”“再加上有的国家以宗教自由、人权等为口号干涉别国内政，也使矛盾更加激化。”

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Marxist principles concerning the materiality of the world and its laws of development, human society and its laws of development, and the nature and laws of cognition provide a basic worldview and methodology for our study and grasp of the various disciplines and fields of philosophy and social sciences.” “The materiality of the world and its laws of development” is the philosophical expression of Marxist atheism. The fate and historical trajectory of Marxist atheism rise and fall together with the overall trend of socialism and Marxism, increasingly demonstrating its indelible value and enduring vitality in the process of history’s spiral progress.

习近平总书记指出：“马克思主义关于世界的物质性及其发展规律、人类社会及其发展规律、认识的本质及其发展规律等原理，为我们研究把握哲学社会科学各个学科各个领域提供了基本的世界观、方法论。”“关于世界的物质性及其发展规律”,就是马克思主义无神论的哲学表达。马克思主义无神论的命运和历史轨迹，与社会主义、马克思主义的整体大势同起同落，在历史螺旋式前进的过程中日益体现出其不可磨灭的价值和生生不息的生命力。

Fourth, as China’s economy and society enter a new stage of development, the new era value of atheism is increasingly evident. In times of material scarcity, people’s main need was to meet basic material conditions such as food and clothing. After completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, economic construction and material civilization remain the center and foundation, but at the same time, people’s spiritual needs are increasing in both quantity and quality. The shift in the purpose of some people’s religious belief from utilitarianism and pragmatism to spiritual pursuit and spiritual sustenance poses new problems and new challenges for our Party’s ideological work, ideological and political education work, and propaganda and education work on core socialist values. If theism spreads unchecked in our country, and the number of people believing in various religions grows, it will ultimately have a negative impact on our Party’s guiding ideology and governing foundation.

第四，随着我国经济社会进入新的发展阶段，日益体现出无神论新的时代价值。在物质匮乏的年代，人们的主要需求是解决温饱等基本物质条件。全面追成小康社会后，经济建设、物质文明仍然是中心和基础，同时人们的精神需求越来越多、越来越高。现在部分群众信仰宗教的目的从功利主义、实用主义向精神追求、精神寄托的变化，对我们党的意识形态工作、思想政治教育工作、社会主义核心价值观宣传教育工作，都带来了新的问题、新的挑战。如果让有神论在我国蔓延开来，信仰各种宗教的人越来越多，最终会对我们党的指导思想、执政基础等产生消极影响。

An American scholar once remarked that in the reality of widening wealth gaps, “people in prosperous countries and poor countries are increasingly flocking to various forms of traditional religion, whose main appeal lies in reducing the responsibility individuals bear for thinking for themselves and rationally guiding their own lives.” The rich believe in religion to gain psychological balance; the poor also believe in religion to obtain spiritual sustenance. The appeal of religion reduces the responsibility that people should bear themselves.

一位美国学者谈道，在贫富差距拉大的现实中，“繁荣国家和贫穷国家的人们逐渐涌向各种形式的传统宗教中，它们的吸引力主要在于减轻个体为自身思考和理性地指导生活所承担的责任”。富的人信教，以获得心理平衡；穷的人也信教，以得到精神寄托。宗教的吸引力减轻了人们本来应该由自身来承担的责任。

Against the backdrop of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world, our Party has opportunely put forward the thesis that upholding Marxist atheism is a major principle. This is of extremely important significance for maintaining ideological security and fulfilling the responsibilities of Communists.

在实现中华民族伟大复兴和世界百年未有之大变局的背景下，我们党不失时机地提出坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则，对于维护意识形态安全，肩负起共产党人的责任具有极为重要的意义。

II. Always Maintain the Dominant Position of Marxist Atheism as the Mainstream Ideology in the Thinking of the Masses

二、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的主导地位

The 2016 National Conference on Religious Work proposed always maintaining the dominant position of Marxist atheism as the mainstream ideology in the thinking of the masses. In studying this original important thesis, we must grasp four key points.

2016年的全国宗教工作会议提出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。学习这一原创性重要论断，要把握四个要点。

First, uphold the mainstream dominant position. This thesis unequivocally emphasizes the mainstream dominant position of Marxist atheism, as an important foundation and important content of Marxism, in the thinking of the masses.

