Several Key Issues in Deeply Advancing the Sinicization of Religion in China

Historically, the adaptation of religion to the society in which it exists is the trend and law of religious survival and development. As a historical phenomenon, religion will exist for a long time in socialist China. Actively guiding religion to adapt to socialist society is the core content of the Party’s basic policy on religious work. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has raised and emphasized the issue of the sinicization of religion in China on multiple occasions. “Sinicization of religion” is a major innovative thesis of Xi Jinping’s work on religion and a major strategic measure for actively guiding religion to adapt to socialist society. Only by implementing the “sinicization of religion” can religious believers achieve political identification and social adaptation, and can religion truly be said to adapt to socialist society with Chinese characteristics. Adhering to the sinicization of religion in China “concerns the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, concerns the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the masses, concerns social harmony and ethnic unity, and concerns national security and the unification of the motherland”; it is a comprehensive and strategic task that concerns the Party’s governing future and destiny. In 2021, at the National Conference on Religious Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping further emphasized that “we must adhere to the direction of sinicization of religion in China” and put forward the clear requirement of “deeply advancing the sinicization of religion in China.” As a major historical task of the Party’s religious work on the new journey of the New Era, this was again written into the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC in 2022. On the new journey, how can we more effectively and deeply advance the sinicization of religion in China? In addition to supporting religious circles in interpreting religious doctrines and canons in a way that conforms to the requirements of contemporary China’s development and progress and to the excellent traditional Chinese culture, we must also firmly grasp the following aspects: first, seek the greatest common divisor — the core socialist values — and use this to guide the sinicization of religion; second, adhere to Marxist atheism; third, uphold and strengthen the Party’s leadership over the sinicization of religion.

历史地看，宗教同所在社会相适应是宗教生存发展的趋势和规律。宗教作为历史现象将长期存在于社会主义中国，积极引导宗教与社会主义社会相适应，是党的宗教工作基本方针的核心内容。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记在多种场合提出和强调我国宗教的中国化问题。“宗教中国化”,是习近平总书记关于宗教工作的一个重大创新论断，是积极引导宗教与社会主义社会相适应的重大战略举措。只有通过落实“宗教中国化”,信教群众才能做到政治上认同、社会上适应，宗教才能真正称得上与中国特色社会主义社会相适应。坚持我国宗教中国化，“关系中国特色社会主义事业发展，关系党和人民群众的血肉联系，关系社会和谐，民族团结，关系国家安全和祖国统一”,是一项关系党的执政前途和命运的全局性和战略性工作。2021年，习近平总书记在全国宗教工作会议上进一步强调“必须坚持我国宗教中国化方向”,并提出“深入推进我国宗教中国化”的明确要求。这作为新时代新征程党的宗教工作的重大历史任务，2022年再次被写入党的二十大报告。新征程上，怎样更有效深入推进我国宗教中国化?除了支持宗教界对教规教义作出符合当代中国发展进步要求、符合中华优秀传统文化的阐释外，还必须牢牢把握以下几个方面：一是寻求最大公约数——社会主义核心价值观，以此引导宗教中国化；二是坚持马克思主义无神论；三是坚持和加强党对宗教中国化的领导。

I. Core Socialist Values Are the Greatest Common Divisor for Guiding the Sinicization of Religion in China

一、社会主义核心价值观是引导我国宗教中国化的最大公约数

There are multiple religions within China’s borders. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Religion is a belief, a social consciousness, but more importantly, it is a social force, involving hundreds of millions of religious believers.” According to the 2018 white paper *China’s Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief*, China has nearly 200 million religious believers and more than 380,000 religious clergy, in addition to many people who participate in various folk belief activities. In China, religious believers and non-believers are all ordinary laborers. Their social identities are workers, peasants, urban migrant workers, scientific and technological workers, entrepreneurs, public service personnel, and so on. They are all builders actively engaged in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and are the Party’s reliance and governing foundation. Uniting these 200 million people and concentrating their will and strength on the common goal of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation is the “fundamental starting point and落脚点 [n] of the Party in handling all religious issues.” The question is: how can they be most effectively united and consolidated? Entering the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has given a clear and effective answer: seek

我国境内存在多种宗教。习近平总书记指出：“宗教是一种信仰，是一种社会意识，但更主要的是一种社会力量，涉及到亿万信教群众。”据2018年的《中国保障宗教信仰自由的政策和实践》白皮书披露，我国信教公民近2亿，宗教教职人员38万余人，此外，还有许多参与各种民间信仰活动的群众。在我国，信教群众与不信教群众一样都是普通的劳动者，他们的社会身份是工人、农民、城市务工者、科技工作者、企业家、公益服务人员等不一而足，他们都是积极投身于中国特色社会主义事业的建设者，是党的依靠力量和执政基础。把这2亿人团结起来，把他们的意志和力量集中到强国建设民族复兴这一共同目标上来，是我们党“处理一切宗教问题的根本出发点和落脚点”。问题是如何才能最有效地把他们团结和凝聚起来?进入新时代，以习近平同志为核心的党中央给出了明确而有效的答案：寻求最大公约数。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记在不同场合不同领域多次提到“最大公约数”,要求“各级领导干部要善于以最大公约数的思想方法研究问题、解决问题，聚合众力、融合众智”。在包括宗教工作的统一战线领域，习近平总书记也一再提到“找到最大公约数”。比如，他在2015年的中央统战工作会议上曾指出：“做好新形势下统战工作，必须正确处理一致性和多样性关系，不断巩固共同思想政治基础，同时要充分发扬民主、尊重包容差异，尽可能通过耐心细致的工作找到最大公约数。”实践证明，我们已经找到这个最大公约数，就是社会主义核心价值观。

First, in seeking the greatest common divisor, one should start with core values. The differentiation of interests and ideas causes all members of society to form different values, constituting a system of social values. Within this system, there are great differences among different values, but there is also a certain consensus, that is, common values. The common divisor in thought and spirit should be sought at the level of values, and the greatest common divisor should be the values that possess commonality among them. The greatest common divisor requires seeking the greatest common ground of interests and common values to the maximum extent. Common values are the spiritual bond on which a nation or a country relies for long-term cohesion, and they are the common ideological and moral foundation of a nation or a country. Why can the complex and diverse modern society still maintain order and vitality? The reason lies in the fact that common values continuously supply the source of order to this society. No matter how differentiated the interests and ideas of all members of a country may be, as long as they reach a high degree of consensus on values, they can be of one heart and one mind, unite and strive, and form a joint force for undertaking endeavors.

