Dou Gaofei and Dai Lixing: Strengthening the Party's Ideological and Political Work in the New Era Must Enhance Atheism Education
In September 2025, the "Regulations on the Ideological and Political Work of the Communist Party of China," issued by the CPC Central Committee, emphasized: "Strengthen education in dialectical materialism and historical materialism, and strengthen education in atheism." Strengthening education in atheism is an inevitable requirement for the Party to carry out ideological and political work and consolidate the ideological foundations of Marxism in the New Era. Currently, the impact of theistic trends of thought 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 education in atheism.
I. Adherence to Atheism is a Distinctive Character of the Communist Party of China
In The Attitude of the Workers' Party to Religion, Lenin pointed out: "The philosophical basis of Marxism, as Marx and Engels repeatedly declared, is dialectical materialism, which has fully taken over the historical traditions of eighteenth-century materialism in France and of Feuerbach (first half of the nineteenth century) in Germany—a materialism which is absolutely atheistic and positively hostile to all religion." This highly scientific and revolutionary assertion clarifies the thoroughgoing atheistic stance of Marxism. Since the day of its founding, the Communist Party of China has consistently adhered to and implemented the fundamental stance of Marxist atheism, continuously consolidating the atheistic worldview of Party members and officials, thereby laying a solid ideological foundation for the various undertakings of the Party.
(1) Atheism is the Political Underpinning [1] of Chinese Communists
As loyal believers and steadfast practitioners of Marxism, Chinese Communists have always taken atheism as their distinctive political underpinning. This color originates from both theoretical consciousness and is rooted in the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission.
1. The Premise and Foundation of Marxism The nature and purpose of the Communist Party of China dictate that it must take Marxist atheism as the foundation of its own worldview. This is collectively determined by the Party's theoretical origins, its goals of struggle, and its fundamental position of putting the people first. It is precisely this thoroughgoing atheistic stance, built on the foundation of a scientific worldview, that has fortified the Marxist theoretical bedrock for the CPC and provided the ideological source for practicing its original aspiration and founding mission.
Marxism is based on solid natural sciences and supported by a profound philosophical revolution; its worldview and methodology are dialectical materialism and historical materialism. As the cornerstone of the Marxist theoretical system, Marxist atheism thoroughly 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" clarifies that social development is the result of the movement of contradictions within human society, rather than being driven by the will of deities.
When Marx and Engels founded scientific socialism, they explicitly took atheism as the ideological foundation of the communist movement, noting that "communism begins from the outset (as Other) with atheism" and emphasizing that "socialists are called practical atheists." This judgment was made based on the scientific grasp of the laws of human social development provided by historical materialism—namely, that communism is a higher social form that replaces capitalism—and its essence is to achieve the free and comprehensive development of man. The concepts advocated by religion, such as the "world beyond," are essentially illusory reflections of real social contradictions and exist in fundamental tension with the goal of real-world liberation pursued by communism.
2. The Practical Requirements of the Original Aspiration and Founding Mission General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "As soon as it was born, the Communist Party of China established seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation as its original aspiration and founding mission." To practice this mission, one must rely on practical struggle in the real world rather than placing hope in illusory spiritual sustenance; this is highly consistent with the practical core of Marxist atheism.
With Marxism as its guiding ideology, the CPC has always taken the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics as its goals of struggle. 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, it takes practice as the core, profoundly revealing the social roots and historical transience of religion's emergence. It advocates for the dissolution of the material and spiritual soil upon which religion relies by transforming real society and developing 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 consolation, but rather, by organizing and leading the masses in hard struggle, to achieve national prosperity, national rejuvenation, and the people's happiness in the real world.
