Strengthening Atheism Education Is Necessary for Strengthening the Party’s Ideological and Political Work in the New Era

In September 2025, the “Regulations of the Chinese Communist Party on Ideological and Political Work” issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasized: “Strengthen education in dialectical materialism and historical materialism, and strengthen education in atheism.” Strengthening atheism education is an inevitable requirement for the Party to carry out ideological and political work and consolidate the Marxist ideological foundation in the New Era. Currently, the impact of theistic ideological trends has given rise to a series of problems. This phenomenon highlights the urgency of strengthening ideological and political construction, and even more so, the importance of atheism education.

2025年9月，中共中央印发的《中国共产党思想政治工作条例》强调：“加强辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义教育，加强无神论教育。”加强无神论教育，是新时代党开展思想政治工作、巩固马克思主义思想基础的必然要求。当前，有神论思潮的冲击催生了一系列问题。这一现象凸显了加强思想政治建设的紧迫性，更凸显了无神论教育的重要性。

1. Adhering to Atheism Is the Distinctive Character of the Chinese Communist Party

一、坚持无神论是中国共产党的鲜明品格

Lenin pointed out in “On the Attitude of the Workers’ Party to Religion”: “The philosophical basis of Marxism is dialectical materialism, which fully inherits the historical tradition of materialism from eighteenth-century France and Feuerbach in the first half of nineteenth-century Germany, that is, the historical tradition of materialism that is absolutely atheistic and resolutely opposed to all religion.” This highly scientific and revolutionary assertion clarifies Marxism’s thoroughgoing atheist stance. Since its founding, the Chinese Communist Party has consistently adhered to and implemented the basic stance of Marxist atheism, continuously consolidating the atheist worldview of Party cadres and members, thereby laying a solid ideological foundation for the Party’s various undertakings.

列宁在《论工人政党对宗教的态度》中指出：“马克思主义的哲学基础是辩证唯物主义，它完全继承了法国十八世纪和德国十九世纪上半叶费尔巴哈的唯物主义历史传统，即绝对无神论的、坚决反对一切宗教的唯物主义的历史传统。”这一极具科学性和革命性的论断明确了马克思主义彻底的无神论立场。中国共产党自创立之日起就始终坚持贯彻马克思主义无神论的基本立场，不断巩固党员干部的无神论世界观，从而为党的各项事业奠定坚实的思想基础。

(1) Atheism Is the Political Foundation of Chinese Communists

(一)无神论是中国共产党人的政治底色

Chinese Communists, as faithful believers and steadfast practitioners of Marxism, have always regarded atheism as their distinctive political foundation. This foundation stems not only from theoretical consciousness but is also rooted in the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission.

中国共产党人作为马克思主义的忠诚信奉者和坚定实践者，始终将无神论作为其鲜明的政治底色。这一底色既源于理论自觉，也根植于党的初心使命。

1. The Premise and Foundation of Marxism

1.马克思主义的前提和基础

The nature and purpose of the Chinese Communist Party determine that it must take Marxist atheism as its own worldview foundation; this is jointly determined by the Party’s theoretical origins, its struggle goals, and its fundamental stance of putting the people first. It is precisely the thoroughgoing atheist stance, built on a scientific worldview, that has fortified the Marxist theoretical foundation for the Chinese Communist Party and provided the ideological source for fulfilling its original aspiration and founding mission.

中国共产党的性质和宗旨决定了必须以马克思主义无神论作为自身的世界观基础，这是由党的理论渊源、奋斗目标及其人民至上的根本立场共同决定的。正是建立在科学世界观基础上的彻底无神论立场，为中国共产党筑牢了马克思主义理论根基、提供了践行初心使命的思想源头。

Marxism is based on solid natural science and supported by profound philosophical revolution; its worldview and methodology are dialectical materialism and historical materialism. As the cornerstone of the Marxist theoretical system, Marxist atheism completely negates theology and establishes the fundamental materialist principle that “matter determines consciousness.” Engels’ assertion that “the real unity of the world consists in its materiality” makes clear that social development is the result of the movement of contradictions in human society, not the will of deities.

马克思主义以坚实的自然科学为基础、以深刻的哲学革命为支撑，其世界观与方法论是辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义。作为马克思主义理论体系的基石，马克思主义无神论彻底否定神学，确立了“物质决定意识”这一唯物主义根本原则。恩格斯关于“世界的真正的统一性在于它的物质性”论断，明确社会发展是人类社会矛盾运动的结果，而非神祇意志所推动。

When Marx and Engels founded scientific socialism, they explicitly took atheism as the ideological cornerstone of the communist movement, pointing out that “communism begins straight away with atheism” and emphasizing that “socialists are therefore practical atheists.” This assertion is made based on historical materialism’s scientific grasp of the laws of human social development—that communism is a higher social form replacing capitalism—and its essence is the realization of the free and comprehensive development of the individual. Concepts such as the “otherworldly realm” advocated by religion are, in essence, illusory reflections of real social contradictions, and thus stand in fundamental tension with communism’s goal of real-world liberation.

马克思和恩格斯在创立科学社会主义时，明确将无神论作为共产主义运动的思想基石，指出“共产主义是径直从无神论开始的”,并强调“社会主义者则被称为实践的无神论者”。这一论断是基于历史唯物主义对人类社会发展规律的科学把握即共产主义是取代资本主义的更高级社会形态而作出的，其本质是实现人的自由全面发展。而宗教所倡导的“彼岸世界”等观念，本质上是对现实社会矛盾的虚幻反映，与共产主义追求的现实解放目标存在根本张力。

2. The Practical Requirements of the Original Aspiration and Founding Mission

2.初心使命的实践要求

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “From the moment of its birth, the Chinese Communist Party established seeking happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its original aspiration and founding mission.” Fulfilling this original aspiration and founding mission must rely on practical struggle in the real world, not on placing hope in illusory spiritual sustenance; this is highly consistent with the practical core of Marxist atheism.

