Zhang Xinying: On "Conducting Education in Patriotism, Collectivism, and Socialism Among Religious Circles, and Targeted Strengthening of Education in Party History, New China History, Reform and Opening-up History, and Socialist Development History"
I
In October 2017, General Secretary Xi Jinping, in his report to the 19th CPC National Congress, set forth the task of “strengthening education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism” within the context of “strengthening ideological and moral construction.” On January 8, 2020, at the concluding meeting of the theme education campaign of “staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission,” General Secretary Xi Jinping issued a mobilization order to the whole Party to “study the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development.” Throughout 2021, on the occasion of celebrating the centenary of the founding of the CPC, Party organizations at all levels took the lead in carrying out a campaign for Party history study and education on an unprecedented scale, achieving remarkable results.
In April 2021, following the "Four Entrances" [1] activities carried out in religious venues nationwide according to the spirit of the 2016 National Conference on Religious Work and the Regulations on Religious Affairs, nine national religious organizations in our country jointly issued the Joint Initiative on Carrying Out Theme Education on "Loving the Party, the Country, and Socialism" (hereafter referred to as the Initiative). It required that within the "Three Loves" theme education, there should be a "focus on studying the history of the Communist Party of China, while simultaneously studying the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development." As a significant measure to fulfill the tasks determined by the 19th CPC National Congress and respond to the CPC Central Committee’s call for "Four Histories" [2] study activities, the Initiative received an enthusiastic response from religious figures and believers across the country.
On December 3, 2021, at the National Conference on Religious Work, while discussing the "in-depth promotion of the Sinicization of religion in our country," General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to "conduct education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism within religious circles, and strengthen education in Party history, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development in a targeted manner." This marks the first time that education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism has been integrated and woven together with "Four Histories" education into a more concentrated and explicit set of study requirements for the religious community. This follows a series of related deployments by the Party Central Committee for the whole Party and society and the full affirmation of the "Three Loves" theme education in religious circles. It must be said that while Party history study and education activities within the CPC are still deepening, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s specialized deployment for the religious community to conduct conceptually linked educational activities reflects the Central Committee’s high degree of attention, special care, and earnest expectations for our country’s religious circles. For the field of religious work, General Secretary Xi’s requirements have established a new round of action guidelines for: upholding the CPC’s political leadership over the patriotic united front in the New Era; consolidating the political premises of the patriotic united front with religious circles; and guiding the religious community to continuously improve its ideological awareness and political standing. Resolutely implementing General Secretary Xi’s requirements is the responsibility of religious figures who must serve both as national citizens proactively strengthening their own ideological and moral construction, and as the primary bridge between the Party and government and the masses of believers, consciously accepting the cultivation of correct political concepts and the testing of their political stance.
Within the grand pattern of the Party’s united front work, the Central Committee’s expectations for representative religious figures have always been: "politically reliable, religiously accomplished, morally capable of winning the people's trust, and playing a role at critical moments." These are specific standards formed by a combination of political direction indicators, professional capacity indicators, personal moral indicators, and major performance indicators. Among these, the political indicator is the primary and fundamental condition; the moral indicator is internally linked to the political one and also communicates with the inherent professional indicators of the religion itself. The cumulative total of these first three indicators becomes the deciding factor in satisfying the fourth. Today, as the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has been declared achieved, and the new journey toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist powerhouse has begun, these educational efforts are of vital significance. They lead religious figures with socialist core values, helping them reach the higher political and moral standards required by both New Era united front work and the masses of believers. They accelerate the process of Sinicizing religion to adapt to the New Era, ensuring that religious figures "play a role" both in ordinary times and at critical moments, and "better organize and guide believers to strive in unity with the broad masses of the people for the comprehensive building of a modern socialist powerhouse and the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
II
What, then, is the relationship between these "two educations" being carried out simultaneously?
Briefly put, one might say: education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism provides the correct coordinate for value orientation to ensure the Sinicization of religion; while education in Party history, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development provides the endogenous source of power to ensure that the former achieves its ideal effects.
The "correct coordinate for value orientation" is a multidimensional system composed of socialist core values. As we know, the "prosperity, democracy, civility, and harmony" advocated by socialist core values are value requirements at the national level; "freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law" are at the social level; and "patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship" are at the individual citizen level. Strengthening the concepts of patriotism, collectivism, and socialism in religious circles through educational activities aims to start from personal moral norms and link the realization of citizen-level value requirements with the responsibilities religious figures bear for social and national-level values. This serves as a contemporary elevation and innovative development of the progressive ideal paradigm of "cultivating the self, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world" (xiu qi zhi ping) [3] found in traditional Chinese ethics. It functions as an indispensable measurement benchmark for the entire socialist core value system within the behavioral processes of the subjects practicing the Sinicization of religion. That is to say, patriotism, collectivism, and socialism are the real-time yardsticks that ensure the Sinicization of contemporary Chinese religion always maintains the correct direction. Through thematic education, our religious circles will surely become more proactive and proficient in using this set of yardsticks, providing precise and reliable goal assurance for the Sinicization of religion.