From a practical dimension, adhering to atheism is essentially the basis for taking a firm stand on the people's position. Atheism breaks the dependence on supernatural forces and returns the fundamental driving force of social development to the production practice of the masses, which is in the same strain as the basic principle of historical materialism that "the masses are the creators of history." The mission of Communists is to lead the people to liberate themselves from superstition in gods and spirits, relying on their own strength to create a better life. Conversely, if atheism is abandoned, one may fall into the myths of idealism, deviate from the fundamental path of practical struggle, and ultimately betray the lofty ideal of communism.
(2) Strengthening Education in Atheism is of Great Significance to the Development of the Cause of the Party and the People
Persisting in education in Marxist atheism is conducive to maintaining our country’s ideological security and is a key measure for consolidating the guiding position of Marxism 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 bedrock of Marxism, which will inevitably bring about ideological confusion in the realm of ideology. Therefore, only by persisting in education in Marxist atheism can we guide members of society over the long term to establish a scientific worldview, outlook on life, and values, draw a clear line between materialism and idealism, atheism and theism, and effectively avoid the erosion of the guiding position of Marxism by theistic thinking.
Persisting in education in Marxist atheism is conducive to Party members and officials strengthening their ideals and beliefs, serving as an "ideological compass" to help them maintain political sobriety. The advanced nature and purity of the Party require every member of the CPC to be firm in their faith in Marxism. Currently, we are in the midst of "changes unseen in a century" [2], where religion has become an important tool for overseas hostile forces to carry out ideological infiltration, while various domestic social trends of thought are intensely interwoven. In this context, some Party members and officials have lost their ideals and beliefs, abandoned the fundamental stance of Marxist atheism, and ultimately lost their proper political discernment and political sensitivity, seeking spiritual sustenance in superstitious ideas. Only by persisting in and strengthening the propaganda and education of atheism within the Party can we help members and officials firmly establish a steadfast belief in atheism and always perceive the world from the perspective of dialectical materialism. This ensures they are neither confused by the idealist view of history that "divine will governs history" nor carried away by various erroneous trends of thought, always maintaining a firm identification with the Party's theory and political loyalty.
Persisting in education in Marxist atheism is conducive to establishing scientific social customs and serves as a "spiritual bond" for uniting the heart of 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 a value orientation for building rational and healthy social customs, further enhancing the cultural confidence and sense of unity of the entire nation. By carrying out propaganda and education on atheism throughout society, we can strengthen the scientific spirit, enhance the nation's cultural soft power, and promote the formation of a civilized and progressive social atmosphere. It must be clarified that adhering to atheism does not mean negating the existence of religion or opposing religious believers; rather, it is based on a scientific worldview to more effectively achieve the political unity of different groups. In our country, both atheists and religious believers are builders of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and their fundamental interests are identical. 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 consensus amid the reality of ideological diversity and consolidates the great unity of the Chinese nation, thereby truly playing the cohesive role of a "spiritual bond."
II. The Necessity of Strengthening Education in Atheism in the Party's Ideological and Political Work in the New Era
Marxist atheism is the cornerstone and starting point of the Marxist theoretical system, as well as an indispensable spiritual character of Chinese Communists. Ideological and political work is a fine tradition, a distinctive feature, and a prominent political advantage of the Party, concerning its future destiny and the long-term stability of the country. Persisting in education in atheism in the Party's ideological and political work in the New Era is both an inevitable requirement of following the fine tradition of the Party's century-long ideological and political work and a practical choice for responding to current real-world challenges.
(1) Education in Atheism is a Fine Tradition of the Ideological and Political Work of the CPC
Since its founding, the CPC has always taken education in atheism as a core content of its ideological and political work, running through every historical stage of revolution, construction, and reform.
During the Period of the New Democratic Revolution [3], our country was in a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, where theism and religion became tools for ideological control by feudal forces and imperialism. The CPC used Marxist atheism as an ideological weapon, advocating science and democracy while opposing feudal superstition. During the Yan'an Period [4], superstition, illiteracy, and poor hygiene were listed together as the "three great evils" [5] of the Border Region; in response, it was argued that there must be "scientific development and popularization" to help the masses break free from the shackles of theism, and the practical orientation of atheism propaganda was reinforced through special rectification campaigns.
