Zhu Xiaoming: Always Maintain the Dominant Position of Marxist Atheism in the Ideology of the Masses
The National Religious Affairs Conference held in April of this year explicitly pointed out: it is a major principle for Party members to adhere to Marxist atheism; Communist Party members must be firm Marxist atheists and must never seek their values or beliefs in religion. How to consistently ensure that Marxist atheism, as the mainstream ideology, maintains its dominant position in the thoughts of the masses is a major practical task we must face.
I. The Theory of Religion with Chinese Characteristics is Essentially Marxist Atheism
- The theory of religion with Chinese characteristics is essentially consistent with Marxist atheism. Marxist atheism is a scientific atheism. It possesses three distinct characteristics: First, it is a theory of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, which consistently insists on explaining religion through history rather than explaining history through religion. it elucidates the social foundations from which religion arises while drawing a clear line against "culturalism," which treats religion as a vague, universal cultural phenomenon. Second, it is a practice of the scientific socialist movement, integrating the promotion of atheism as an organic component of that movement. Third, it embodies a consistent scientific spirit, inheriting and developing the finest achievements of human atheistic thought. In particular, by continuously making new contributions in conjunction with scientific progress, it ensures that atheism is constantly enriched, substantiated, and rendered more persuasive. These three characteristics of Marxist atheism—theoretical, practical, and scientific—are consistent with the theory of religion with Chinese characteristics.
Ren Jiyu [1], a philosopher and scholar of religious studies in our country, once pointed out that Marxist religious studies are essentially a form of scientific atheism. It was developed on the basis of critically summarizing and inheriting the excellent achievements of atheism throughout history. If we do not study the theory and history of atheism both in China and abroad, we cannot deeply grasp the content of Marxist religious studies and scientific atheism. The theory of religion with Chinese characteristics is the Marxist view of religion in contemporary China; its worldview is rooted in Marxist atheism, and it is essentially Marxist atheism. Only by profoundly recognizing the foundational status and guiding role of Marxist atheism as the mainstream ideology can we achieve a comprehensive understanding and deeply grasp the rich content and future direction of the theory of religion with Chinese characteristics.
- The theory of religion with Chinese characteristics permeates and embodies Marxist atheism. The exposition of the basic questions of religion within the theory of religion with Chinese characteristics permeates and embodies the principled position of Marxist atheism. For example, regarding the essence of religion, it reiterates that religious concepts are reflections in the human mind of external forces that dominate people's daily lives. Regarding the social role of religion, it emphasizes a dialectical view of religion's role in our country, noting the duality of religious effects—both positive and negative—as a social phenomenon where positivity and negativity coexist. We must correctly recognize and grasp this duality, maximizing the positive roles of religion while minimizing its negative effects. Regarding the relationship between society and religion, it proposes that religion is a part of our society; society should view religion rationally, and religion must adapt to society, serve society, and fulfill social responsibilities. We must actively guide religion to adapt to socialist society, supporting religious circles in exploring paths to adapt to our socialist society, reforming and adjusting areas that do not suit social progress to keep pace with the times. Regarding the relationship between the Party/government and religion, it proposes firmly grasping the fundamental goal of upholding the Party’s leadership, consolidating the Party’s governing status, and strengthening the Party’s governing foundation, while adhering to the principle of the separation of church and state. The Communist Party of China advocates atheism; the difference in worldviews between Communists and religious masses does not hinder their political unity and cooperation. We must persist in using dialectical materialism and historical materialism to observe and analyze religious phenomena and issues, conducting religious work according to the laws of religion itself and the laws of social development.
From the heights of consolidating the guiding position of Marxism and the Party's governing foundation, and safeguarding ideological security, consistently maintaining the Party's leadership over the united front [2] is a glorious tradition and successful experience of the Party. In the ideological sphere, we must consistently uphold the mainstream discourse and dominant position of Marxist atheism. This is an inevitable requirement for the Party to maintain its advanced nature and purity in the realms of thought and ideology. Our country is a socialist state led by the Communist Party; we cannot use feudal or capitalist ideologies and values as the spiritual pillar of society, nor can we use religion as such. If theism were allowed to spread across our society, it would have an adverse impact on our Party's guiding ideology and governing foundation.