习近平总书记指出：“中国共产党一经诞生，就把为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴确立为自己的初心使命。”践行这一初心使命，必须依靠现实世界的实践奋斗，而非寄望于虚幻的精神寄托，这与马克思主义无神论的实践内核高度契合。

The Chinese Communist Party, guided by Marxism, has always taken the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics as its struggle goals. Adhering to atheism is the logical necessity of practicing this ideal and belief. From a theoretical essence, Marxist atheism does not simply negate religious phenomena; rather, with practice as its core, it profoundly reveals the social roots and historical transience of religion, advocating the elimination of the material and spiritual soil on which religion depends through transforming real society and developing the productive forces. This ideological core is highly consistent with the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission: what the Party pursues is not illusory spiritual comfort, but the realization of national prosperity, national rejuvenation, and the people’s happiness in the real world by organizing and leading the masses in hard struggle.

以马克思主义为指导思想的中国共产党，始终将共产主义远大理想与中国特色社会主义共同理想作为奋斗目标，而坚持无神论，正是践行这一理想信念的逻辑必然。从理论本质上来看，马克思主义无神论并非简单否定宗教现象，而是以实践为核心，深刻揭示宗教产生的社会根源与历史暂时性，主张通过改造现实社会、发展生产力，从而消解宗教赖以存在的物质与精神土壤。这一思想内核与党的初心使命高度契合：党追求的不是虚幻的精神慰藉，而是通过组织和带领人民群众拼搏奋斗，在现实世界中实现国家富强、民族振兴、人民幸福。

From a practical dimension, adhering to atheism is essentially the foundation for firmly taking the people’s stand. Atheism breaks the dependence on supernatural forces and returns the fundamental driving force of social development to the productive practice of the masses, which is consistent with the basic principle of historical materialism that “the masses are the creators of history.” The mission of Communists is to lead the people in liberating themselves from superstition in deities and creating a better life through their own strength. Conversely, if atheism is abandoned, one may fall into idealist confusion, deviate from the fundamental path of practical struggle, and ultimately betray the lofty ideal of communism.

从实践维度而言，坚持无神论，本质上是站稳人民立场的基础。无神论打破了对超自然力量的依赖，将社会发展的根本动力回归于人民群众的生产实践，这与历史唯物主义“人民群众是历史创造者”的基本原理一脉相承。共产党人的使命就是带领人民从对神灵的迷信中解放出来，依靠自身力量创造美好生活。反之，若放弃无神论，就可能陷入唯心主义迷思，偏离实践奋斗的根本路径，最终背离共产主义远大理想。

(2) Strengthening Atheism Education Is of Great Significance to the Development of the Party’s and the People’s Cause

(二)加强无神论教育对党和人民事业发展具有重要意义

Adhering to education in Marxist atheism is conducive to safeguarding China’s ideological security and is a key measure for consolidating Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological sphere. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Ideological work is an extremely important task for the Party.” Atheism is the worldview foundation of Marxism; negating atheism means shaking the theoretical foundation of Marxism, inevitably leading to ideological confusion in the ideological sphere. Therefore, only by adhering to education in Marxist atheism can society be guided over the long term to establish a scientific worldview, outlook on life, and value system, draw clear boundaries between materialism and idealism, and between atheism and theism, and effectively prevent theistic thought from eroding Marxism’s guiding position.

坚持马克思主义无神论教育有利于维护我国意识形态安全，是巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的关键举措。习近平总书记指出：“意识形态工作是党的一项极端重要的工作。”无神论是马克思主义的世界观基础，否定无神论就意味着动摇马克思主义的理论根基，必然带来意识形态领域的思想混乱。因此只有坚持马克思主义无神论教育，才能长期引导社会成员树立科学的世界观、人生观、价值观，划清唯物论与唯心论、无神论与有神论的界限，有效避免有神论思想侵蚀马克思主义的指导地位。

Adhering to education in Marxist atheism is conducive to strengthening the ideals and beliefs of Party cadres and members, serving as a “compass of thought” to help them maintain political clarity. The Party’s advanced nature and purity require every Chinese Communist Party member to firmly believe in Marxism. Currently, we are in the midst of changes unseen in a century, and religion has become an important tool for foreign hostile forces to carry out ideological infiltration, while various domestic social trends of thought are intensely intertwined. Against this backdrop, some Party cadres and members have lost their ideals and beliefs, abandoned the fundamental stance of Marxist atheism, and ultimately lost their due political discernment and political acumen, seeking spiritual sustenance in superstitious ideas. Only by persisting in and strengthening the propaganda and education of atheism within the Party can Party cadres and members be helped to firmly establish a steadfast atheist belief, always understand the world from the perspective of dialectical materialism, be neither deceived by the idealist view of history that “divine will governs history” nor swept along by various erroneous trends of thought, and always maintain firm identification with the Party’s theory and political loyalty.