一是坚持主流主导地位。这一论断旗帜鲜明地强调了作为马克思主义的重要基础、重要内容的马克思主义无神论在人民群众思想中的主流主导地位。

To always maintain the mainstream dominant position of Marxist atheism in the thinking of the masses, it is necessary to correctly understand the relationship between dominance and inclusiveness. The two basic principles of upholding Marxist atheism and implementing freedom of religious belief are not absolutely opposed or separated politically. Freedom of religious belief itself includes citizens’ freedom to believe in a religion, as well as the freedom not to believe in a religion and to propagate atheism. Atheism and theism differ in worldview, but politically they must unite with and guide religion. On a political basis, within the legal framework, atheism has inclusiveness toward religious believers.

始终保持马克思主义无神论在人民群众思想中的主流主导地位，就要正确认识主导性和包容性的关系。坚持马克思主义无神论和实行宗教信仰自由这两条基本原则在政治上不是绝对对立、割裂的。宗教信仰自由本身就包括公民有信仰宗教的自由，还有不信仰宗教和宣传无神论的自由。无神论与有神论在世界观上不同，但在政治上还要团结、引导宗教。在政治基础上，在法律范围内，无神论对宗教信仰者有包容性。

However, inclusiveness cannot weaken, replace, or lose dominance. Without the mainstream dominance of Marxist ideology, including atheism, it is impossible to create and maintain a social order and atmosphere that respects differences and tolerates diversity. The view that denies the mainstream dominant position of Marxist atheism sees this major principle as too small, too narrow, too shallow, or even skewed.

但是，包容不能弱化主导、替代主导、失去主导。没有包括无神论在内的马克思主义意识形态的主流主导，就不能创造和维护尊重差异、包容多样的社会秩序和氛围。否定马克思主义无神论主流主导地位的观点，是把这个大原则看小了、看窄了、看浅了，甚至看偏了。

Second, face the broad masses of the people. The propaganda and education of Marxist atheism cannot bind its own hands and feet; it must face society and the broad masses of the people. It must “occupy a dominant position in the thinking of the masses.” To “occupy” requires proactive effort, to re-strengthen and consolidate the ideological positions eroded and weakened by theism, and to maintain mainstream dominance.

二是面向广大人民群众。马克思主义无神论宣传教育不能自缚手脚，要面向社会、面向广大人民群众。要在“人民群众思想中占据主导地位”,“占据”就要积极主动，把被有神论侵蚀削弱的思想阵地重新加强起来、巩固起来，保持主流主导。

To strengthen atheist propaganda and education, the key targets are Party member leading cadres and young people. The former concerns how the power and resources of governance are used; the latter concerns the future face of the Chinese people’s spiritual world. At the same time, the Party clearly declares that it does not specifically conduct atheist propaganda toward religious figures and believers, nor does it conduct atheist propaganda in religious venues. But this does not mean that atheist propaganda and education can only be limited to within the Communist Party. Because outside religious activity venues, there is a vast public space; outside Party organizations, there are vast numbers of non-religious believers among the masses. One cannot, because atheist propaganda is not directed at religious circles and believers, abandon carrying out rational, forceful, and effective atheist propaganda and education in mass media and propaganda education that faces society. At the same time, religious figures and believers understanding some basic principles of Marxist propaganda and education directed at society also helps them correctly position the relationship between religious belief and religious activities, on the one hand, and national law, government management, national education, and the common interests of society, on the other.

加强无神论宣传教育，重点对象是党员领导干部和青少年。前者关系到执政的权力和资源如何使用，后者关系到中国人精神世界的未来面貌。同时，党明确宣布不专门向宗教界人士和信教群众进行无神论的宣传，也不在宗教场所进行无神论宣传。但这并不意味着无神论宣传教育只能限于共产党内。因为在宗教活动场所之外，还有广大的公共空间；在党组织之外，还有广大非宗教信徒的群众。不能因为不以宗教界和信教群众为对象宣传无神论，就放弃在面向社会的大众传媒和宣传教育中开展有理有力有效的无神论宣传教育。同时，宗教界人士和信教群众了解面向社会进行的马克思主义宣传教育的一些基本道理，也有助于他们摆正宗教信仰、宗教活动与国家法律、与政府管理、与国民教育、与社会共同利益的关系。

Third, emphasize “always maintain.” Marxist atheism is not a phased or partial ideological and theoretical weapon in the work of the Party and state, but a long-term, foundational, and comprehensive ideological and theoretical weapon. Vertically, it runs through the entire practical process of the Party’s revolution, construction, reform and opening up, and the New Era; horizontally, it must run through and radiate to all aspects of the “three major systems” and the “five major spheres.” [1]1 The National Conference on Religious Work, held in December 2021, was a high-level meeting convened by the CPC Central Committee to set the direction for religious policy in the New Era.