Meanwhile, studying the "Four Histories" provides an endless stream of empirical support—possessing the greatest affinity, appeal, persuasiveness, and driving force—for education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism. It opens a logical and rational channel for the educated to reach accurate cognitive conclusions. In other words, "Four Histories" education uses the actual historical process of the CPC leading the Chinese people from "standing up" to "becoming rich" and "becoming strong" [4] as the best teaching material for patriotism, collectivism, and socialism. It allows religious figures to naturally grasp the profound truth that "in contemporary China, the essence of patriotism is the high degree of unity between loving the country, loving the Party, and loving socialism," and to realize that contemporary Chinese religion must be subordinate to and adapted to the objective laws of the development of Chinese socialist society. In this sense, the goals of "studying history to understand principles, studying history to increase confidence, studying history to honor morality, and studying history to practice" [5]—which were proposed for CPC members’ Party history study—are also the positive effects that religious circles should and can seek in their educational activities.
Patriotism is the starting point and focus of this education. Patriotism nurtures collectivism, and collectivism stimulates patriotism. We must use patriotic education to integrate and absorb collectivist education. We must transcend the constraints of egoism and "small-group mentality," aligning the pursuit of personal interests and the service of one’s religious community with the collective interests of the broader masses. The "compassionate vows," "benefiting sentient beings," "universal mercy," and "great love" [6] extolled by religious sentiment should be manifested—as they are in poverty alleviation, education support, caring for orphans and the elderly, disaster relief, and the fight against COVID-19—as collectivist acts of helping those in peril and sharing the country's concerns. This aligns the good moral character advocated by religion with the socialist trend of "all for one and one for all," promoting a vigorous burst of patriotic spirit in the New Era and helping the socialist motherland—which carries the community of life for the Chinese nation—become increasingly prosperous. We must use socialist education to enrich patriotic education. The educated must recognize that "our country’s patriotism has always developed around the realization of national prosperity and people's happiness, and eventually converged into socialism with Chinese characteristics." Therefore, "one must persist in the unity of patriotism and socialism," meaning that in contemporary China, to love the country is inevitably to love socialism. As the essential feature of Chinese socialism lies in the leadership of the CPC, the fate of the motherland, the fate of socialism, and the fate of the Party are fundamentally inseparable. Thus, loving the country and loving socialism are inevitably expressed as loving the Party—supporting the Party's leadership with all one's heart and obeying the Party's guidance with total sincerity. The Initiative from national religious organizations specifically required that "Four Histories" study focus on Party history, which precisely reflects a grasp of this key issue.
In currently conducting "Four Histories" education alongside patriotism, collectivism, and socialism education, it is only natural to grasp the focus on Party history. We must integrate the study of the history of New China, reform and opening up, and socialist development into the cognitive review of the CPC’s century of struggle, its historical path, achievements, and experiences. We must see clearly why we were successful in the past and understand how we can continue to be successful in the future, thereby increasing an inner sense of identity with and love for our great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. Religious figures should connect this to their own growth in New China and their honorable status within the patriotic united front led by the CPC, seeing clearly why and how they must bear the mission and responsibility toward the country and the people. They must understand what social role their religion should play on Chinese soil in the future, never forgetting the sacred obligations of a Chinese citizen to be performed according to law, and never forgetting to promote their religion’s adaptation to the New Era and its alignment with the steps of the country and people on the new journey of socialist modernization. They should constantly inspire themselves with a sense of belonging, dignity, and honor as a member of the Chinese nation, standing in the first rank of the Sinicization of religion.
III
Patriotism is the most distinct background color and the most precious gene of China’s excellent culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "For over five thousand years, the reason the Chinese nation has been able to withstand countless unimaginable risks and tests, always maintaining vigorous vitality, thriving and passing the torch from generation to generation, is inseparable from the deep and lasting patriotic tradition of the Chinese nation."
In religious circles, conducting education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, as well as the Party history-focused "Four Histories" education, provides rich traditional and cultural resources to draw upon. Although in the long and vast river of Chinese history from ancient to modern times, patriotic consciousness centered on defending dynastic legitimacy and territory had certain limitations due to the era, its upright and majestic morality and sublime spirit possess immortal value that transcends time. Countless heroic sons and daughters of the Chinese nation have modeled for us glorious examples of loyalty to the motherland and love for China. Among them, many predecessors and sages in our country’s religious history are no less worthy of being seen as embodiments and promoters of noble patriotic morality and spirit, forming an integral part of those countless loyal patriotic examples.