During the period of socialist revolution and construction, education in atheism became systematized. The relationship between atheism propaganda/education and respect for freedom of religious belief, as well as how to carry out atheism propaganda in a socialist country, became core issues in the ideological and political field during this period. Mao Zedong pointed out the need to "replace idealism with materialism and replace theism with atheism," while also noting in On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People: "All questions of an ideological nature or controversial issues among the people can only be settled by the democratic method, by the method of discussion, of criticism, of persuasion and education, and not by the method of coercion or repression." Based on these principles, while guaranteeing freedom of religious belief, the Party and the state both strengthened research into atheism and actively popularized materialism and scientific knowledge among the masses.
In the early period of Reform and Opening-up, education in atheism gradually became institutionalized and standardized. In 1982, with the importance attached to it by Deng Xiaoping, the Central Committee issued the "Basic Viewpoint and Policy on the Religious Question during Our Country's Socialist Period," constructing the institutional framework for education in atheism. 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 propaganda and education in atheism are not contradictory to the implementation of the policy of freedom of religious belief, providing more solid support for promoting the cause of atheism propaganda and education.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress [6], in the face of profound changes in the domestic and international ideological situation as well as new challenges such as online superstition and overseas religious infiltration, education in atheism has been elevated to the strategic height of Party building. Addressing problems within the Party such as "believing in ghosts and gods instead of Marx and Lenin," General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of important discourses on atheism and systematically expounded the connotations and requirements of atheism in the New Era within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In 2021, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the "Opinions on Strengthening and Improving Ideological and Political Work in the New Era," explicitly emphasizing the strengthening of education in Marxist materialism and atheism and promoting the institutionalization, standardization, and normalization of related propaganda and education, providing a powerful guarantee for responding to ideological risks and consolidating the ideological foundation of the whole Party.
(2) Prominent Problems Facing the Party’s Education in Atheism in the New Era
In the century-long course of the Party's struggle, propaganda and education in atheism have achieved remarkable results. However, in the context of the New Era, influenced by factors such as the impact of diverse trends of thought and changes in communication methods, the mainstream dominant position of Marxist atheism has been squeezed, various superstitious ideas have spread, and the Party's education in atheism faces prominent problems.
First, there are deviations in the ideological understanding of education in atheism, which constitute a fundamental obstacle to the advancement of Marxist atheism education. Education in Marxist atheism is not merely the dissemination of knowledge; it is an ideological educational practice centered on a scientific worldview and guided by Party spirit cultivation and cultural confidence, in which correct ideological understanding is a prerequisite for the complete chain of educational practice.
Current cognitive deviations regarding education in Marxist atheism are mainly reflected in a misalignment of the understanding of its theoretical essence and epochal value. For one, some Party members and officials do not understand the essence of Marxist atheism, simply equating it with...
A mechanistic cognition characterized by the "denial of the existence of religion," which adopts a neutral or even oppositional stance toward atheism rather than a clear-cut materialist position. Second, some regions and units possess an insufficient understanding of the contemporary value of Marxist atheism. This causes the popularization of scientific knowledge and atheistic propaganda and education to become a mere formality with weak results, even leading to a tendency toward lax regulation of, or active pandering to, superstitious activities. Third, a utilitarian mutation of political cognition has occurred among individual Party members and cadres, who view power as a tool for seeking private gain. Amidst this fetishization of power, they gradually slide toward a blind following of deities, deviating from the basic standpoint of materialism. Fourth, some Party members and cadres hold cognitive biases regarding the Party’s religious policies, mistakenly equating the principle of "freedom of religious belief" with the idea that Party members may believe in religion, thereby blurring the boundary between the personal beliefs of a citizen and the political faith of a Party member. These factors overlap, not only eroding the ideological purity of the Party ranks but also directly weakening the ideological foundation and practical efficacy of Marxist atheistic education.