三是强调“始终保持”。马克思主义无神论不是党和国家工作中阶段性、局部性的思想理论武器，而是长期的、基础的、全局性的思想理论武器。纵向贯穿于党的革命、建设、改革开放和新时代的整个实践进程，横向要贯穿和辐射于“三大体系”“五大领域”的方方面面。

Over more than 70 years since the founding of New China, our Party has politically and in principle always upheld Marxist atheism. However, in certain regions during certain periods, the prominent problem in work was insufficient consciousness, consistency, and effectiveness in upholding and propagating Marxist atheism. Moreover, there have been problems of sometimes slackening, sometimes tightening, great ups and downs, taking one step forward and one step back, or even one step forward and two steps back. Retreating and then advancing creates more problems than starting from scratch. Often, it was only after the “Falun Gong” cult [2]2 V. I. Lenin, “On the Significance of Militant Materialism” (1922). gathered crowds to cause trouble, or after the “three forces” [3]3 “Three forces” (三股势力) is a standard Chinese term for terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism. created riots and violent terrorist incidents, that people were awakened and became more unequivocal and confident in upholding and propagating Marxist atheism. But in relatively stable periods of society, people often forget the pain once the wound is healed and fail to see the deep currents beneath the still water. The characteristic of traditional theism is strong inertia and easy rebound; once relaxed, it easily reverts to its old ways. People say verbally that religious issues have a long-term nature, but some comrades in practical work often only focus on the immediate, as long as no major incident occurs during their tenure, revealing a certain shortsightedness. This kind of oscillation, where one tendency conceals another phenomenon, not only easily offsets the good social effects once achieved by atheist propaganda and education, but also easily dampens the enthusiasm of the vast number of grassroots cadres who once struggled under pressure against cults and religious extremist forces. Atheist propaganda and education is not a campaign to “achieve success in one stroke.” [4]4 “Two darks, one black, three origins” (两暗一黑三起源) is a Chinese popular-science shorthand for frontier cosmological and biological questions. It is necessary both to fight well the encounter battles under specific conditions and to fix the direction, persevere unremittingly, exert continuous effort, and achieve lasting results over time.

新中国成立70多年来，我们党在政治上、原则上一直坚持马克思主义无神论，但是有的地区在某个时期的工作上，存在的突出问题是对坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论不够自觉、不够一贯、不够切实。而且，还存在着时松时紧、大起大落，存在着进一步、退一步，甚至进一步、退两步的问题，退下来再进，比从头起步遇到的问题还多。往往是在发生了“法轮功”邪教聚众闹事，出现了“三股势力”制造骚乱闹事、制造暴力恐怖事件之后，人们才警醒，对坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论更加旗帜鲜明、理直气壮。但在社会较为平稳的时期，又往往好了疮疤忘了疼，看不到静水下面的深流。传统有神论的特征是惯性强、易反弹，一旦放松，很容易故态复萌。人们口头上都在说，宗教问题具有长期性，但有的同志在实际工作中往往只顾眼前，只要我管的这一段时间不出大事就行，显露出某种短视性。这样一种倾向掩盖另一种现象的反复，不仅容易抵消无神论宣传教育曾经一度取得的良好社会效果，而且容易挫伤曾经顶着压力与邪教和宗教极端势力做斗争的广大基层干部的积极性。无神论宣传教育不是“毕其功于一役”的运动，既要打好特定条件下的遭遇战，又要铆定方向，坚持不懈，绵绵用力，久久为功。

Fourth, do a good job of important, positive, and foundational work. In the process of moving from achieving moderate prosperity in all respects to comprehensively building a modern socialist country, with the improvement and enrichment of material production and living conditions, cultural-ethical progress must also keep pace. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Material force and spiritual force each have their own role, and to a large extent they cannot replace each other. Problems at the material level must be solved by enhancing material force; problems at the spiritual level must be solved by enhancing spiritual force. Economic development and the improvement of people’s living standards will not naturally bring about an improvement in people’s ideological understanding.” “Different keys open different locks. While continuing to make good use of the key of development, we must use the key of ideological education even better.” On the spiritual level, on the one hand, we must use healthy and uplifting spiritual and cultural life to meet people’s growing spiritual needs, and use in-depth and meticulous ideological work and mass work to warm and unite people’s hearts. On the other hand, we must also uphold and propagate the theoretical weapon that pursues people’s ideological liberation and spiritual liberation and realizes people’s comprehensive development—Marxist atheism. Promote the adaptation of Marxist atheism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, its popularization, and enhance its persuasiveness, appeal, and attractiveness.