坚持马克思主义无神论教育有利于党员干部坚定理想信念，是帮助党员干部保持政治清醒的“思想罗盘”。党的先进性和纯洁性要求每个中国共产党党员必须坚定对马克思主义的信仰。当前正值百年未有之大变局，宗教成为境外敌对势力进行意识形态渗透的重要工具，同时国内各种社会思潮激烈交织。在这一背景下，部分党员干部丧失理想信念，放弃马克思主义无神论的根本立场，最终丧失应有的政治鉴别力和政治敏锐性，在迷信思想中寻求精神寄托。只有坚持和强化党内无神论宣传教育，才能帮助党员干部牢固树立坚定的无神论信仰，始终以辩证唯物主义视角认识世界，既不被“神意支配历史”的唯心史观迷惑，也不被各类错误思潮裹挟，始终保持对党的理论的坚定认同与政治忠诚。

Adhering to education in Marxist atheism is conducive to establishing a scientific social ethos and serves as a “spiritual bond” that unites the Party and the people. Marxist atheism is not only the ideological foundation for maintaining the Party’s advanced nature and purity but also provides value guidance for building a rational and healthy social ethos, thereby enhancing the cultural confidence and sense of unity of the entire nation. By carrying out propaganda and education on atheism throughout society, scientific spirit can be strengthened, the country’s cultural soft power can be enhanced, and a civilized and progressive social atmosphere can be promoted. It must be made clear that adhering to atheism does not mean denying the existence of religion or opposing religious believers; rather, it is based on a scientific worldview to more effectively achieve political unity among different groups. In China, both atheists and religious believers are builders of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, sharing fundamental interests. While ensuring that national development proceeds in a scientific and rational direction, Marxist atheism also fully respects and protects citizens’ right to freedom of religious belief. This principle helps to seek the greatest common ground amidst the reality of ideological diversity, consolidate the great unity of the Chinese nation, and thus truly play the cohesive role of a “spiritual bond.”

坚持马克思主义无神论教育有利于树立科学社会风尚，是凝聚党心民心的“精神纽带”。马克思主义无神论不仅是保持党的先进性和纯洁性的思想根基，也为构建理性、健康的社会风尚提供了价值导向，进而增强全民族的文化自信与团结意识。通过在全社会开展无神论宣传教育，能够强化科学精神，提升国家文化软实力，推动形成文明进步的社会风气。需要明确的是，坚持无神论并不意味着否定宗教存在或与信教群众对立，而是以科学世界观为基础，更加有效地实现不同群体在政治上的团结。在我国，无神论者与信教群众均是中国特色社会主义事业的建设者，根本利益一致。马克思主义无神论在确保国家发展沿着科学、理性方向前进的同时，也充分尊重和保障公民的宗教信仰自由权利。这一原则有助于在思想多样性的现实中寻求最大共识，巩固中华民族的大团结，从而真正发挥“精神纽带”的凝聚作用。

2. The Necessity of Strengthening Atheism Education in the Party’s Ideological and Political Work in the New Era

二、新时代党的思想政治工作加强无神论教育的必要性

Marxist atheism is the cornerstone and starting point of the Marxist theoretical system, and it is also an indispensable spiritual essence of Chinese Communists. Ideological and political work is the Party’s fine tradition, distinctive feature, and prominent political advantage, bearing on the Party’s future and destiny and the long-term stability of the country. In the New Era, the Party’s ideological and political work’s adherence to atheism education is both an inevitable requirement for carrying forward the Party’s century-old fine tradition of ideological and political work and a practical choice for responding to current real-world challenges.

马克思主义无神论是马克思主义理论体系的基石和出发点，也是中国共产党人不可或缺的精神本色。思想政治工作是党的优良传统、鲜明特色和突出政治优势，事关党的前途命运和国家长治久安。新时代党的思想政治工作坚持无神论教育，既是沿袭党百年思想政治工作的优良传统的必然要求，也是应对当下现实挑战的实践选择。

(I) Atheism Education Is a Fine Tradition of the Chinese Communist Party’s Ideological and Political Work

(一)无神论教育是中国共产党思想政治工作的优良传统

Since its founding, the Chinese Communist Party has always taken atheism education as a core content of ideological and political work, running through every historical stage of revolution, construction, and reform.

中国共产党自成立以来，始终将无神论教育作为思想政治工作的核心内容，贯穿于革命、建设、改革的各个历史阶段。

During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, China was in a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, and theism and religion served as instruments of ideological control for feudal forces and imperialism. The Chinese Communist Party used Marxist atheism as its ideological weapon, advocating science and democracy while opposing feudal superstition. During the Yan’an period, superstition, illiteracy, and unsanitary conditions were listed together as the “three great harms” in the border regions, and to overcome them it was necessary to have “the development and popularization of science” to help the masses shake off the shackles of theism, and targeted rectification campaigns strengthened the practical orientation of atheism propaganda.[1]1 阵地 (zhèndì), literally “battlefield position,” is a standard CPC term for a domain or front where ideological struggle is conducted.

新民主主义革命时期，我国处于半殖民地半封建社会中，有神论与宗教成为封建势力和帝国主义思想控制的工具。中国共产党以马克思主义无神论为思想武器，倡导科学、民主，反对封建迷信。延安时期，迷信、文盲和不讲卫生被并列为边区“三大害”,对此必须“有科学的发展和普及”才能帮助群众摆脱有神论束缚，并通过专项整治强化了无神论宣传的实践导向。

During the period of socialist revolution and construction, atheism education became systematized. The relationship between atheism propaganda and education and respect for the freedom of religious belief, and the question of how to carry out atheism propaganda and education in a socialist country, became core issues in the ideological and political sphere during this period. Mao Zedong pointed out the need to “replace idealism with materialism, and replace theism with atheism,” while also stating in *On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People*: “All matters of an ideological nature, all matters of controversy among the people, can only be resolved by democratic methods, only by methods of discussion, criticism, and persuasion-education, and cannot be resolved by coercive or oppressive methods.” Based on these principles, the Party and the state, while guaranteeing freedom of religious belief, both strengthened research on atheism and actively popularized materialism and scientific knowledge among the masses.

