Deng Chundong Attends and Addresses the "Fourth National Congress of the Chinese Atheism Society and 2013 Annual Academic Conference"
On August 18–19, 2013, the "Fourth Congress of the Chinese Atheism Society and the 2013 Annual Academic Meeting" was held in Beijing. Comrade Deng Chundong, Dean and Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), attended and delivered a speech.
In his remarks, Comrade Deng Chundong proposed three suggestions. First, he suggested that the new Board of Directors unite researchers and propagandists of Marxist atheism nationwide to further improve the work of popularizing scientific knowledge and propagating the scientific spirit throughout Chinese society. He noted that the journal Science and Atheism maintains a high academic standard and is well-run; while continuing to uphold the professional nature of the publication, it should also strengthen its popular science appeal and enhance the work of popularizing [1] various Marxist atheist viewpoints and scholarship for the masses.
Second, he suggested that the new Board of Directors take the task of helping all people establish scientific beliefs as an important direction and content of future work. It is necessary to help the masses establish scientific and correct beliefs—namely, establishing belief in Marxism and the theory and path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only once these correct beliefs are established will the propagation of Marxist atheist viewpoints have a broader social foundation.
Third, he suggested that while carrying out academic research and exchanges, the Society should also pay attention to social life and intervene in life. Comrade Mao Zedong once wrote a line of poetry: "Today we hail the Great Sage Sun, only because the demon-mist has returned" [2]. Today, the "demon-mist" is thick and pervasive; therefore, we must call upon the spirit of the "Great Sage Sun" to oppose all kinds of cults [3] and actively intervene in social life, so as to truly establish a scientific spirit among all people and throughout society, and to rectify the social atmosphere.