四是做好重要的、正面的、基础性的工作。在从实现全面小康迈向全面建设社会主义现代化国家的进程中，随着物质生产生活条件的改善和丰富，精神文明建设也要紧紧跟上。习近平总书记指出：“物质力量和精神力量各有各的作用，在很大程度上是不可互相替代的，物质层面的问题要靠增强物质力量来解决，精神层面的问题要靠增强精神力量来解决。经济发展、人民生活水平的提高，并不会自然而然带来人们思想认识水平的提高。”“一把钥匙开一把锁。我们在继续用好发展这把钥匙的同时，必须把思想教育这把钥匙用得更好。”在精神层面，我们一方面要用健康向上的精神文化生活满足人们日益增长的精神需求，用深入细致的思想工作、群众工作温暖人心、凝聚人心；另一方面也要坚持和宣传追求人的思想解放、精神解放，实现人的全面发展的理论武器——马克思主义无神论。推进马克思主义无神论的中国化、时代化、大众化，增强马克思主义无神论的说服力、感染力、吸引力。

Always maintaining the mainstream dominant position of Marxist atheism in the thinking of the masses is the ideological foundation and fundamental solution for preventing and defusing major risks and hidden dangers in the religious field; it is the principal aspect of the contradiction. If Marxist atheism cannot be established and cannot occupy a mainstream dominant position, the work of preventing and defusing risks and hidden dangers in the religious field will be in a state of treating the head when the head aches, treating the foot when the foot hurts, and passively responding. If Marxist atheism is established, with healthy energy within, evil cannot intrude, which is conducive to playing the preemptive move well and fighting the active battle in the overall situation.

始终保持马克思主义无神论在人民群众思想中的主流主导地位，是防范化解宗教领域重大风险隐患的思想之基、治本之策，是矛盾的主要方面。马克思主义无神论立不起来，不能占据主流主导地位，防范化解宗教领域风险隐患的工作就会处于头疼医头、脚疼医脚，被动应付的状态。马克思主义无神论立起来了，正气于内，邪不可干，有利于在全局下好先手棋、打好主动仗。

We Communists are Marxist atheists, and at the same time we implement the policy of freedom of religious belief. Precisely because Communists do not believe in a particular religion, they can treat different religions equally, unite the vast number of religious believers and the even vaster number of non-believers around the Party and the government, and join hands in building a real, earthly, and happy homeland shared by all Chinese people.

我们共产党人是马克思主义无神论者，同时实行宗教信仰自由政策。正因为共产党人不信奉某一种宗教，才能平等地对待不同的宗教，把广大信教群众和更为广大的不信教群众都团结在党和政府的周围，携手建设全体中国人共有的、现实的、人间的幸福家园。

III. Properly Grasp the “Relationship between Freedom of Religious Belief and Ideological Struggle”

三、把握好“宗教信仰自由与意识形态斗争的关系”

The “relationship between freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle” is one of the “five relationships” (namely, the relationships between the present and the long-term, treating symptoms and treating root causes, antagonism and non-antagonism, resisting infiltration and foreign exchanges, and freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle) that must be properly grasped, as proposed at the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work. [5]5 The source of this quotation is not given in the original text; it is attributed to Engels.

“宗教信仰自由和意识形态斗争的关系”是2021年全国宗教工作会议提出的要把握好的“五个关系”(即当前和长远、治标和治本、对抗性和非对抗性、抵御渗透和对外交往、宗教信仰自由和意识形态斗争的关系)之一。

Religion is both an ideology and a social entity. Since the founding of New China, in periods when religious work had clear guidance and was promoted forcefully, it was always the case that, on the one hand, the differences between idealism and materialism, and between theism and atheism in worldview were recognized, actively promoting and helping religion to adapt to New China and the new society; on the other hand, it was recognized that religion is a social force that cannot be ignored, influencing the vast number of religious believers, so the policy of freedom of religious belief must be implemented, uniting religious figures and believers around the Party and the government, and concentrating their will and strength on striving for common political and economic interests and goals. Practice tells us that failing to fully grasp the two attributes of religion, seeing only the ideological attribute while ignoring the social attribute, or seeing only the social attribute while ignoring the ideological attribute, will both lead to deviations and damage in policy orientation and social effects.