If a Compendium of the History of Patriotism in Chinese Religious Circles were to be compiled, it would contain a series of world-renowned representative figures from various religions. Especially after China fell into a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society in the mid-19th century, facing the increasing humiliation and oppression of the Great Powers and the country’s deepening poverty and weakness year after year, these figures were filled with grief and indignation. They "shook out their sleeves and rose up" [7], standing with the broad masses in a tenacious struggle, vowing to salvage the nation’s fate. They left an indelible mark on the history of China’s Old Democratic Revolution and modern religious history. By the period of the New Democratic Revolution [8], patriotic religious circles unhesitatingly became members of the revolutionary United Front. Under the leadership and inspiration of the Communist Party of China (CPC), countless religious figures and believers contributed substantial strength—and even sacrificed their blood and lives—to the construction of the Red Base Areas, the Party's work in the "White Areas" [9], the Red Army's unprecedented feat of the Long March, and the final victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation. After the birth of New China, patriotic religious circles underwent the trials of "wind and rain" and made rapid progress in purging the influence of imperialist forces within Chinese religions, abolishing religious feudal privileges and systems of oppression and exploitation, and transforming Chinese religions into independent, self-managed mass undertakings for Chinese believers. Large numbers of representative religious figures enthusiastically supported and personally participated in socialist revolution and construction, resolutely defended national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and actively played an irreplaceable role in the broader patriotic United Front. The spirit and tradition of patriotism were further advanced under socialist conditions, and the realization that "only socialism can save China, and only socialism can develop China" became increasingly rooted in the hearts of the religious community.
Entering the historical period of reform and opening up, China found itself amidst profound and drastic social transformations and a complex international situation; the religious landscape also underwent massive changes. Under the guidance of the Party's basic policy on religious work, both new and old representative figures in the religious circles continued to hold high the banner of "loving the country and the religion" [10], while steadfastly maintaining the overall situation of national unity, territorial integrity, and social stability. Facing severe challenges such as overseas infiltration, the spread of cults, and the rampancy of the "Three Forces" [11], they stood firmly on the side of the state and the people, writing a new chapter of upholding the CPC, loving the socialist motherland, supporting reform and opening up, and adhering to independence and self-management. Furthermore, by expanding international exchanges, they increasingly showcased the cultural style of "diversity and harmony" and "harmonious coexistence" [12] of Chinese religions, presenting the world—where religious conflicts are unending—with a Chinese example of "the scenery here is uniquely beautiful" [13].
All these deeds and experiences are historical assets available for use at any time in today's patriotic education and Party history study, and they are undoubtedly cherished by members of the religious community.
IV
After the 18th Party Congress, Socialism with Chinese Characteristics entered a New Era. The New Era "is a new historical coordinate for our country's development," a milestone starting point in the CPC's century-long journey and millennial plan. Here, the Chinese nation is irreversibly approaching the historical moment of its great rejuvenation. The CPC has established the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core persists in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with China's fine traditional culture. From the integration of theory and practice, it has systematically answered the epochal questions of what kind of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics should be upheld and developed in the New Era, and how to uphold and develop it. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism and the Marxism of the 21st century. In less than ten years since the 18th Party Congress, the cause of the Party and the state has achieved comprehensive and groundbreaking historical achievements and undergone deep-seated and fundamental historical transformations under the guidance of this Thought. The "Two Establishments," together with these historical achievements and transformations, signify that our Party has achieved a major, global leap. They signify a generational continuation of the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development at a specific historical node of the CPC’s century-long struggle. They have created a "wealth of the era" that is in no way inferior—and is indeed fresher and more abundant—than any historical wealth from ancient times to the modern era, or the era prior to the 18th Party Congress. Placing this "wealth of the era" in the representative, symbolic position of all our historical wealth constitutes the "finishing touch" [14] and the "keystone" of education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, as well as the "Four Histories" education.
In the study and education activities of the religious circles, we must emphasize a profound understanding of the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments" and the practice of the "Two Upholds." We must emphasize a correct understanding of the historical achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the state—including religious work—since the 18th Party Congress. We must emphasize a deep comprehension of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, including the Party's theories, principles, and policies on religious work in the New Era. Without this, the entire study and education activity will lose its soul and deviate from the expected results. Representative religious figures and religious work departments should pay special attention to this issue when organizing and inspecting study and education activities.