第一，寻求最大公约数，应从核心价值观上入手。利益和思想的分化使全体社会成员形成不同的价值观，构成社会价值观体系。在这个体系中，不同价值观之间存在很大的差异，但也有一定的共识即共同的价值观。思想和精神上的公约数应该到价值观层面去寻求，而最大公约数应该是其中具有共同性的价值观。最大公约数要求最大限度地寻求利益共同点和共同的价值观。共同的价值观是一个民族、一个国家赖以长期维系的精神纽带，是一个民族、一个国家共同的思想道德基础。纷繁复杂的现代社会，为什么依然能够秩序井然且保持活力?原因就在于共同性的价值观给这个社会源源不断地输送秩序的源泉。一个国家的全体社会成员无论利益和思想如何分化，只要在价值观上取得高度共识，就能同心同德、团结奋进，形成干事业的合力。

Second, the fundamental interests of religious believers and non-believers in the political and economic spheres are identical. Through the above analysis, it is crucial for religious work to find the common values, i.e., the greatest common divisor, that can be accepted by both religious believers and non-believers. The greatest common divisor can provide the most fundamental value concept for the stable development and progress of the entire society. As a cultural phenomenon and social ideology, religion has its unique belief system and value concepts. The law of religious development lies in "harmony." "The survival and development of any religion must adapt to the society in which it exists; this is a universal law of the development and spread of world religions." For this reason, for China, a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, ethnic harmony and social harmony both require religious harmony, and it is necessary to seek the greatest consensus, i.e., the greatest common divisor, between the unique values of religion and the system of social values. All members of society, including religious believers and non-believers, have identical fundamental interests in the political and economic spheres, which provides a fundamental basis for generating consensus on values.

第二，信教群众和不信教群众在政治和经济上的根本利益是一致的。通过以上分析，宗教工作如何找到信教群众与不信教群众都能接受的共同性的价值观即最大公约数，至关重要。最大公约数能够为整个社会的稳定发展进步提供一种最为根本的价值理念。宗教作为一种文化现象和社会意识形态，具有其独特的信仰体系和价值观念。宗教的发展规律在于“和”。“任何宗教的生存发展，都必须同所在社会相适应，这是世界宗教发展传播的普遍规律。”正因如此，对于多民族多宗教的中国而言，民族的和睦、社会的和谐，都需要宗教的和顺，需要在宗教独特的价值观与社会价值观体系之间寻求最大共识即最大公约数。包括信教群众和不信教群众在内的全体社会成员，在政治和经济上的根本利益是一致的，这就为在价值观上产生共识提供了根本基础。

Third, the core socialist values are the greatest common divisor for deeply advancing the sinicization of religion. General Secretary Xi Jinping once pointed out: "China is a large country with a population of over 1.3 billion and 56 ethnic groups. Establishing the 'greatest common divisor' of values that reflects the common recognition of people of all ethnic groups across the country, so that all the people can be of one heart and one mind, unite and strive, concerns the future and destiny of the country and the happiness and well-being of the people." In the primary stage of socialism in China, there indeed exist diversified values, including those of religious belief. So, what is the value of the greatest common divisor within the system of social values? In the process of deeply advancing the sinicization of religion, our Party has found the value of the "greatest common divisor" commonly recognized by all people of all ethnic groups across the country, including believers and non-believers, theists and atheists. This value is the core socialist values. The core socialist values scientifically answer, from the level of values, the major questions of what kind of country to build, what kind of society to build, and what kind of citizens to cultivate. Prosperity, democracy, civility, and harmony are the value requirements at the national level; freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law are the value requirements at the social level; patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship are the value requirements at the citizen level. The core socialist values integrate the value requirements of the country, society, and citizens into one, reflecting not only the essential requirements of socialism and inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture, but also absorbing the beneficial achievements of world civilization and embodying the spirit of the times.

第三，社会主义核心价值观是深入推进宗教中国化的最大公约数。习近平总书记曾这样指出：“我国是一个有着13亿多人口、56个民族的大国，确立反映全国各族人民共同认同的价值观‘最大公约数’,使全体人民同心同德、团结奋进，关乎国家前途命运，关乎人民幸福安康。”社会主义初级阶段的中国，确实存在包括宗教信仰在内多样化的价值观。那么社会价值观体系中，最大公约数的价值观是什么呢?在深入推进宗教中国化进程中，我们党找到了包括信教的、不信教的、有神论的、无神论的等全国各族人民都共同认同的“最大公约数”的价值观。这个价值观就是社会主义核心价值观。社会主义核心价值观从价值观层面科学回答了建设什么样的国家、建设什么样的社会、培育什么样的公民的重大问题。富强、民主、文明、和谐是国家层面的价值观要求，自由、平等、公正、法治是社会层面的价值观要求，爱国、敬业、诚信、友善是公民层面的价值观要求。社会主义核心价值观把国家、社会、公民的价值观要求融为一体，既体现了社会主义的本质要求，继承了中华优秀传统文化，也吸收了世界文明有益成果，体现了时代精神。

Using the greatest common divisor of the core socialist values to lead and guide the sinicization of religion in China, and to promote the adaptation of religion to socialist society, is the current focus of China’s approach to religious issues and religious work. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized on multiple occasions: “The starting point and落脚点[n] of implementing the policy of freedom of religious belief is to unite the broadest possible masses of both believers and non-believers.” But how is this to be achieved? It is by relying on the greatest common divisor of the core socialist values, found under the leadership of the Party. Cultivating and promoting the core socialist values is conducive to consolidating a common ideological foundation and realizing socialist modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; conducive to gathering the powerful forces of scientific development to meet various challenges and risks; conducive to fostering a stable, united, harmonious and upward atmosphere and promoting social harmony; conducive to strengthening moral construction and realizing the all-round development of the individual; conducive to guiding social trends of thought,凝聚社会共识[n], and gathering the powerful forces for building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Undoubtedly, such core values can more effectively lead and guide the sinicization of religion in China. How should this leading and guiding be carried out? It should focus mainly on the following aspects: leading and guiding religious believers and religious figures to love the motherland and the people, to safeguard national unity and the great unity of the Chinese nation, and to submit to and serve the supreme interests of the state and the overall interests of the Chinese nation; leading and guiding and enhancing the identification of religious believers and religious figures with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics; leading and guiding religious believers and religious figures to uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system, and to adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; leading and guiding religious believers and religious figures to actively practice the core socialist values, to promote Chinese culture, and to strive to integrate religious doctrines with Chinese culture; leading and guiding religious believers and religious figures to abide by national laws and regulations and to consciously accept state management according to law; leading and guiding religious believers and religious figures to devote themselves to reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and to contribute to the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Of course, we must clearly recognize that using the core socialist values to lead and guide by no means requires religious believers to abandon their religious faith.