宗教既是一种意识形态，也是一种社会实体。新中国成立以来，宗教工作导向明确、推进有力时期，都是既看到世界观上唯心论和唯物论、有神论和无神论的差异，积极推动和帮助宗教与新中国、新社会相适应；又看到宗教是一支不可忽视的社会力量，影响着广大信教群众，必须实行宗教信仰自由政策，把宗教界人士和信教群众团结在党和政府的周围，把他们的意志和力量集中到为共同的政治经济利益和目标奋斗上来。实践告诉我们，不能全面把握宗教的两个属性，只看到意识形态属性，忽视社会属性，或者只看到社会属性，忽视意识形态属性，都会导致政策导向和社会效果的偏差和损害。

In the New Era of comprehensively building a modern socialist country with Chinese characteristics, we must both attach importance to the social attributes of religion, emphasize law-based governance of religious affairs, and actively guide religion to adapt to socialist society and to the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and we must also recognize the ideological attributes of religion, grasp and properly handle the “relationship between freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle,” strengthen and innovate the propaganda and education of Marxist atheism, and give play to the foundational role of ideological propaganda and education in raising the scientific and cultural quality of the entire nation and in cultivating and practicing the core socialist values.

在全面建设中国特色社会主义现代化国家的新时代，我们既要重视宗教的社会属性，强调依法管理宗教事务，积极引导宗教与社会主义社会相适应、与中国特色社会主义新时代相适应；又要看到宗教的意识形态属性，把握和处理好“宗教信仰自由和意识形态斗争的关系”,加强和创新马克思主义无神论宣传教育，发挥思想宣传教育工作在提升全民族科学文化素质、培育和践行社会主义核心价值观方面的基础性作用。

The “relationship between freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle” covers a relatively broad and complex field, including two different aspects: first, the contest between theism and atheism; second, the contest between patriotic and progressive religious thought and the thought of religious Sinicization in the New Era, on the one hand, and conservative and backward religious thought and religious extremist thought, on the other. The objects, content, and requirements of these two aspects are all different. In the first aspect, upholding and propagating Marxist atheism is not directed at the religious community but at society as a whole, with the focus on Party cadres and young people. The second aspect concerns ideological education within the religious community itself; the Party and government always support and guide the religious community to carry this out actively and on its own initiative.

“宗教信仰自由和意识形态斗争的关系”覆盖的领域比较广泛、比较复杂，其中包括两个不同的方面：一是有神论和无神论的较量；二是爱国进步的宗教思想、新时代宗教中国化思想与保守落后的宗教思想、宗教极端主义思想的较量。这两个方面的对象、内容、要求都有所不同。第一个方面，坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论，不是以宗教界为对象，而是以全社会为对象，重点是党员干部和青少年。第二个方面是宗教界内部的思想教育，党和政府始终支持和引导宗教界积极、主动地进行。

To properly grasp the relationship between “freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle,” it is necessary to distinguish the different objects of these two aspects, assign them different content, and adopt different methods. In carrying out ideological struggle, one must not violate the policy of freedom of religious belief; in implementing the policy of freedom of religious belief, one must not abandon or weaken ideological struggle. This can be summed up in two sentences: first, in the ideological sphere, uphold and propagate Marxist atheism, support, guide, and advance the Sinicization of religion, and the adaptation of religion to socialist society and to the New Era; second, in the sphere of political life, unite and guide religious figures and believers to serve the common goal of building a modern socialist country with Chinese characteristics.