- Adhering to Marxist atheism is a major principle. The theory of religion with Chinese characteristics and the Party's basic policy on religious work primarily concern the religious field and religious tasks. Marxist atheism, however, has a broader scope; it involves not only the religious sphere but the entire society, touching upon many different fields and aspects. Our country's legislation, administration, and judiciary, as well as economic, political, social, cultural, and ecological dimensions, must all adhere to this major principle.
Publicity and education regarding atheism must distinguish between target audiences. Adherence to Marxist atheism is a requirement for Communist Party members and advanced elements. Publicity and education on atheism are directed toward the whole society, with the focus on leading cadres who are Party members and on the youth. The former concerns how governing power and resources are utilized; the latter concerns the future spiritual landscape of the Chinese people. Meanwhile, the Party has always been clear that it does not conduct atheistic publicity toward religious figures or religious masses, nor does it conduct such publicity in religious venues or initiate debates on the existence of God among religious believers. Simultaneously, no religious organization or believer should preach, missionize, or promote theism outside of religious venues, let alone conduct propaganda against Marxism-Leninism or Mao Zedong Thought. Protecting the freedom of religious belief does not weaken, but rather necessitates strengthening, efforts to popularize scientific education and propaganda against superstition.
A strict line must be drawn between religion and illegal activities that use religion to disrupt normal social order. Publicity and education on atheism are by no means intended to create antagonism between believers and non-believers, nor to demand that believers abandon their faiths. Instead, they aim to help more people learn to view religious phenomena correctly and choose their worldviews rationally. They also help believers better position the relationship between religious faith/activities and national law, government management, national education, and the common interests of society. On this basis, they can join us in safeguarding the right to freedom of religious belief and jointly opposing the infiltration and separatist activities of certain domestic and foreign forces using religion, as well as various chaotic phenomena within the religious sphere.
There are two basic principles in religious work: first, the state must implement the policy of freedom of religious belief; second, the Party must persist in conducting publicity and education on atheism. These two principles complement each other and neither can be dispensed with. Mao Zedong pointed out: "Communists may form an anti-imperialist and anti-feudal united front with some idealists and even religious people for political action, but they can never approve of their idealism or religious doctrines." (Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. 2). Forming a united front in political action constitutes the execution of religious policy; disapproving of idealism and theism in thought and belief constitutes adherence to atheism. The combination of the two manifests the Marxist view of religion.
In contemporary China, atheists and religious believers share an identity of fundamental interests in political, economic, and social life; this is the realistic basis upon which the two can form a united front in political action. Compared to this, their differences in belief are secondary. Only by both adhering to Marxist atheism in worldview and uniting religious figures and believers in political action can we maintain the clear position, sober understanding, and correct attitude of dialectical materialism and historical materialism regarding religious issues. This constitutes the comprehensive and complete theory of religion with Chinese characteristics.
II. Consistently Maintain the Dominant Position of Marxist Atheism as the Mainstream Ideology in the Thoughts of the Masses
- We must not only adhere to Marxist atheism but also actively promote it. As followers of Marxism, Communist Party members must, of course, adhere to atheism; to not do so is to cease being a Marxist and a thorough materialist. We must not only adhere to Marxist atheism but also actively promote it, popularizing scientific and cultural knowledge to help and guide people in drawing lines between materialism and idealism, atheism and theism, science and superstition, and civilization and ignorance. This will gradually eliminate the ideological and social foundations for the emergence and spread of religion.
The dominant position of Marxist atheism as our country’s mainstream ideology among the masses is intended for the overall situation, not just for the religious sphere. Regarding the religious sphere, we implement "political unity and cooperation, and mutual respect in belief." In society at large and among the vast masses, however, we must clearly make atheism the mainstream and the lead.