以社会主义核心价值观这一最大公约数引领和引导我国宗教中国化，促进宗教与社会主义社会相适应，是当前我国处理宗教问题和开展宗教工作的着力点。习近平总书记在多种场合强调：“实行宗教信仰自由政策，出发点和落脚点是要最大限度把广大信教和不信教群众团结起来。”但如何做到这些?就是靠在党的领导下找到的社会主义核心价值观这一最大公约数。培育和弘扬社会主义核心价值观，有利于打牢共同思想基础，实现社会主义现代化和中华民族伟大复兴；有利于汇集科学发展的强大力量，应对各种挑战与风险；有利于培育安定团结、和谐向上的良好氛围，促进社会和谐；有利于加强道德建设，实现人的全面发展；有利于引领社会思潮，凝聚社会共识，汇集建设中国特色社会主义的强大力量。无疑，用这样的核心价值观一定能更有效地来引领和引导我国宗教中国化。怎样引领和引导?主要应着重于以下几个方面：引领和引导信教群众和宗教界人士热爱祖国、热爱人民，维护祖国统一，维护中华民族大团结，服从服务于国家最高利益和中华民族整体利益；引领和引导并增进信教群众和宗教界人士对伟大祖国、中华民族、中华文化、中国共产党、中国特色社会主义的认同；引领和引导信教群众和宗教界人士拥护中国共产党领导、拥护社会主义制度，坚持走中国特色社会主义道路；引领和引导信教群众和宗教界人士积极践行社会主义核心价值观，弘扬中华文化，努力把宗教教义同中华文化相融合；引领和引导信教群众和宗教界人士遵守国家法律法规，自觉接受国家依法管理；引领和引导信教群众和宗教界人士投身改革开放和社会主义现代化建设，为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦贡献力量。当然，我们一定要清醒地认识到，用社会主义核心价值观来引领和引导，绝不是要求宗教信徒放弃其宗教信仰。

Fourth, leading and guiding the sinicization of religion in China with the core socialist values requires holding fast to the political bottom line. Upholding the leadership of the Party, patriotism, and socialism with Chinese characteristics constitutes the common ideological and political foundation of the entire society. This is the political bottom line, which cannot be shaken, and the religious sphere is no exception. The united front in the religious sphere also embodies the relationship between unity and diversity. Unity means that we must always uphold the leadership of the Party; it means that the Communist Party of China, religious believers, and religious figures must form a consistent common ideological and political foundation; it means that the Party’s leadership, state power, state system and rule of law must not be endangered, and the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people must not be harmed. Diversity means that Party members, religious believers, and non-believers may exhibit pluralism of interests and diversity of thought based on their beliefs; religious believers and figures of different sects may also exhibit pluralism of interests and diversity of thought based on their doctrines. The achievements of the Party’s and the state’s various undertakings are inseparable from the united front in the religious sphere and the functioning of its role, especially inseparable from the historic changes since entering the New Era and the sinicization of religion led and guided by the Party under the core socialist values. On the new journey, the changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is at a critical period. The closer we get to the goal, the more complex the situation, the more arduous the task, the more necessary it is to leverage the political advantages of the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, to凝聚[n] the wisdom and strength of all parties, including the religious sphere and religious believers, forming a powerful synergy where Chinese people at home and abroad think with one mind and exert their efforts in one direction. Only by firmly holding fast to the political bottom line, this center of the circle, can the radius of inclusive diversity be longer, the concentric circles drawn larger, the sinicization of religion be more effectively advanced, and the synergy for advancing the construction of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the nation be greater.

第四，以社会主义核心价值观引领和引导我国宗教中国化要守住政治底线。坚持党的领导、坚持爱国主义和中国特色社会主义是全社会共同的思想政治基础，这是政治底线，不能动摇，宗教领域也不例外。宗教领域的统一战线同样体现出一致性和多样性关系。一致性就是必须始终坚持党的领导，就是中国共产党与信教群众和宗教界人士要形成一致的共同思想政治基础，就是不能危害党的领导、危害国家政权、危害国家制度和法治、损害最广大人民群众的根本利益。多样性就是党员与信教群众、不信教群众基于信仰会表现出利益的多元和思想的多样；不同教派的信教群众和宗教界人士基于其教义也会表现出利益的多元和思想的多样。党和国家各项事业的成就取得离不开宗教领域的统一战线及其功能的发挥，特别是和进入新时代以来的历史性变革与党领导下的以社会主义核心价值观引领和引导的宗教中国化分不开。新征程上，世界百年未有之大变局在加速演进，实现中华民族伟大复兴处于关键时期。越是接近目标，越是形势复杂，越是任务艰巨，越要发挥中国共产党领导的政治优势和中国特色社会主义的制度优势，把包括宗教界和信教群众在内的各方面智慧和力量凝聚起来，形成海内外中华儿女心往一处想、劲往一处使的强大合力。只有我们把政治底线这个圆心固守住，包容的多样性半径才越长，画出的同心圆就越大，就越能有效推进宗教中国化，形成推进强国建设民族复兴的合力就越大。