把握好“宗教信仰自由和意识形态斗争”的关系，要区分这两个方面的不同对象，赋予不同内容，采取不同方法。开展意识形态斗争，不得违背宗教信仰自由政策；贯彻宗教信仰自由政策，不能放弃或削弱意识形态斗争。归结起来就是两句话：一是在意识形态领域坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论，支持、引导和推进宗教中国化，宗教与社会主义社会相适应、与新时代相适应；二是在政治生活领域团结引导宗教界人士和信教群众服务于建设中国特色社会主义现代化国家的共同目标。

IV. Strengthen the Propaganda of Marxist Atheism in a Targeted Manner, So That Atheism Takes Deep Root in the Hearts of the People

四、有针对性加强马克思主义无神论宣传，让无神论深入人心

The 2021 National Conference on Religious Work [1]1 The National Conference on Religious Work, held in December 2021, was a high-level meeting convened by the CPC Central Committee to set the direction for religious policy in the New Era. proposed: strengthen the construction of ideological positions, strengthen Marxist propaganda in a targeted manner, and ensure that atheist education enters textbooks and classrooms with full confidence, helping young people firmly establish a scientific worldview, outlook on life, and value system, so that atheism takes deep root in the hearts of the people. To achieve targeted strengthening of Marxist atheist propaganda, two things must be done.

2021年的全国宗教工作会议提出：要加强意识形态阵地建设，有针对性地加强马克思主义宣传，无神论教育要理直气壮进教材、进课堂，帮助青少年牢固树立科学的世界观、人生观、价值观，让无神论深入人心。实现有针对性地加强马克思主义无神论宣传，要做到两条。

First, enhance the targeting of propaganda content. Marxism has always emphasized propagating atheism to the masses. In his article “The Significance of Militant Materialism,” Lenin pointed out: “A Marxist who thinks that the hundreds of millions of people (especially the peasants and artisans) who are placed by the whole of modern society in a state of ignorance and prejudice can only be led out of this state of ignorance by a straight path of purely Marxist education is committing the greatest and worst mistake. They should be provided with various kinds of atheist propaganda materials, told facts from all aspects of actual life, approached by various means, to arouse their interest, awaken them from their religious slumber, and stir them up from all sides by various methods, and so on.” [2]2 V. I. Lenin, “On the Significance of Militant Materialism” (1922). In China in the New Era, we should also provide the masses with various targeted atheist propaganda materials, especially making good use of examples from everyday life, such as: fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, opposing the “three forces” [3]3 “Three forces” (三股势力) is a standard Chinese term for terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism., achieving comprehensive poverty alleviation, developing the economy, science and technology, and culture, meeting the growing material and cultural needs of the people, and so on. We should tell the masses facts and principles from all aspects of actual life, using facts and comparisons to conduct vivid and effective propaganda and education.

一是增强宣传内容的针对性。马克思主义历来强调向群众宣传无神论。列宁在《论战斗唯物主义的意义》一文中指出：“一个马克思主义者如果以为，被整个现代社会置于愚昧无知和囿于偏见这种境地的亿万人民群众(特别是农民和手工业者)只有通过纯粹马克思主义的教育这条直路，才能摆脱愚昧状态，那就是最大的而且是最坏的错误。应该向他们提供各种无神论的宣传材料，告诉他们实际生活各个方面的事实，用各种办法接近他们，以引起他们的兴趣，唤醒他们的宗教迷梦，用种种方法从各方面使他们振作起来，如此等等。”在新时代的中国，我们也应向人民群众提供各种有针对性的无神论宣传材料，特别要善于运用身边发生的事例，例如：抗击新冠疫情，反对“三股势力”,实现全面脱贫，发展经济、科技、文化，满足人民群众日益增长的物质文化需求等等，告诉人民群众实际生活各个方面的事实和道理，用事实和对比进行生动有效的宣传教育。

In the New Era, the research and propaganda of Marxist atheism will also encounter new problems and new challenges. New scientific discoveries and developments, and the development of high technologies such as artificial intelligence and life sciences, have sparked interest in the “two darks, one black, three origins” problem [4]4 “Two darks, one black, three origins” (两暗一黑三起源) is a Chinese popular-science shorthand for frontier cosmological and biological questions. (referring to dark matter, dark energy, black holes, the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and the origin of consciousness). In areas that science cannot yet answer, religious consciousness and influence often arise. Is the end of science theology? In fact, the end, or rather the boundary, of science is the unknown world, not theology. Some ask, science must continuously pursue and explore this unknown world; as science understands and solves problems, it expels various forms of theism from that domain. As Engels pointed out: “The history of science is the history of gradually eliminating this ignorance.” [5]5 The source of this quotation is not given in the original text; it is attributed to Engels. We must inherit and strengthen the alliance between social scientists and natural scientists, and resolve doubts and confusions in a targeted, reasoned, and evidence-based manner.