社会主义革命和建设时期，无神论教育走向系统化。无神论宣传教育与尊重宗教信仰自由的关系问题和如何在社会主义国家开展无神论宣传教育工作成为这一时期思想政治领域的核心议题。毛泽东指出要“用唯物论代替唯心论，用无神论代替有神论”,同时在《关于正确处理人民内部矛盾的问题》中指出：“凡属于思想性质的问题，凡属于人民内部的争论问题，只能用民主的方法去解决，只能用讨论的方法、批评的方法、说服教育的方法去解决，而不能用强制的、压服的方法去解决。”基于上述原则，党和国家在保障宗教信仰自由的基础上，既加强对于无神论的研究，也在人民群众中积极普及唯物论与科学知识。

In the early period of reform and opening up, atheism education gradually became institutionalized and standardized. In 1982, with Deng Xiaoping’s attention, the Central Committee issued the *Basic Views and Basic Policies on the Religious Question during the Socialist Period in Our Country*, establishing the institutional framework for atheism education. In the early 1990s, Jiang Zemin reaffirmed that “Communist Party members must be atheists” and emphasized that “Communist Party members not only cannot believe in religion, but must also propagate atheism and a scientific worldview to the masses.” In 2003, Hu Jintao further pointed out that atheism propaganda and education are not contradictory to the implementation of the policy of freedom of religious belief, providing more solid support for advancing the cause of atheism propaganda and education.

改革开放初期，无神论教育逐步制度化、规范化。1982年，在邓小平的重视下，中央印发《关于我国社会主义时期宗教问题的基本观点和基本政策》,构建起无神论教育的制度框架。20世纪90年代初，江泽民重申“共产党员必须是无神论者”,并强调“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”。2003年，胡锦涛进一步指出，无神论宣传教育与贯彻宗教信仰自由政策并不矛盾，为推动无神论宣传教育事业提供了更坚实的支持。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, in the face of profound changes in the domestic and international ideological situation and new challenges such as online superstition and foreign religious infiltration, atheism education has been elevated to a strategic height for Party building. In response to problems within the Party such as “not believing in Marxism-Leninism but believing in ghosts and gods

党的十八大以来，面对国内外意识形态形势的深刻变化以及网络迷信、境外宗教渗透等新型挑战，无神论教育被提升至党的建设战略高度。针对党内存在的“不信马列信鬼神”等问题，习近平总书记作出了一系列关于无神论的重要论述，并在习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想中系统阐述了新时代无神论的内涵与要求。2021年，中共中央、国务院印发《关于新时代加强和改进思想政治工作的意见》,明确强调加强马克思主义唯物论与无神论教育，推动相关宣传教育实现制度化、规范化和常态化，为应对意识形态风险、巩固全党思想根基提供有力保障。

(2) Prominent Problems Facing the Party’s Atheist Education in the New Era

(二)新时代党的无神论教育面临的突出问题

Over the Party’s century-long struggle, propaganda and education on atheism have achieved notable results. However, in the context of the New Era, under the influence of factors such as the impact of diverse ideological currents and changes in modes of communication, the mainstream and dominant position of Marxist atheism has been squeezed, various types of superstitious thinking have spread, and the Party’s atheist education faces prominent problems.

在党百年来的奋斗历程中，无神论宣传教育成效显著。但在新时代背景下，受多元思潮冲击、传播方式变革等因素影响，马克思主义无神论的主流主导地位受到挤压，各类迷信思想蔓延，党的无神论教育面临突出问题。

First, there are cognitive deviations regarding atheist education, which constitute a fundamental obstacle to advancing the work of Marxist atheist education. Marxist atheist education is not simply the transmission of knowledge; it is an ideological education practice centered on a scientific worldview and oriented toward Party spirit cultivation and cultural confidence, in which correct ideological understanding is the prerequisite for the complete chain of educational practice.

首先，对无神论教育的思想认知存在偏差，构成了马克思主义无神论教育工作推进的基础性障碍。马克思主义无神论教育并非单纯的知识传播，而是以科学世界观为核心、以党性修养与文化自信为导向的意识形态教育实践，其中正确的思想认识是教育实践完整链条的先决条件。

Current cognitive deviations regarding Marxist atheist education are mainly reflected in misaligned understandings of its theoretical essence and contemporary value. First, some Party cadres do not understand the essence of Marxist atheism, simplistically equating it with a mechanistic cognition of “denying the existence of religion,” adopting a neutral or even oppositional stance toward atheism rather than a clear-cut materialist position. Second, some localities and units have insufficient understanding of the contemporary value of Marxist atheism, leading to scientific knowledge popularization and atheist propaganda and education becoming mere formalities with weak results, and even to lax control over superstitious activities or a tendency to actively cater to them. Third, individual Party cadres have experienced a utilitarian distortion of political cognition, treating power as a tool for personal gain, and in their superstition about power have gradually slid toward blind obedience to deities, deviating from the basic materialist stance. Fourth, some Party cadres have cognitive deviations regarding the Party’s religious policy, mistakenly equating the principle of “freedom of religious belief” with the idea that Party members may believe in religion, blurring the boundary between citizens’ personal beliefs and Party members’ political beliefs. These factors compound each other, not only eroding the ideological purity of the Party membership but also directly weakening the ideological foundation and practical effectiveness of Marxist atheist education.