II. Deepening the Sinicization of Religion in China Must Uphold Marxist Atheism

二、深入推进我国宗教中国化必须坚持马克思主义无神论

The smooth development of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings requires a common ideological and political foundation, and requires a spiritual pillar for the entire society. What can serve as China’s common ideological and political foundation and the spiritual pillar of the entire society is not religious theism, nor feudal or capitalist ideas and values, but Marxism. The social influence of theism is positively correlated with the number of religious believers. Currently, the number of religious activity venues and religious believers shows a trend of relatively rapid growth. In socialist China, the influence of theism must never be allowed to spread unchecked in society; otherwise, it may expand and deepen the breadth and depth of religion’s participation in the social spiritual pillar. If this continues, it will inevitably erode Marxism’s ideological and theoretical position, which is detrimental to consolidating the common ideological foundation of the people of all ethnic groups across the country. Marxism is scientific atheism; propagating atheism is an inherent requirement of Marxism. In the realm of thought and spirit, if Marxism does not occupy the ground, various non-Marxist and anti-Marxist ideas will occupy it; the smaller the territory Marxism occupies, the larger the territory various non-Marxist and anti-Marxist ideas will occupy. This is an objective struggle of mutual advance and retreat. Therefore, we must uphold the dominant position of Marxist atheism in the thinking of the masses, vigorously carry out propaganda and education on Marxist atheism, which is also a powerful pathway and reliable method for us to effectively guide and advance the sinicization of religion.

党和国家事业的顺利发展需要有共同的思想政治基础，需要有全社会的精神支柱。能成为我国共同的思想政治基础和全社会精神支柱的，不是宗教有神论，也不是封建主义和资本主义的思想和价值观，而是马克思主义。有神论的社会影响力与宗教信仰人数是正相关关系。目前，宗教活动场所和信教群众数量呈现出较快增长趋势。在社会主义中国，决不能让有神论影响力在社会上蔓延开，否则可能扩大和加深宗教参与社会精神支柱的广度与程度，这样下去，势必会侵蚀马克思主义的思想理论阵地，不利于全国各族人民的共同思想基础的巩固。马克思主义是科学无神论，宣传无神论是马克思主义题中应有之义。在思想精神领域，马克思主义不去占领，各种非马克思主义、反马克思主义的思想就会去占领；马克思主义占领的地盘小，那么各种非马克思主义、反马克思主义思想占领的地盘就大，这就是一个客观存在的此消彼长的斗争。因此，我们必须坚持马克思主义无神论在人民群众思想中的主导地位，大力开展马克思主义无神论宣传教育，也是我们有效引导和推进宗教中国化的有力途径和可靠方法。

First, in China, religion objectively exists, and theists and atheists coexist. Religion is ancient and contemporary, and it will continue to exist in China for a long time. Some scholars believe that “religion is essentially a form of social ideology characterized by theism.” The long-standing and well-established Chinese culture contains rich atheistic thought. As faithful inheritors and promoters of fine traditional Chinese culture, and as faithful believers and steadfast practitioners of Marxism, Chinese Communists have always clearly declared themselves to be Marxist atheists who do not believe in any religion. In China, although atheists and theists differ in their worldviews, this does not hinder political identification. As Zhou Enlai once pointed out: “Whether atheist or theist, whether materialist or idealist, everyone can equally support the socialist system.”

第一，在我国，宗教客观存在，有神论者和无神论者共存。宗教古老而现实，在我国还将会存在很长时间。有学者认为，“宗教本质上是一种以有神论为基本特征的社会意识形态”。源远流长的中华文化中蕴含着丰富的无神论思想。作为中华优秀传统文化的忠实传承者和弘扬者，以及马克思主义的忠诚信奉者和坚定实践者，中国共产党人历来明确宣示自己是马克思主义无神论者，不信仰任何宗教。在我国，无神论者和有神论者在世界观上虽不同，但并不妨碍政治上的认同。正如周恩来曾经指出的那样：“不管是无神论者，还是有神论者，不管是唯物论者，还是唯心论者，大家一样地能够拥护社会主义制度。”

Second, upholding Marxist atheism is a major principle. We Communists must not only uphold Marxist atheism, but also actively propagate Marxist atheism, popularize scientific and cultural knowledge, help and guide people to draw clear distinctions between materialism and idealism, atheism and theism, science and superstition, civilization and ignorance, and gradually eliminate the ideological and social foundations for the emergence and spread of religion. Regarding the objective fact of the coexistence of religion, theism, and atheism, and how to effectively carry out propaganda and education on Marxist atheism, some scholars believe that “carrying out propaganda and education on atheism is both an important task of the Party’s ideological work and closely related to religious work. It must follow both the guiding principles of ideological work and the basic policy on religious work; it must both carry out ideological struggle and uphold freedom of religious belief.”

第二，坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则。我们共产党人不仅要坚持马克思主义无神论，而且要积极宣传马克思主义无神论，普及科学文化知识，帮助和引导人们划清唯物论和唯心论、无神论和有神论、科学和迷信、文明和愚昧的界限，逐渐消除宗教产生和传播的思想基础和社会基础。对于宗教、有神论与无神论共存的客观事实，怎样有效地开展马克思主义无神论的宣传教育，有学者认为，“开展无神论宣传教育，既是党的意识形态工作的重要任务，又同宗教工作密切相关，既要遵循意识形态工作指导原则，又要遵循宗教工作基本方针，既要开展意识形态斗争，又要坚持宗教信仰自由”。

If propaganda and education on Marxist atheism cannot be effectively carried out, and if religion and other forms of theism are allowed to spread without limit in society and rapidly expand, even developing into the main ideology, this will directly threaten the Party’s guiding ideology, seriously damage the Party’s governing foundation, and ultimately challenge the Party’s governing position. Therefore, all Party members must attach importance to the propaganda and education of Marxist atheism from the height of the Party’s governing security and the rise or fall of the Party’s cause.

如果不能有效地开展马克思主义无神论宣传教育，而任由宗教等有神论无限制地在社会蔓延并迅速扩大，甚至发展为主要意识形态，那将直接威胁到党的指导思想，严重损害党的执政基础，最终挑战党的执政地位。因此，广大党员要从关乎党的执政安全和党的事业的兴亡高度，重视马克思主义无神论的宣传教育。

At present, the propaganda and education of Marxist atheism is by no means intended to create antagonism between believers and non-believers, nor to eliminate religion. Rather, it aims to enable more people to use the dialectical materialist worldview and methodology to scientifically view religious phenomena, weaken the social influence of religion, expand the阵地 of Marxist atheism, rationally choose their own worldview, and actively create their own real happy life. It is in this sense that we insist that upholding Marxist atheism is a major principle; China’s legislation, administration, and judiciary, as well as all aspects of the economy, politics, society, culture, and ecology, must adhere to this major principle and not intentionally or unintentionally violate it.