在新时代，马克思主义无神论的研究和宣传，也会遇到新的问题、新的挑战。科学的新发现、新发展，人工智能、生命科学等高科技的发展，引发了对“两暗一黑三起源”问题(指暗物质暗能量，黑洞，宇宙起源、生命起源、意识起源)的兴趣，在科学还不能回答的领域，往往会产生一些宗教性意识和影响。科学的尽头是神学吗?实际上，科学的尽头或者说是边界，是未知的世界，而不是神学。有人问，科学要不断追寻和探求这个未知的世界，科学认识了、解决了，就把形形色色的有神论从这个领域驱逐出去了。正如恩格斯所指出的：“科学的历史，就是逐渐消除这种愚昧的历史，”我们要继承和加强社会科学工作者和自然科学工作者的联盟，有针性地、有理有据地解疑释惑。

Second, enhance the targeting of propaganda objects. The objects and fields of atheist propaganda and education mainly consist of four aspects: cadre education, school education, social propaganda, and academic research. It is necessary to distinguish different objects and determine the different focuses and requirements of atheist propaganda and education.

二是增强宣传对象的针对性。无神论宣传教育的对象和领域，主要有四个方面：干部教育、学校教育、社会宣传、学术研究。要区分不同对象，确定无神论宣传教育的不同重点和要求。

Currently, two key points need to be grasped: first, atheist education entering Party schools [6]6 Party schools (党校) are the CPC’s internal training institutions for cadres at all levels.. Studying and mastering the basic viewpoints and basic laws of Marxist atheism is an important ideological and theoretical weapon for preventing and defusing major risks in the religious field. Leading cadres at all levels of the Party, especially united front and religious work cadres engaged in the Party’s religious work, must take Marxist atheism as a compulsory course. With this ideological and theoretical foundation, any phenomenon of theism can be handled.

当前，需要抓住两个重点：一是无神论教育进党校。学习掌握马克思主义无神论的基本观点、基本规律，是防范化解宗教领域重大风险的重要思想理论武器。党的各级领导干部，特别是从事党的宗教工作的统战、宗教工作干部，要把马克思主义无神论作为必修课，有这一思想理论垫底，什么样的有神论现象都能应付。

Comrade Chen Yun [7]7 Chen Yun (1905–1995) was a senior CPC leader and a key architect of China’s early reform-era economic policy. had a famous saying: “Studying Marxist philosophy is the basic construction of thought.” [8]8 This is a well-known remark by Chen Yun, often cited in Party study materials. Borrowing this phrase, we can say that studying Marxist atheism is also an important part of the basic construction of thought. In areas where ethnic and religious work tasks are relatively heavy, it is an important basic construction of thought that is closely linked to reality, grounded, and effective.

陈云同志有一句名言；“学习马克思主义哲学，是思想上的基本建设。”借用这句话，我们可以说学习马克思主义无神论也是思想上基本建设的重要内容，在民族、宗教工作任务比较重的地区，是紧密联系实际，接地气、有作用的思想上重要的基本建设。

Second, atheist education entering universities, middle schools, and primary schools. People’s religious concepts are not innate; religious concepts are the result of various acquired factors. The propaganda and education of atheism must not only be carried out but also be carried out persistently, generation after generation. This is because the continuously born new generation of young people has not experienced the previous process of the development of social consciousness. “If they are not given a ‘basic’ education, they will become ignorant and foolish on issues concerning the ‘basics,’ and passively or actively remain at the bottom of social consciousness in areas beyond the reach of education.” [9]9 The source of this quotation is not given in the original text. The Party and government have the responsibility to help the masses, especially young people, who originally do not believe in religion, not to lose themselves in the fog of religious theism. Marxist colleges in universities across the country, especially in areas with relatively heavy ethnic and religious work tasks, should, in conjunction with the actual ideological conditions of undergraduate and graduate students, offer Marxist atheist courses at different levels, and the scientific spirit of atheism should also be integrated and reflected in other related courses. Teaching practice, textbook compilation, and teacher training should be combined to form targeted academic growth points with local advantages. Primary and secondary education should also appropriately increase atheist content, telling stories subtly and explaining principles step by step.