V
On November 11, 2021, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee adopted the Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party's Centennial Struggle (hereinafter referred to as the "Resolution"). It summarizes the glorious journey of the CPC and the brilliant achievements it has led the people to attain, as well as the Party's valuable experience in promoting revolution, construction, and reform. Highlighting the New Era as its focus, the Resolution summarizes the theoretical and practical progress, historical achievements, historical transformations, and fresh experiences accumulated in the cause of the Party and the state since the 18th Party Congress. The Resolution very opportunely provides a comprehensive, accurate, and concise authoritative textbook and general outline for the "Four Histories" education and education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism. We must integrate the study of the Resolution with the simultaneous "Two Educations" into a unified arrangement, optimize activity plans in a coordinated manner, and treat the earnest comprehension of the spirit of the Resolution as a swift path and powerful driving force for achieving early results in these education activities. We see that the religious circles are currently putting this into action, which is encouraging and deserves praise.
VI
The religious circles carrying out education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, as well as education in the history of the Party, New China, reform and opening up, and socialist development, is a component of the spirit of the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work. This conference spirit is an organic whole; it is both a continuation of the spirit of the 2016 National Conference on Religious Work and the latest crystallization of religious work theory and practice since the 18th Party Congress. It serves as the general program and fundamental guidance for religious work in the New Era. Therefore, the study and education activities in the religious circles must be closely linked with the complete, accurate, and comprehensive implementation of the spirit of the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work. We must fulfill the "targeted" requirement specifically proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping when he deployed the "Four Histories" education to the religious circles. Since 2018, China's five major religions have successively formulated five-year plans for adhering to the direction of Sinicization. These plans have exposed and addressed concepts, styles, systems, and behaviors within various religions that do not conform to the overall goal of Sinicization or are detrimental to the healthy transmission of religion in the New Era. The 2021 National Conference on Religious Work clearly adhered to a problem-oriented approach, re-examining the key tasks of religious work and proposing the requirement for "comprehensively and strictly governing religions" to the religious community.
In the process of implementing these "five-year plans," the religious circles should seize the opportunity of implementing the spirit of the National Conference on Religious Work to further mobilize their awareness of existing problems. They should purposefully draw upon relevant content from the "Four Histories" to inspire and drive each religion to respond directly to the various challenges facing Sinicization and the cultivation of religious conduct. Based on the different circumstances and problems of each religion, we must seek truth from facts and consider factors such as historical, cultural, regional, and ethnic differences. While using unified textbooks for universal and general education, we must refine specific education plans according to the specific religion, locality, and audience ("person"). We should flexibly choose teaching methods, promptly promote typical experiences, and appropriately use local and ethnic examples from within those religions. Furthermore, we must creatively transform the excellent elements and beneficial concepts of traditional Chinese culture into a "nutrient base" in which contemporary Chinese religion can be immersed. This will make the "Four Histories" education—centered on Party history—a "spiritual weapon" that helps solve the prominent problems of each religion. Through the practical results of the self-refinement of religious circles and the self-construction of religious organizations, we will fully demonstrate its political and cultural efficacy in elevating the ideological level of believers and refreshing the macroscopic appearance of all religions.
The above reflects a preliminary understanding from six aspects regarding "carrying out education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism among religious circles, and purposively strengthening education on the history of the Party, New China, reform and opening up, and the development of socialism": 1. Fulfilling the requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping is the responsibility of religious circles and is of great significance; 2. The relationship between education in the "Two Educations" and the "Four Histories"; 3. Religious circles possess abundant historical wealth available for these activities; 4. We must emphasize a correct understanding of the "Two Establishments" and the historical achievements and transformations since the 18th Party Congress; 5. Integrating the study of the Resolution of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee into the unified arrangement of the "Two Educations"; 6. Strengthening the targeted nature of education to respond to challenges in religious Sinicization and the cultivation of religious conduct.
Carrying out these educational initiatives in the religious circles is a top-level strategic design to guide China's religions in completing a historic leap on the path of adapting to socialist society with Chinese characteristics. It is a powerful "empowerment action" to ensure that the religious community plays a more positive role in the "Great Struggle, Great Project, and Great Cause" led by the CPC in the New Era, striving together with the broad masses—including believers—to ultimately realize the Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. However, we should not view the "Two Educations" as a short-term task to be completed at once. Instead, they should be a long-term compulsory course for regular political and ideological education in the religious circles. We must base ourselves on the long term, persist over the long term, and ensure that the learning is constantly renewed, allowing the education activities to bear continuous fruit. We believe that China's religious circles will surely grasp this important opportunity related to the future and destiny of Chinese religion, striving to temper, improve, and mold themselves through these activities. With new achievements in religious Sinicization and a new landscape in the governance of religious affairs, they shall repay the care and expectations of the Party Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping.
Online Editor: Tongxin
Source: Science and Atheism, No. 3, 2022