The 13th Scientific Atheism Forum of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the 2025 Annual Academic Conference of the Chinese Atheism Society Successfully Held at Taiyuan University of Technology

On August 16, 2025, the 13th Scientific Atheism Forum of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the 2025 Academic Annual Meeting of the China Association for Atheism were successfully held at Taiyuan University of Technology. This year's forum was jointly hosted by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the China Association for Atheism, the CASS Research Center for Science and Atheism, and Taiyuan University of Technology. It was organized by the Department of Marxist Sinicization Research at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the School of Marxism at Taiyuan University of Technology, and the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS). Co-organizers included the CASS Think Tank for Marxist Theoretical Innovation and the editorial department of Science and Atheism. Centered on the theme "Marxist Atheism and the Scientific Spirit," the forum brought together experts and scholars from more than 60 universities and research institutions nationwide—including CASS, Peking University, and the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance)—alongside faculty and student representatives from Taiyuan University of Technology and graduate students from across the country. Representatives from six academic journals, including World Socialism Studies, Science and Atheism, Journal of Guizhou Normal University (Social Science Edition), Journal of Guangxi University for Nationalities (Philosophy and Social Science Edition), Observation and Reflection, and Collected Papers of Social Sciences, also participated in the discussions.

The opening ceremony of the forum was presided over by Yao Jianjun, Dean of the School of Marxism at Taiyuan University of Technology. In his welcoming remarks, Shen Xingquan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Taiyuan University of Technology, noted that the university consistently integrates the cultivation of the scientific spirit into the entire process of "fostering virtue through education" ^[1]. By continuously promoting the organic integration of "curriculum-based ideological and political education," "ideological and political courses," and "online ideological and political work," the university actively fulfills its mission to "educate people for the Party and cultivate talent for the country." Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, stated in his address that the forum and annual meeting must adhere to the "Double-Serve" direction ^[2], the "Double Hundred" policy ^[3], and the "Two Transformations" principle ^[4]. He emphasized the need to implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, based on the great practice of China's burgeoning construction of advanced socialist culture. He called for upholding Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods, drawing lessons from the experiences of other countries in promoting science and atheism, and exploring the essential requirements, practical methods, and the underlying logic, theoretical basis, and philosophical principles ^[5] for the development of scientific atheism as a discipline. This, he noted, would contribute wisdom and strength toward accelerating the construction of a self-contained Chinese knowledge system of scientific atheism, with Xi Jinping New Era Socialism with Chinese Characteristics as its banner and soul, to comprehensively advance the great causes of building a strong country and national rejuvenation. Gong Yun, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Economics and President of the China Association for Atheism, explained the contemporary value of Marxist atheist research from dimensions such as ideological security and the construction of a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. He proposed that, guided by Xi Jinping New Era Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, scholars must continuously strengthen their sense of responsibility, mission, and commitment to Marxist atheist research. Lei Chengfeng, Secretary of the Party Group and Executive Vice Chairman of the Shanxi Provincial Federation of Social Sciences, emphasized the need to use truth as a torch to create original achievements, use youth as a bridge to build a collaborative education model, and use cultural construction to drive high-quality development in Shanxi.

The forum featured two keynote sessions. These were chaired respectively by He Xinyuan, Director of the Department of Marxist Sinicization Research at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Vice President of the China Association for Atheism; and Zhang Xinying, former Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of World Religions and President of the journal Science and Atheism. Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and Vice President of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Vice President of the China Association for Atheism, systematically explained the conceptual connotation and contemporary value of the scientific spirit in conjunction with Marxist discourses on the subject. Zhang Xinying focused on the inherent unity between the Marxist view of religion and Marxist atheism. Zhang Guozuo, former Deputy Director of the Theoretical Bureau of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee and former Director of the National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences, provided an in-depth interpretation of the connotations and characteristics of the "scientist spirit" in the context of China’s scientific and technological development. Lyu Jianfu, Professor at the Higher Institute of Philosophy and Social Sciences of Shaanxi Normal University and Vice President of the China Association for Atheism, analyzed the relationship between Marxist atheism and scientific atheism from a theoretical perspective. Peng Wuqing, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism at Xinjiang Normal University and Vice President of the China Association for Atheism, discussed the necessity and practical paths for integrating the Marxist view of religion into ideological and political courses, based on local teaching realities. Huang Chao, Vice Dean of the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University and Vice President of the China Association for Atheism, emphasized that Marxist atheism is the "first button that must be fastened correctly" ^[6] for Chinese religious studies. Zeng Chuanhui, a researcher at the CASS Institute of World Religions and Vice President of the China Association for Atheism, analyzed the contributions of Chinese scholars to the development of religious studies theory during the late Qing and Republican periods through a survey of academic history. Dai Jicheng, Director of the Sociology Teaching and Research Section at the School of Criminology of the People’s Public Security University of China and Vice President of the China Association for Atheism, systematically analyzed the psychological mechanisms of youth groups facing infiltration by cult organizations and corresponding prevention strategies.

The forum consisted of four parallel sub-forums. Participating scholars engaged in-depth discussions on topics such as General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on atheism and the scientific spirit, Marxist atheism and the construction of scientific culture, atheist propaganda and education in the age of Artificial Intelligence, and the atheist genes and scientific spirit within fine traditional Chinese culture. Through keynote reports, peer commentaries, and case study discussions, each sub-forum fostered a positive interaction between theoretical interpretation and practical exploration.

The closing ceremony was presided over by Li Jimin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism at Taiyuan University of Technology. During the feedback session, four representatives summarized the core viewpoints and theoretical reflections of their respective discussion groups. Subsequently, Jia Runguo, Academic Advisor to the China Association for Atheism, noted in the meeting summary that the forum had effectively advanced the theoretical deepening and methodological innovation of Marxist atheist research through cross-disciplinary dialogue and the collision of multi-dimensional perspectives. Huang Yanhong, Director of the Marxist Atheism Research Office at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Editor-in-Chief of Science and Atheism, as well as Secretary-General of the China Association for Atheism, stated in the concluding remarks that the systematic deepening and expansion of basic theoretical research in Marxist atheism will be promoted through the construction of normalized academic exchange platforms, thereby facilitating the innovative development of the cause of atheism.

The successful convening of this forum showcased the cutting-edge achievements in the fields of Marxist atheism and scientific atheism in the New Era. It also reflected the theoretical innovation and practical leadership of Marxist atheism in contemporary China. Through academic dialogue, the forum not only deepened the theoretical interpretation of the atheist thought system but also expanded the practical paths for the innovative development of Marxist atheism in the New Era, helping to consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere. The School of Marxism at Taiyuan University of Technology took this forum as an opportunity to continue deepening the construction of an academic community. By strengthening cross-departmental coordination, cross-institutional cooperation, and cross-disciplinary dialogue, the school aims to jointly advance the construction of the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system ^[7] of Marxist atheism in the New Era. By empowering practical innovation with theoretical innovation, the school aims to provide solid theoretical support and talent guarantees for fostering the scientific spirit and strengthening the sense of community for the Chinese nation, effectively fulfilling the mission and responsibility of the discipline of Marxist theory.