当前，马克思主义无神论宣传教育绝不是制造信教与不信教群众的对立，绝不是要消灭宗教，而是使更多的群众学会用辩证唯物主义的世界观和方法论科学地看待宗教现象，削弱宗教的社会影响力，扩大马克思主义无神论的阵地，理性地选择自己的世界观，主动创造自己的现实的幸福生活。正是在这个意义上讲，我们讲坚持马克思主义无神论是大原则，我国立法、行政、司法，以及经济、政治、社会、文化、生态等方方面面都要坚持这个大原则，不要有意无意违背这个大原则。

Third, conducting education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism within religious circles, and carrying out targeted education on the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development, is the natural responsibility and obligation of our Party. Although we cannot propagate atheism in places of religious activity or engage in debates on theism versus atheism among believers, believers and non-believers can unite closely under the banner of patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, and jointly contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

第三，在宗教界开展爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义教育，有针对性地加强党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史教育，是我们党天然的责任与义务。虽然我们不能到宗教活动场所进行无神论的宣传，或者在信教群众中展开有神还是无神的辩论，但信教和不信教群众可以在爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义的旗帜下紧密地团结在一起，共同为中华民族伟大复兴贡献力量。

History is the best textbook; reading history clarifies one’s aspirations. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work: “We must cultivate a contingent of representative figures in religious circles who are politically reliable, have religious attainments, are morally convincing, and can play a role at critical moments.” This is a specific standard composed of indicators of political direction, professional ability, personal morality, and major performance. Among these, the political indicator is the primary and basic condition; the moral indicator is intrinsically linked to the political indicator and also communicates with the inherent professional indicators of the religion itself; the cumulative total of the first three indicators becomes the decisive factor for meeting the fourth indicator. So how is this goal to be achieved? When discussing “deeply advancing the sinicization of religion in China,” General Secretary Xi Jinping for the first time proposed and emphasized “conducting education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism within religious circles, and carrying out targeted education on the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development.” The “four histories” education, on the one hand, embodies the major principle of upholding Marxist atheism, and on the other hand, embodies the “core socialist values,” which are the greatest common divisor for deeply advancing the sinicization of religion. For religious figures, guided by the core socialist values, vigorously promoting the “four histories” education can more quickly advance the process of sinicization of religion, which aims to adapt religion to socialist society with Chinese characteristics. It holds significant practical significance for better organizing and guiding believers to unite and strive together with the broad masses of the people to comprehensively build a modern socialist country and realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

历史是最好的教科书，读史以明志。习近平总书记在2021年全国宗教工作会议上强调：“要培养一支政治上靠得住、宗教上有造诣、品德上能服众、关键时起作用的宗教界代表人士队伍。”这是由政治方向指标、专业能力指标、个人道德指标和重大绩效指标组合形成的特定标准。其中，政治指标是首要的、基本的条件，道德指标则与政治指标有着内在的关联，也与本宗教固有的专业指标相互沟通；前面这三项指标的总值累加起来，又成为满足第四项指标的决定要素。那么该如何实现这一目标?习近平总书记在谈及“深入推进我国宗教中国化”时，首次提出并强调“要在宗教界开展爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义教育，有针对性地加强党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史教育”。“四史”教育一方面体现了坚持马克思主义无神论的大原则，另一方面又体现了“社会主义核心价值观”这一深入推进宗教中国化的最大公约数。对于宗教界人士以社会主义核心价值观为引领，大力推进“四史”教育，能够更快推动宗教与中国特色社会主义社会相适应的宗教中国化进程，对于更好组织和引导信教群众同广大人民群众一道为全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而团结奋斗，有着重要的现实意义。

III. Upholding and Strengthening Party Leadership Is the Fundamental Guarantee for More Effectively Deeply Advancing the Sinicization of Religion

三、坚持和加强党的领导是更有效地深入推进宗教中国化的根本保证

The Party’s religious work must inevitably uphold Party leadership. In the work of sinicizing religion, our Party must both “lead” (领) and “guide” (导). “Leading” is the foundation, managing direction and fundamentals; “guiding” is the pathway, managing methods and effects. Only by firmly adhering to the Party’s basic policy on religious work in “leading,” thinking deeply, seeing clearly, and grasping accurately, can “guiding” be methodical, forceful, and effective, and can we firmly grasp the initiative in religious work. On the new journey, only by upholding and strengthening Party leadership can we better leverage the guiding power of the core socialist values, the greatest common divisor, and carry out propaganda and education on Marxist atheism to the maximum extent and with maximum effectiveness.

党的宗教工作必然要坚持党的领导。在宗教中国化工作中，我们党既要“领”好又要“导”好。“领”是基础，管方向、管根本；“导”是途径，管方法、管效果。只有在“领”上，把党的宗教工作基本方针坚持好，想得深、看得透、把得准，“导”才能有方、有力、有效，才能牢牢掌握宗教工作主动权。新征程，只有坚持和加强党的领导，才能更好发挥社会主义核心价值观这一最大公约数的引领力，才能最大限度、最有效地展开马克思主义无神论宣传教育。