当前对于马克思主义无神论教育的认知偏差主要体现在理论本质、时代价值的认知错位。其一，部分党员干部没有理解马克思主义无神论的本质，将其简单等同于“否定宗教存在”的机械论认知，对无神论持中立甚至反对态度，而非旗帜鲜明的唯物主义立场；其二，部分地区和单位对马克思主义无神论的时代价值认知不足，导致科学知识普及与无神论宣传教育流于形式、成效薄弱，甚至对迷信活动出现管制松懈乃至主动迎合的倾向；其三，个别党员干部出现政治认知的功利化异变，将权力视为谋取私利的工具，在对权力的迷信中逐渐滑向对神灵的盲从，背离了唯物主义基本立场；其四，一些党员干部对党的宗教政策存在认知偏差，误将“宗教信仰自由”原则等同于党员可以信仰宗教，混淆了公民个人信仰与党员政治信仰的界限。这些因素相互叠加，不仅侵蚀了党员队伍的思想纯洁性，更直接削弱了马克思主义无神论教育的思想根基与实践效力。

Second, there are prominent shortcomings in the field of educational practice, which constitute important fetters restricting the improvement of the actual effectiveness of Marxist atheist education. Flexible and adaptable educational methods and a professional talent pool are key supports for enhancing the targeted nature and appeal of atheist propaganda and education. However, under the dual influence of objective constraints arising from the sensitivity of religious issues and the lag in updating educational concepts, current propaganda and education work on atheism in some areas has significant shortcomings: First, at the level of educational content, some propaganda and education content is hollow and abstract, failing to respond to real problems by integrating with social reality and the actual thinking of the masses, resulting in content that lacks targetedness and appeal and finds it difficult to evoke ideological resonance among the educational targets. Second, at the level of educational methods, some localities and units still cling to the one-way indoctrination model of “reading documents and reports,” failing to fully utilize new media technologies and communication platforms, thereby neglecting both the interactive and contextual characteristics of ideological communication in the new media era and failing to align with the information reception habits of contemporary masses, especially the youth. Third, at the level of educational targets, a crude “one-size-fits-all” educational strategy is adopted, lacking research and judgment on the ideological needs of groups of different ages, occupational types, and cognitive levels, and failing to achieve precise, differentiated educational supply. Fourth, the teaching force for atheist education suffers from a “gap between generations,” with a severe shortage of professional talent. Due to a lack of systematic training, ordinary teachers generally do not attach sufficient importance to or have sufficient understanding of “atheist” education, making it difficult to promote atheism’s entry into the mind and heart. This series of problems makes it difficult for Marxist atheist education to truly reach the depths of the educational targets’ thinking, significantly weakening its guiding power, persuasive power, and appeal, ultimately restricting the full release of educational effectiveness.

其次，教育实践领域存在突出短板，构成了制约马克思主义无神论教育实效提升的重要桎梏。灵活适配的教育方法和专业的人才队伍是增强无神论宣传教育针对性与感染力的关键支撑，然而受宗教问题敏感性的客观约束与教育理念更新不及时的双重影响，当前部分无神论宣传教育工作存在显著短板：其一，在教育内容层面，部分宣传教育内容流于空洞抽象，未能结合社会现实与群众思想实际回应真问题，导致内容缺乏针对性与吸引力，难以引发教育对象的思想共鸣；其二，在教育方式层面，部分地区和单位仍固守“念文件、读报告”的单向灌输模式，未能充分运用新媒体技术与传播平台，既忽视了新媒体时代思想传播的互动性、场景化特征，也未能契合当代群众尤其是青年群体的信息接收习惯；其三，在教育对象层面，采取“一刀切”的粗放式教育策略，缺乏对不同年龄阶段、职业类型、认知水平群体的思想需求研判，未能实现精准化、分众化教育供给。其四，无神论教育的师资力量“青黄不接”,专业人才严重匮乏，由于缺乏系统培训，普通教师对“无神论”教育的重视程度和理解程度普遍不高，难以推动无神论入脑入心。这一系列问题导致马克思主义无神论教育难以真正触及教育对象的思想深处，其引导力、说服力与感染力被显著削弱，最终制约了教育实效的充分释放。

Finally, the inadequacy of guarantee and supervision mechanisms has become a key bottleneck constraining the effective implementation of Marxist atheist education. In some regions, structural problems such as the hollowing out of primary responsibilities, an imperfect evaluation and assessment system, and the absence of supervision and accountability mechanisms are prominent in advancing related work. In the practice of upholding the great principle of Marxist atheism and carrying out propaganda and education, there have emerged insufficient coordination caused by the “departmental segmentation” of work functions, a lack of targetedness resulting from the “routinization” of work methods, and a lagging, non-normalized tendency of “acting only when superiors deploy, and rectifying only when problems arise.” Particularly prominent are the absence of risk-screening mechanisms, insufficient investigation and punishment of Party cadres and members who participate in superstitious activities, and lax accountability and blame. These not only weaken the rigid constraints of institutional enforcement but also damage the seriousness and authority of educational work. This series of intertwined problems not only leads to insufficient momentum for advancing Marxist atheist education but also makes it difficult for its educational effects to form a long-term mechanism, preventing sustained consolidation and deepening.