To achieve this requirement, we cannot leave the Central Committee’s instructions on adhering to and promoting Marxist atheism as mere talk at meetings or lock them in a drawer. We must not misunderstand the policies and requirements for religious circles and religious figures as being the policies and requirements for the whole society. We cannot abandon reasonable, forceful, and effective atheistic publicity and education in mass media and public education simply because we cannot promote atheism to religious figures or within religious venues.
General Marxist education cannot replace education in atheism. Atheism is the foundation and prerequisite of Marxism, as well as an important part of its content. Some comrades believe that since we teach Marxism every day, there is no need to speak further of atheism. This is a misunderstanding. In his "On the Significance of Militant Materialism," Lenin pointed out that general Marxist publicity and education cannot replace specialized atheistic publicity and education. He said: "It would be the biggest and worst mistake a Marxist could make to think that the millions of the masses (especially the peasants and artisans), who have been condemned by all modern society to darkness, ignorance and superstition, can extricate themselves from this darkness only along the straight line of a purely Marxist education. These masses should be supplied with the most varied atheist propaganda material, they should be made familiar with the facts from the most varied spheres of life." (Leninist Thematic Collection: On Dialectical Materialism and Historical Materialism). In contemporary China, general publicity and education on the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics also cannot replace Marxist atheistic publicity and education. We should provide people with various atheistic materials, particularly being adept at using examples occurring around them to explain the facts and logic of various aspects of actual life, rather than letting atheistic education remain stuck in dry preaching of theories, principles, and concepts.
Carry out publicity and education on Marxist atheism persistently, extensively, and deeply. We must persistently carry out activities to promote the Marxist view of religion, culture, materialism, and atheism. We should combine atheistic education with the popularization of scientific knowledge and advanced culture, guiding and forming a healthy, civilized, and progressive lifestyle and social atmosphere. Atheism is essentially consistent with the spiritual core of scientific knowledge and advanced culture. The content and form of atheistic education should also be integrated with scientific knowledge and advanced culture, making it knowledgeable, cultured, vivid, and popular, achieving the effect of "moistening things silently" [3]. By linking and combining atheism with scientific knowledge and advanced culture, we can open new horizons and create a new situation for atheistic publicity.
On October 13, 1959, in a conversation with Ren Jiyu, Mao Zedong proposed that to study religion, one must be an "outsider" (wàiháng) to treat religion as an object of research. This is because people with faith may sometimes be subject to limitations when studying the religion they believe in. The "outsider" mentioned here refers to non-believers. Only by believing in and adhering to atheism can one understand and treat religion with a scientific and rational attitude. Ren Jiyu believed that the fact that religion continues to exist can be explained scientifically, but this by no means proves that religion itself is scientific. Religion itself is not science, but studying religion from the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of historical materialism constitutes a scientific study. Marxists also need people to study religious knowledge and culture, but such research involves using Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods to examine religious phenomena, history, institutions, and systems.
At present, in religious research guided by Marxism, special attention should be paid to two issues: First, "demystifying" religion, uncovering the social foundations and reasons upon which religion depends for existence and development, and revealing the laws and paths for actively guiding religion to adapt to socialist society. Second, "de-radicalizing" religion, exposing the manifestations and harms of religious extremism, and revealing that extremism harms not only society but also the interests, image, and future of religion itself. We must study religion scientifically, but we must not play up mysticism in religious research, nor should we advocate for religious belief or proselytizing in social science research and national education. We must not use public resources and administrative power to develop religion.
Atheism addresses issues in people's worldviews. As long as there are things people cannot yet understand, supernatural fantasies may arise. Even if old problems are solved, new ones will emerge in an endless stream. It is impossible to "accomplish the whole task at one stroke" [4] or once and for all. Popularizing scientific knowledge and advanced culture and guiding the formation of a healthy, civilized, and progressive lifestyle and social atmosphere cannot be achieved overnight. Therefore, publicity and education on atheism must be persistent: first, it must be maintained consistently; second, we must not slacken or stop, but persist in a resilient struggle. (The author is the Chairperson of the Chinese Society of Atheism).