First, religion is by no means a private matter for a Marxist political party. Marxism holds that for the proletariat to achieve liberation, it must be liberated from religion; “Communism begins straight away with atheism.” [4]4 The phrase “like pomegranate seeds” (像石榴籽一样) is a common metaphor in Chinese political discourse for ethnic unity, evoking the image of many seeds tightly packed together within a single fruit. The idealism of religion and the materialism of Marxism are two diametrically opposed worldviews. Therefore, religion is by no means a private matter for a Marxist political party. Marx pointed out: “The workers’ party, on the other hand, strives to liberate faith from the witchcraft of religion.” [5]5 “The Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development” (文化传承发展座谈会) refers to a high-level meeting held on June 2, 2023, where Xi Jinping delivered a major speech on cultural issues. Engels “deliberately emphasized that social democracy regards religion as a private matter for the state, but for social democracy itself, for Marxism, for the workers’ party, it is by no means a private matter.” [6]6 “Xi Jinping Thought on Culture” (习近平文化思想) was formally introduced at the National Conference on Propaganda, Ideology, and Cultural Work in October 2023, following the symposium mentioned in note 5. Lenin, in his article “Socialism and Religion,” even more unequivocally stressed: “For the party of the socialist proletariat, religion is not a private matter. Our party is a league of class-conscious, advanced fighters for the emancipation of the working class. Such a league cannot and must not be indifferent to the lack of consciousness, ignorance, and obscurantism manifested in religious belief.” “One of the purposes for which we are organizing our own party, the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party, is precisely to wage such a struggle against all religious deception of the workers. For us, the ideological struggle is not a private matter, but the business of the whole Party, of the whole proletariat.” [7]7 “The greatest common denominator” (最大公约数) is a mathematical metaphor used in Chinese political discourse to denote the broadest possible basis for consensus or unity among diverse groups.

第一，宗教对马克思主义政党来说决不是私人的事情。马克思主义认为，无产阶级为了求得解放，必须从宗教中解放出来，“共产主义是径直从无神论开始的”。宗教的唯心主义与马克思主义的唯物主义是截然对立的两种世界观。因此，宗教对于马克思主义政党来说决不是私人的事情。马克思指出：“工人党则力求把信仰从宗教的妖术中解放出来”;恩格斯“有意地着重声明，社会民主党认为宗教对于国家来说是私人的事情，但是对于社会民主党本身、对于马克思主义、对于工人政党来说决不是私人的事情。”列宁在《社会主义和宗教》一文中更加旗帜鲜明地强调：“对于社会主义无产阶级的政党，宗教并不是私人的事情。我们的党是争取工人阶级解放的觉悟的先进战士的联盟。这样的联盟不能够而且也不应当对信仰宗教这种不觉悟、无知和蒙昧的表现置之不理。”“我们建立自己的组织即俄国社会民主工党的目的之一，也正是为了要同一切利用宗教愚弄工人的行为进行这样的斗争。对我们来说，思想斗争不是私人的事情，而是全党的、全体无产阶级的事情。”

Since its founding, our Party has always handled religious issues with considerable caution, but it has never been ambiguous on the issue of Party members believing in religion; its stance is very clear, stipulating that Party members are atheists and must not believe in religion. As early as the New Democratic Revolution period, Mao Zedong emphasized: “Communist Party members may form an anti-imperialist and anti-feudal united front with certain idealists and even religious believers on political action, but they must never endorse their idealism or religious doctrines.” [8] Since reform and opening up, Document No. 19 of 1982, formulated with Deng Xiaoping’s support, stated: “A Communist Party member, unlike an ordinary citizen, is a member of a Marxist political party and, without doubt, should be an atheist, not a theist. Our Party has repeatedly made clear stipulations: Communist Party members must not believe in religion, must not participate in religious activities, and those who persist in such behavior after long-term education should be expelled from the Party.” [9] Jiang Zemin further explicitly pointed out: “Communist Party members must not only not believe in religion, but must also propagate atheism and a scientific worldview to the masses.” [10] Hu Jintao also pointed out: “We Chinese Communists are atheists and do not believe in any religion.” [11] Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping, in light of the new principal contradiction in society

我们党自成立以来，一直是较为慎重地对待和处理宗教问题，但在党员信教问题上绝不含糊，立场非常鲜明，规定党员是无神论者，不得信仰宗教。早在新民主主义革命时期，毛泽东就强调，“共产党员可以和某些唯心论者甚至宗教徒建立在政治行动上的反帝反封建的统一战线，但是决不能赞同他们的唯心论或宗教教义。”改革开放以来，邓小平支持制定的1982年19号文件指出：“一个共产党员，不同于一般公民，而是马克思主义政党的成员，毫无疑问地应当是无神论者，而不应当是有神论者。我们党曾经多次作出明确规定：共产党员不得信仰宗教，不得参加宗教活动，长期坚持不改的要劝其退党。”江泽民更是明确指出：“共产党员不但不能信仰宗教，而且必须要向人民群众宣传无神论、宣传科学的世界观。”胡锦涛也指出：“我们中国共产党人是无神论者，不信仰任何宗教。”进入新时代，习近平总书记结合新的社会主要矛盾以及世界大变局带来的新问题，进一步明确指出：“共产党员要做坚定的马克思主义无神论者，严守党章规定，坚定理想信念，牢记党的宗旨，绝不能在宗教中寻找自己的价值和信念”,而是要去积极引导宗教与社会主义社会相适应，去大力支持和推进我国宗教中国化进程。

Second, upholding and strengthening the Party’s leadership guarantees the direction of the Sinicization of religions in China. As a long-standing historical phenomenon, religion determines that the Party’s leadership over religious work must be upheld and strengthened over the long term. Promoting the Sinicization of religions in China is a complex and sensitive task; it is necessary to take a clear political stance and carry out work correctly under the Party’s leadership. Practice has proven that only religions that adhere to the direction of Sinicization, only religions that have achieved Sinicization, can better adapt to Chinese socialist society and play a positive role in China’s social development and progress. However, to ensure that the Sinicization of religions does not deviate from its course, it cannot for a single moment do without the Party’s strong leadership and effective guidance. Practice has also proven that upholding the Party’s leadership has become an unwavering principle for religious believers, religious figures, and various religious organizations in socialist China.