最后，保障与监督机制的不健全，成为制约马克思主义无神论教育有效落地的关键瓶颈。部分地区在推进相关工作中，突出表现为主体责任虚化、考核评价体系不完善、监督问责机制缺位等结构性问题。在坚守马克思主义无神论大原则、开展宣传教育的实践中，出现了工作职能“条块化”分割所导致的协同不足，工作方法“模式化”固化引发的针对性缺失，以及“上级部署才行动、出现问题才整治”的滞后性与非常态化倾向。尤为突出的是，风险排查机制的缺位与对党员干部参与迷信活动的查处力度不足、追责问责不严，既弱化了制度执行的刚性约束，也损害了教育工作的严肃性与权威性。这一系列问题相互交织，不仅导致马克思主义无神论教育的推进动力不足，更使其育人成效难以形成长效机制，无法实现持续巩固与深化。

III. Strengthening Atheist Education Is the Focal Point of Ideological and Political Work in the New Era

三、加强无神论教育是新时代思想政治工作的着力点

Strengthening atheist education is a key measure for consolidating the ideological foundation of the entire Party and cultivating new-era talent in the New Era. However, some Party organizations currently face a practical predicament in carrying out ideological and political work: they “do not want to speak, dare not speak, or do not know how to speak” on this issue. In response, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has clearly designated the

加强无神论教育，是新时代夯实全党思想根基、培育时代新人的关键举措。然而，部分党组织在当前开展思想政治工作时出现了“不想讲、不敢讲、不会讲”的现实困境。针对这一问题，以习近平同志为核心的党中央明确将无神论宣传教育确定为新时代思想政治工作的重要着力点，为系统推进相关工作提供了根本遵循。

(1) Deepening theoretical armament

(一)深化理论武装

“Only with theoretical clarity can there be political firmness.” Deepening atheist education must break through the single dimension of traditional theoretical interpretation, construct a multi-disciplinary theoretical innovation system, and consolidate the theoretical foundation of Marxist atheism.

“理论上清醒，政治上才能坚定。”深化无神论教育，必须突破传统理论阐释的单一维度，构建多学科支撑的理论创新体系，筑牢马克思主义无神论的理论根基。

First, a contemporary perspective must be injected into the reinterpretation of classical theory. We should systematically study the important expositions of the classical writers on scientific atheism, not only deeply grasping the historical laws of the emergence, development and eventual extinction of theism, but also, in light of the changes in social structure and the trends in scientific and technological development in the New Era, interpreting the modern logic of the spread of theist currents of thought and their variant forms. It must be made clear that atheist education does not simply negate religious culture; rather, on the basis of respecting the positive elements within religious culture, it precisely strips away the idealist essence of theism, thereby guiding people to establish a scientific and rational cognitive attitude.

首先，要在经典理论再阐释中注入时代视角。应系统研读经典作家关于科学无神论的重要论述，既要深刻把握有神论产生、发展直至消亡的历史规律，更要结合新时代社会结构变迁、科技发展态势，解读有神论思潮的现代传播逻辑与变异形态。明确无神论教育并非简单否定宗教文化，而是在尊重宗教文化中积极元素的基础上，精准剥离有神论的唯心主义本质，进而引导人们树立科学理性的认知态度。

Second, the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist atheism must be accurately understood. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, proceeding from the overall strategic situation, has scientifically assessed the situation regarding atheist propaganda and education and religious work, and has systematically expounded a series of major theoretical and practical issues. Based on the theoretical achievements of the New Era, we must fully integrate General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on religious work and ideological and political education throughout the entire educational process, promote the integration of atheist education with the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ensure that theoretical study always resonates with the times.

其次，要准确理解马克思主义无神论的中国化时代化发展。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从战略全局出发，科学研判无神论宣传教育与宗教工作形势，系统阐述了一系列重大理论和实践问题。要立足新时代的理论成果，将习近平总书记关于宗教工作和思想政治教育的重要论述全面贯穿于教育全过程，推动无神论教育同中国特色社会主义伟大实践融合，使理论学习始终与时代同频共振。

Finally, innovation in theoretical research on atheism must be actively promoted. On the one hand, disciplinary support and the training of specialized personnel should be strengthened, deepening research on the basic principles, evolutionary laws and educational practice of atheism; on the other hand, research on atheism should be promoted to intersect and integrate with related disciplines such as philosophy, history, psychology and sociology, expanding and enriching the theoretical system of atheism from multiple dimensions.

最后，要积极推进无神论理论研究的创新。一方面，应强化学科支撑与专门人才培养，深化对无神论基本原理、演变规律及教育实践的研究；另一方面，要推动无神论研究与哲学、历史学、心理学、社会学等相关学科交叉融合，从多维度拓展和丰富无神论的理论体系。

(2) Innovating working methods

(二)创新工作方法

In the New Era, under the influence of technological development and the diversification of social currents of thought, profound changes have taken place in the ideological concepts, cognitive models and modes of information reception of Party cadres, Party members and the masses. For Marxist atheist education to achieve practical results, it must break through the limitations of traditional models and actively explore new methods, new pathways and new carriers suited to the new situation.

新时代受科技发展与社会思潮多元化影响，党员干部和群众的思想观念、认知模式与信息接受方式发生深刻变化。马克思主义无神论教育要取得实效，必须突破传统模式局限，积极探索与新形势相适应的新方法、新路径与新载体。

On the one hand, it is necessary to integrate diverse communication channels such as traditional theoretical propaganda, offline practice and new media, constructing an all-round, three-dimensional communication matrix. At present, various forms of theism and superstitious thought, using online platforms and new media technologies, are spreading in more covert, diverse and deceptive ways. This requires that atheist propaganda and education keep pace with the times and respond to their impact in a more flexible manner. At the same time, the discourse system of theoretical propaganda must be innovated, transforming obscure and abstract “official discourse” into popular and easily understood “mass language,” using concrete cases to debunk logical fallacies such as “creationism,” so that the spirit of scientific rationality truly integrates into everyday thinking and becomes an ideological weapon for people to understand and transform the world.