二是无神论教育进高校、进中小学校。人的宗教观念不是天生的，宗教观念是后天各种因素起作用的结果。无神论宣传教育不仅要进行，而且要坚持不懈地一代一代地进行。这是因为，不断出生的新一代年轻人，没有经历以前社会意识的发展过程，“如果不对他们进行‘基础’教育，他们就会在有关‘基础’的问题上成为无知者和愚昧者，被动地或主动地在教育所不及的领域处于社会意识的底层”。党和政府有责任帮助本来不信教的群众特别是青少年不要迷失在宗教有神论的迷雾之中。各地高校的马克思主义学院，特别是民族、宗教工作任务比较重的地区，要结合本科生、研究生的思想实际，分层次地开设马克思主义无神论课程，在其他相关课程中也要贯穿和体现无神论的科学精神。要把教学实践、教材编写和师资培养结合起来，形成有针对性和当地优势的学术增长点。中小学教育也要适当增加无神论的内容，潜移默化讲故事，循循善诱讲道理。

“Let atheism take deep root in the hearts of the people” clarifies the overall goal and overall requirement of upholding and propagating Marxist atheism in the New Era. For it to take deep root in the hearts of the people, it is necessary, through targeted and effective forms and content of propaganda and education, to internalize atheism as the scientific worldview, outlook on life, and value system of the masses, especially the vast number of young people; for it to take deep root in the hearts of the people, it is necessary to popularize science and advanced culture, making atheism like a gentle spring breeze, becoming a social custom and lifestyle for the masses to pursue civilized progress; for it to take deep root in the hearts of the people, it is necessary to help and guide people to draw clear lines between materialism and idealism, atheism and theism, science and superstition, civilization and ignorance, making atheism like a drawn sword, resisting superstition and decadent backward culture, and preventing the infiltration of religious extremist thought and illegal religious forces.

“让无神论深入人心”,明确了新时代坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论的总目的、总要求。深入人心，就要通过有针对性、有效的宣传教育形式和内容，让无神论内化为人民群众，特别是广大青少年科学的世界观、人生观、价值观；深入人心，就要普及科学和先进文化，使无神论如化雨春风，成为人民群众追求文明进步的社会风尚和生活方式；深入人心，就要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，使无神论如出鞘利剑，抵制迷信和腐朽落后文化，防范宗教极端思想和非法宗教势力渗透。

These four original important achievements are closely and intrinsically linked to one another. The first, “Upholding Marxist atheism is a major principle,” emphasizes that upholding Marxist atheism is a principle of overall importance in the work of the Party and the state. The second, “Always maintain Marxist atheism as the mainstream ideology, occupying a dominant position in the thinking of the people,” highlights the mainstream and dominant position of Marxist atheism in the ideological sphere. The third, “Grasp the relationship between ‘freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle’,” puts forward a pair of important relationships that must be grasped and properly handled in the ideological sphere. The fourth, “Strengthen the propaganda of Marxist atheism in a targeted manner, so that atheism takes deep root in the hearts of the people,” clarifies the practical path, purpose, and requirements for upholding and propagating Marxist atheism. These four original important theses, moving from political principle — mainstream dominance — important relationship — practical requirement, from the macro, through the meso, to the micro level, from principle, status, policy, to measures, are strategically conceived, combine the theoretical with the concrete, echo each other, and advance layer by layer. They constitute the core essence and theoretical framework of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on upholding and propagating Marxist atheism, providing theoretical guidance and spiritual impetus for us to open up the cause of Marxist atheist research and propaganda-education in the New Era.

这四条原创性重要成果，相互间存在着紧密的内在联系。第一条“坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则”,强调了坚持马克思主义无神论是党和国家工作中全局性的重要原则；第二条“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”,凸显了马克思主义无神论在意识形态领域的主流主导地位；第三条“把握‘宗教信仰自由与意识形态斗争的关系’”,提出了在意识形态领域要把握和处理好的一对重要关系；第四条“有针对性加强马克思主义无神论宣传，让无神论深入人心”,明确了坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论的实践路径、目的和要求。这四条原创性重要论断从政治原则——主流主导——重要关系——实践要求，从宏观、中观到微观，从原则、地位、政策到措施，高屋建瓴，虚实结合，相互呼应，层层推进，构成了习近平总书记关于坚持和宣传马克思主义无神论重要论述的核心要义和理论框架，为我们开拓新时代马克思主义无神论研究和宣传教育事业提供了理论指导和精神动力。

Author: Zhu Xiaoming

作者：朱晓明

Online Editor: Rainbow

网络编辑：彩虹