第二，坚持和加强党的领导保证我国宗教中国化的方向。宗教作为一种长期存在的历史现象，决定了党对宗教工作的领导必须长期坚持和加强。推进我国宗教中国化是一项复杂敏感的工作，必须旗帜鲜明讲政治，在党的领导下正确开展工作。实践证明，只有坚持中国化方向的宗教，只有实现了中国化的宗教，才能更好与我国社会主义社会相适应，在我国社会发展进步中发挥积极作用。但是，要保证宗教的中国化方向而不偏航，一刻也不能离开党的坚强领导和有效引导。实践还证明，拥护党的领导，已经成为社会主义中国的信教群众、宗教界人士和各宗教团体坚定不移的一条原则。

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that the Party’s leadership is comprehensive, systematic, and holistic, and that “any deficiency or weakening in any field, aspect, or link will weaken the Party’s strength and harm the Party’s and the state’s cause.” He emphasized that religious work must be placed under the Party’s leadership, which is an inherent requirement for upholding and strengthening the Party’s comprehensive leadership. The Party’s leadership over religious work is mainly manifested in forming a united front with religious circles under the banner of patriotism and socialism, bringing into play the Party’s distinctive characteristics and political advantages in handling religious issues, and exercising political leadership, ideological guidance, and interest guidance. Politically, leadership is exercised primarily by grasping the correct political direction and formulating sound major policies and principles. It is necessary to attach great importance to religious issues, especially religious issues on the internet, and vigorously publicize the Party’s religious theory and policies in society and on the internet, spreading positive voices. It is also necessary to attach great importance to religious extremist forces, especially hostile foreign forces that use religion to carry out infiltration activities, to guard against the erosion of religious extremist ideology, and to be vigilant against religious demands with political intentions. Ideologically, guidance is mainly carried out by strengthening the ideological and political work of religious believers and religious figures. It is necessary to pay attention to grasping the differences and characteristics among different religions and to respect the cultural backgrounds and belief choices of religious believers. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the targetedness and effectiveness of ideological work, to raise the ideological awareness and scientific and cultural quality of the broad masses of religious believers, to strive to improve relations with religious believers and religious figures, and to enhance the Party’s and the government’s cohesion with them. In terms of interest guidance, it is necessary to sincerely help religious believers, religious figures, and various religious groups solve the practical problems and difficulties they encounter in production and life, to effectively safeguard, realize, and develop their legitimate rights and interests, and to make them truly feel the care and warmth of the Party and the government. Religious believers, like non-religious believers, have the right to pursue and aspire to a better life. The Party itself represents the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people, including the legitimate rights and interests of the broad masses of religious believers. Through interest guidance, people of all ethnic groups should be closely united like pomegranate seeds, and religious believers should be closely rallied around the Party. Only through political leadership, ideological guidance, and interest guidance can the direction of the sinicization of religion be effectively ensured.

习近平总书记指出，党的领导是全面的、系统的、整体的，“哪个领域、哪个方面、哪个环节缺失了弱化了，都会削弱党的力量，损害党和国家事业”,强调宗教工作必须置于党的领导之下，这是坚持和加强党的全面领导的内在要求。党对宗教工作的领导，主要体现于在爱国主义、社会主义旗帜下，与宗教界结成统一战线，发挥我们党处理宗教问题的鲜明特色和政治优势，进行政治领导、思想引领和利益引导。在政治上，主要通过掌握正确的政治方向和制定科学的重大方针政策进行领导，要高度重视宗教问题，特别是互联网上的宗教问题，在全社会和互联网上大力宣传党的宗教理论和方针政策，传播正面声音；要高度重视宗教极端势力特别是境外敌对势力利用宗教搞渗透活动，防范宗教极端思想侵害，警惕带有政治意图的宗教诉求。在思想上，主要通过加强对信教群众和宗教界人士的思想政治工作进行思想引领，要注重把握不同宗教之间的差异性和特点，尊重信教群众的文化背景和信仰选择；同时也要加强意识形态工作的针对性和实效性，提高广大信教群众的思想觉悟和科学文化素质；要努力改善与信教群众和宗教界人士之间的关系，增强党和政府对信教群众和宗教界人士的凝聚力。在利益引导上，要真心实意帮助信教群众、宗教界人士和各宗教团体，解决他们在生产和生活中遇到的实际问题与困难，切实维护好、实现好、发展好他们的合法权益，使他们切实感受到党和政府的关怀和温暖。信教群众与不信教群众一样都有对美好生活向往与追求的权利，我们党本身就代表着包括广大信教群众合法权益在内的最广大人民的根本利益。通过利益引导让各族群众像石榴籽一样紧紧抱在一起，把信教群众紧紧团结在党的周围。只有通过政治领导、思想引领和利益引导，才能有效地保证宗教中国化的方向。

Third, it is particularly necessary to uphold and strengthen the Party’s cultural leadership. On June 2, 2023, at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly used the expression “the Chinese Communist Party’s cultural leadership.” Cultural leadership is crucial for guiding the correct direction of cultural development and its functions and roles. Lenin once pointed out that a proletarian party must strengthen its cultural leadership; otherwise, it would be difficult to achieve ideological unity. Upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is the political guarantee for doing a good job in China’s propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, and it determines the development path and direction for promoting China’s cultural prosperity, building a culturally strong country, and constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. Promoting the sinicization of religion is also an important part of propaganda, ideology, and cultural work. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is the guiding principle for propaganda, ideology, and cultural work in the New Era and also the guide for religious work in the New Era. As a main component of religious work, promoting the sinicization of religion must always uphold and strengthen the Party’s cultural leadership.

第三，特别是要坚持和加强党的文化领导权。2023年6月2日，习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上明确使用“中国共产党的文化领导权”这一表述。文化领导权，对于引导文化发展的正确方向及其功能与作用的发挥至关重要。列宁曾指出，无产阶级政党必须加强文化领导权，否则就难以有思想上的统一。坚持党的文化领导权，是做好我国宣传思想文化工作必须坚持的政治保证，决定着推动我国文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明的发展路径和方向。推进宗教中国化，也是宣传思想文化工作中的重要内容。习近平文化思想是新时代宣传思想文化工作的纲领，也是新时代宗教工作的指南。作为宗教工作的一个主要内容，推进宗教中国化必须始终坚持和加强党的文化领导权。

Religion has a dual social role. From a cultural perspective, religion has its positive side, but its negative effects are more numerous. In this regard, General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed that it is necessary to “view the social role of religion dialectically,” and that “we should neither only focus on restraining negative factors while neglecting to mobilize positive factors, nor only focus on mobilizing positive factors while neglecting to restrain negative factors. To bring the positive role of religion into play does not mean treating religion as a panacea or artificially promoting a religious fever, but rather guiding the situation, promoting the beneficial and avoiding the harmful, and guiding religion to serve the promotion of economic development, social harmony, cultural prosperity, ethnic unity, and the unification of the motherland.” The rich atheist thought contained in the splendid and long-standing Chinese culture has undoubtedly become an important component of the spiritual lifeline, the deepest spiritual pursuit, and the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation, providing rich nourishment for the endless life and development of the Chinese nation. At the same time, whether native or foreign, China’s religions are deeply embedded in the Chinese civilization with a history of over 5,000 years and deeply integrated into our social life. Therefore, in the process of deeply advancing the sinicization of religion in China, it is necessary to further strengthen cultural leadership, use fine traditional Chinese culture to infiltrate all religions, and guide religions to interpret their doctrines and canons in a way that conforms to the requirements of contemporary China’s development and progress and to fine traditional Chinese culture. The concept and practice of the sinicization of religion should be deeply embedded in the thoughts, concepts, and daily lives of every religious believer.