一方面，需要整合传统理论宣讲、线下实践及新媒体等多元传播渠道，构建全方位、立体化的传播矩阵。当前，各类有神论与迷信思想借网络平台及新媒体技术，以更隐蔽、多样且具有迷惑性的方式传播，这就要求无神论宣传教育必须与时俱进，以更灵活的方式应对其冲击。同时要创新理论宣传话语体系，将晦涩抽象的“官方话语”转化为通俗易懂的“大众语言”,结合具体案例破解“神创论”等逻辑谬误，让科学理性精神真正融入日常思维，成为人们认识和改造世界的思想武器。

On the other hand, it is necessary to deeply integrate modern technological means, breaking through the limitations of educational settings. Technologies such as virtual reality (VR) can be used to integrate Marxist atheism into educational practice, presenting its core ideas in an intuitive and vivid form, enhancing the appeal and experiential quality of education. Attention must be paid to building the online ideological阵地 [n1] for scientific atheism, using big data and artificial intelligence technologies to precisely capture user needs, push suitable educational content, actively respond to challenges from theism and superstitious thought, and guide online users to establish a scientific atheist worldview. Furthermore, attention must be paid to combining theory with practice, promoting the deep integration of atheist education into the real lives of the masses, and through carrying out rich cultural, science popularization and volunteer service activities, allowing the masses to experience the practical value of Marxist atheism through participation.

另一方面，需要深度融合现代科技手段，打破教育场景局限。可运用虚拟现实(VR)等技术将马克思主义无神论融入教育实践，以直观生动的形式呈现其核心思想，增强教育的吸引力与体验感。要重视网络科学无神论意识形态阵地建设，借助大数据、人工智能技术精准抓取用户需求，推送适配的教育内容，主动回应有神论与迷信思想挑战，引导网络用户树立科学的无神论世界观。此外，需注重理论与实践结合，推动无神论教育深度融入群众现实生活，通过开展丰富的文化、科普及志愿服务活动，让群众在参与中体悟马克思主义无神论的实践价值。

(3) Highlighting work priorities

(三)突出工作重点

Marxist atheist propaganda and education is a systematic project. It should adhere to the approach of “grasping the key to drive the whole,” and on the basis of overall planning, enhance the targeting of propaganda and education subjects, achieving precise drip-irrigation and targeted force, ensuring that educational resources are used where they are most needed.

马克思主义无神论宣传教育是一项系统工程，应坚持“抓关键、带整体”的思路，在统筹全局的基础上，增强宣传教育对象的针对性，实现精准滴灌、靶向发力，确保教育资源用在刀刃上。

First, it is necessary to grasp the “key minority” of leading cadres, giving full play to their exemplary and leading role of “setting an example for those below.” As the leading core of all Party work and the backbone of the cause of the Party and the state, the purity of the beliefs of leading cadres directly affects the Party’s governing capacity, leadership level and ruling foundation. Therefore, strengthening Marxist atheist education is a top priority in related work in the New Era. This education must be incorporated into the cadre education and training system, increasing its proportion in theoretical knowledge and Party conduct and Party discipline education, building a firm ideological defense line of atheism among leading cadres, and giving full play to their exemplary and leading role within Party organizations.

首先需抓住领导干部这一“关键少数”,发挥其“以上率下”的引领示范作用。作为党的各项工作的领导核心与党和国家事业的中坚力量，领导干部的信仰纯洁度直接关系党的执政能力、领导水平与执政根基，因此加强马克思主义无神论教育是新时代相关工作的重中之重。需将该教育纳入干部教育培训体系，提高其在理论知识与党风党纪教育中的比重，筑牢领导干部坚定的无神论思想防线，充分发挥其在党组织中的示范引领作用。

Second, focus on the youth group, consolidating the “foundational project” of Marxist atheist education. Young people are in a critical period of forming their world outlook, outlook on life and values; their cognitive and discriminatory abilities are not yet mature, making them susceptible to infiltration by idealist currents of thought and falling into theist misconceptions. Atheist education should be promoted into textbooks and classrooms with full confidence, especially in areas deeply influenced by religion, where courses on Marxist atheism should be gradually added in primary and secondary schools and universities in accordance with educational principles. At the same time, a system of textbook compilation, teacher training and teaching practice suited to the characteristics of young people must be constructed, ensuring the smooth progress of Marxist atheist propaganda and education among the youth group.

其次，聚焦青少年群体，夯实马克思主义无神论教育的“基础工程”。青少年正处于世界观、人生观、价值观形成的关键时期，认知辨别能力尚不成熟，易受唯心主义思潮渗透，陷入有神论误区。应理直气壮推动无神论教育进教材、进课堂，特别是受宗教影响较深的地区，需结合教育规律在中小学和高校逐步增设马克思主义无神论课程。同时需构建适配青少年特征的教材编写、师资培养与教学实践体系，保障马克思主义无神论宣传教育在青少年群体中顺利推进。

Finally, expand into emerging fields, breaking through educational blind spots. With the rapid economic and social development of our country, profound changes in production methods and social structure have promoted the vigorous development of emerging fields. However, because traditional Party building work in the three new fields [n2] is relatively weak and ideological and political work coverage is insufficient, they can easily become hotbeds for the spread of theism and superstitious thought. Therefore, strengthening atheist education in the three new fields is an important front that urgently needs to be expanded in New Era atheist education. The coverage problem of atheist education can be solved through a “regionalization + functionalization + networking” system; ideological guidance of atheism can be strengthened by innovating an “online + offline” learning matrix and tiered and categorized education; Party members in the three new fields should be encouraged to play a vanguard and exemplary role, respecting and understanding the actual ideological conditions of ordinary employees, guiding them to abide by national laws and regulations and deeply understand the national religious policy; based on the characteristics of new economic organizations, new social organizations and new employment groups, precise measures should be implemented, integrating atheist education into the daily management of enterprises, avoiding rigid preaching and formalism.

最后，拓展新兴领域，破解教育盲区。随着我国经济社会的快速发展，生产方式与社会结构深刻变革促进了新兴领域蓬勃发展。然而三新领域因传统党建工作相对薄弱，思想政治工作覆盖不到位，容易成为有神论和迷信思想传播的温床。因此，加强三新领域的无神论教育，是新时代无神论教育亟待拓展的重要阵地。可以通过“区域化+功能化+网络化”体系破解无神论教育覆盖难题；创新“线上+线下”学习矩阵与分层分类教育强化无神论思想引领；鼓励三新领域中的党员发挥先锋模范作用，尊重和理解普通员工的思想实际，引导他们遵守国家法律法规，并深刻理解国家宗教政策；立足新经济组织、新社会组织、新就业群体特性精准施策，将无神论教育融入企业日常管理中，避免生硬说教和形式主义。

(4) Establishing and perfecting a long-term mechanism for atheist education

(四)建立健全无神论教育长效机制

The propaganda and education of Marxist atheism is not a phased task but a systemic project that requires long-term persistence. It is necessary to establish and perfect a set of systematic, complete, scientifically standardized, and effectively operating work mechanisms to ensure that education exerts sustained force and achieves tangible results.

马克思主义无神论宣传教育不是阶段性任务，而是一项需要长期坚持的系统工程，必须建立健全一套系统完备、科学规范、运行有效的工作机制，确保教育持续发力、取得实效。

First, perfect the responsibility implementation mechanism. Party leadership is the major premise; transforming macro-level responsibility into a concrete, executable task list is the core of responsibility implementation. It is necessary to uphold Party leadership, constructing a work pattern of unified leadership by Party committees, joint management by the Party and government, respective responsibility by relevant departments, and coordinated participation by the whole of society; incorporate atheist education as an important component of ideological work, bring it into the responsibility system for ideological work, refine the primary responsibility of Party organizations at all levels, and form a responsibility chain of “one level grasping one level, layer upon layer ensuring implementation,” ensuring that the construction of a long-term mechanism for atheist education has someone to grasp it, someone to manage it, and that it is implemented in practice.

一是健全责任落实机制。党的领导是大前提，将宏观责任转化为具体、可执行的任务清单，是责任落实的核心。必须坚持党的领导，构建党委统一领导、党政齐抓共管、有关部门各负其责、全社会协同参与的工作格局；将无神论教育作为意识形态工作的重要组成部分，纳入意识形态工作责任制，细化各级党组织的主体责任，形成“一级抓一级、层层抓落实”的责任链条，确保无神论教育长效机制建设有人抓、有人管、落到实处。

Second, construct an assessment and evaluation mechanism. A scientific assessment and evaluation mechanism can effectively realize the transformation from “soft rules” to “hard constraints.” A comprehensive evaluation system combining quantitative and qualitative methods should be established, incorporating the evaluation results of atheist propaganda and education into the important assessment content of Party organizations and units at all levels; advanced models and successful experiences emerging in the work should be promoted and commended, while cases of insufficient attention and ineffective implementation should be supervised and rectified, so as to form a clear work orientation.

二是构建考核评价机制。科学的考核评价机制能够有效实现“软规则”向“硬约束”的转变。应建立定量与定性相结合的综合评价体系，将无神论宣传教育评估结果纳入各级党组织和各单位的重要考核内容；对工作中出现的先进典型和成功经验予以推广和表彰，同时对重视不足、落实不力的情况进行督促整改，以形成鲜明的工作导向。

Third, strengthen the guarantee and support mechanism. A perfected guarantee mechanism can lay a solid foundation for carrying out Marxist atheist education systematically and on a regular basis. It is necessary to use rule-of-law thinking and rule-of-law methods to carry out atheist education, integrating the basic principles and requirements of atheist education into relevant laws, regulations, and rules; increase funding investment, establish a stable and growing financial guarantee mechanism, and actively broaden funding channels to meet the needs of various tasks; strengthen the disciplinary construction of Marxist atheism, cultivate a professional education workforce, and enhance the professional level of education.

三是强化保障支撑机制。健全的保障机制能够为系统化、常态化地开展马克思主义无神论教育奠定坚实基础。要运用法治思维和法治方式开展无神论教育，将无神论教育的基本原则和要求融入相关法律法规和规章制度；要加大经费投入，建立稳定增长的财政保障机制，并积极拓宽资金来源渠道，保障各项工作需求；要加强马克思主义无神论学科建设，培育专业教育队伍，提升教育的专业水平。

Fourth, perfect the supervision and feedback mechanism. The long-term mechanism for atheist education needs to be continuously adjusted and perfected based on practical feedback, forming an effective management closed loop. Timely investigate and grasp the ideological dynamics of the masses and the situation of education implementation, accurately identify the key areas and weak links where theist ideological trends infiltrate; establish a rapid response mechanism, promptly guide and correct the sprouts of erroneous ideas that appear, and dynamically adjust educational content and methods based on feedback conditions, ensuring that atheist education always aligns with actual needs.

四是健全监督反馈机制。无神论教育长效机制需要根据实践反馈不断调整完善，形成一个有效的管理闭环。及时调查和掌握群众思想动态和教育开展情况，精准识别有神论思潮渗透的重点领域和薄弱环节；建立快速响应机制，对出现的错误思想苗头及时进行引导纠正，根据反馈情况动态调整教育内容和方法，确保无神论教育始终贴合实际需求。