宗教有其双重社会作用。从文化意义上看，宗教有其积极的一面，但是更多的还是消极作用。对此，习近平总书记提出，必须“辩证看待宗教的社会作用”,“既不能只注重抑制消极因素、忽视调动的积极因素，也不能只注重调动的积极因素、忽视抑制消极因素；发挥宗教积极作用，不是要把宗教当作济世良方、人为助长宗教热，而是要因势利导、趋利避害，引导宗教努力为促进经济发展、社会和谐、文化繁荣、民族团结、祖国统一服务”。灿烂悠久的中华文化中蕴含的丰富无神论思想，无疑成为中华民族的精神命脉、最深层的精神追求、独特的精神标识的重要组成部分，为中华民族生生不息、发展壮大提供了丰厚滋养。同时，我国宗教无论是本土宗教还是外来宗教，都深深嵌入拥有5000多年历史的中华文明，深深融入我们的社会生活。因此，在深入推进我国宗教中国化的过程中，要更多地从文化领导上进一步强化、用中华优秀传统文化去浸润各宗教，引导宗教对教规教义作出符合当代中国发展进步要求、符合中华优秀传统文化的阐释；让宗教中国化的理念和实践，深入到每一个信教群众的思想观念和日常生活中间。

Religion is a special form of social ideology, which determines that much of religious work is closely related to ideological issues. The core task of upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is to uphold and consolidate the Party’s leadership over ideological work. Ideology determines the direction of cultural progress and the path of development. History and reality both warn us that once the ideological and public opinion front is breached, other lines of defense are difficult to hold. Facing the increasingly complex and acute struggle environment in the ideological field, General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed ideological work at the strategic height of whether the Party’s leadership can be upheld and socialism with Chinese characteristics can be developed and maintained. He emphasized that “while concentrating on economic construction, we must not relax or weaken ideological work for a single moment. The leadership, management, and discourse power of ideological work must be firmly held in our hands and must never be lost at any time; otherwise, we will make irreparable historical mistakes.” It is necessary to “firmly grasp the Party’s leadership over ideological work, fully implement the responsibility system for ideological work, and consolidate and strengthen the mainstream public opinion that strives forward in the New Era.” Religious belief belongs to people’s “problems of an ideological nature” and is a matter of the spiritual world. Therefore, in the religious field, ideological work also plays an important role. In a certain sense, doing religious work is doing ideological work. However, it focuses more on guiding religious believers to establish a correct worldview, outlook on life, and value system, to enhance national consciousness and social responsibility, and to serve the promotion of the sinicization of religion in China. On the new journey, many new historical characteristics emerging in China’s religious field require continuously enhancing the identification of religious believers and religious figures with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Chinese Communist Party, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. They require better safeguarding national cultural security and ideological security, and strengthening the Party’s cultural leadership in the process of deeply advancing the sinicization of religion.

宗教是一种特殊社会意识形态，这决定了宗教工作的许多内容都同意识形态问题密切相关。坚持党的文化领导权的核心任务是坚持和巩固党对意识形态工作的领导。意识形态决定文化前进方向和发展道路。历史和现实都警示我们，思想舆论阵地一旦被突破，其他防线就很难守得住。面对意识形态领域日益复杂尖锐的斗争环境，习近平总书记将意识形态工作置于能否坚持住党的领导、坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的战略高度予以把握，强调“在集中精力进行经济建设的同时，一刻也不能放松和削弱意识形态工作，必须把意识形态工作的领导权、管理权、话语权牢牢掌握在手中，任何时候都不能旁落，否则就要犯无可挽回的历史性错误”,必须“牢牢掌握党对意识形态工作领导权，全面落实意识形态工作责任制，巩固壮大奋进新时代的主流思想舆论”。宗教信仰属于人们的“思想性质的问题”,是精神世界的问题。因此，在宗教领域，意识形态工作也发挥着重要的作用。在一定意义上讲、做宗教工作就是做意识形态工作。但是，它更侧重于引导信教群众树立正确的世界观、人生观和价值观，增强国家意识和社会责任感，为推进我国宗教中国化服务。新征程上，我国宗教领域中呈现出的许多新的历史特点，要求不断增进信教群众和宗教界人士对伟大祖国、中华民族、中华文化、中国共产党、中国特色社会主义的认同；要求更好地维护国家文化安全和意识形态安全，深入推进宗教中国化进程中强化党的文化领导权。

In summary, using the core socialist values as the greatest common denominator to guide and lead, adhering to Marxist atheism, vigorously carrying out propaganda and education on atheism, and upholding and strengthening the Party’s leadership are crucial for effectively and deeply advancing the sinicization of religion in China. This is not only the key to giving full play to the positive role of religion but also an inevitable requirement for fully respecting the laws of religious survival and transmission, and moreover, a strategic measure to solve prominent problems in China’s religious field.

总之，以社会主义核心价值观作为最大公约数引领和引导，坚持马克思主义无神论，大力开展无神论宣传教育，坚持和加强党的领导，对于有效深入推进我国宗教中国化至关重要。这既是我们充分发挥宗教积极作用的关键所在，也是充分尊重宗教生存传承规律的必然要求，更是解决我国宗教领域突出问题的战略举措。

(Author’s bio: He Xinyuan, Deputy Director and Researcher of the Department for the Study of the Adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese Context, Institute of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Vice President of the Chinese Society of Atheism)

（作者简介：贺新元，中国社会科学院马克思主义研究院马克思主义中国化研究部副主任、研究员，中国无神论学会副理事长）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心