Furthermore, prominent shortcomings in the field of educational practice constitute a major shackle restricting the improvement of the effectiveness of Marxist atheistic education. Flexible and adaptive educational methods, along with a professional talent corps, are the key supports for enhancing the relevance and appeal of atheistic propaganda and education. However, constrained by the objective sensitivity of religious issues and the delayed updating of educational concepts, current atheistic propaganda and education suffer from significant deficiencies. First, regarding educational content, some propaganda and education remain hollow and abstract, failing to respond to "real problems" by integrating social reality with the ideological state of the masses. This leads to a lack of specificity and attractiveness, making it difficult to trigger ideological resonance in the educational subjects. Second, regarding educational methods, some regions and units still adhere to a unidirectional indoctrination model of "reading out documents and reports." They fail to fully utilize new media technologies and communication platforms, ignoring the interactive and scenario-based characteristics of ideological communication in the new media era while also failing to meet the information-consumption habits of the contemporary masses, particularly the youth. Third, regarding educational subjects, a "one-size-fits-all" [7] crude educational strategy is adopted, lacking an assessment of the ideological needs of groups varying by age, profession, and cognitive level, which prevents the realization of precise and segmented educational supply. Fourth, the teaching force for atheistic education suffers from a "gap between generations" [8], with a severe shortage of professional talent. Due to a lack of systematic training, general teachers typically have a low level of emphasis on and understanding of "atheism" education, making it difficult to promote atheism "into the brain and into the heart." This series of problems makes it difficult for Marxist atheistic education to truly reach the ideological depths of the subjects; its power of guidance, persuasion, and appeal is significantly weakened, ultimately restricting the full release of educational effectiveness.
Lastly, the inadequacy of guarantee and supervision mechanisms has become a key bottleneck restricting the effective implementation of Marxist atheistic education. In some regions, the advancement of related work is characterized by structural problems such as the hollowing out of primary responsibility, imperfect assessment and evaluation systems, and a lack of supervision and accountability mechanisms. In the practice of upholding the major principles of Marxist atheism and carrying out propaganda and education, several issues have emerged: insufficient coordination caused by the "fragmentation" [9] of work functions, a lack of relevance caused by the "formalization" of work methods, and a restorative/non-normalized tendency of "only acting when superiors deploy and only rectifying when problems appear." Particularly prominent is the absence of risk-screening mechanisms and the insufficient investigation, punishment, and accountability for Party members and cadres participating in superstitious activities. This both weakens the rigid constraints of institutional execution and damages the seriousness and authority of educational work. These intertwined problems lead not only to insufficient momentum in advancing Marxist atheistic education but also make it difficult for educational outcomes to form a long-term mechanism, preventing sustained consolidation and deepening.
III. Strengthening Atheistic Education is the "Point of Application" for Ideological and Political Work in the New Era
Strengthening atheistic education is a key measure for consolidating the ideological foundation of the whole Party and cultivating the "people of the era" in the New Era. However, some Party organizations currently face a practical dilemma of "not wanting to speak, not daring to speak, and not knowing how to speak" when carrying out ideological and political work. Addressing this issue, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has clearly identified atheistic propaganda and education as an important point of application for ideological and political work in the New Era, providing a fundamental guideline for systematically advancing related work.
(1) Deepening Theoretical Armament
"Only with theoretical clarity can there be political firmness." To deepen atheistic education, one must break through the single dimension of traditional theoretical interpretation, construct a multi-disciplinary theoretical innovation system, and fortify the theoretical foundation of Marxist atheism.
First, a "perspective of the era" must be injected into the re-interpretation of classic theories. There must be a systematic study of the important discourses of classical authors on scientific atheism. This requires a profound grasp of the historical laws governing the emergence, development, and eventual extinction of theism. Furthermore, it must integrate the changes in social structure and trends in technological development in the New Era to interpret the modern communication logic and mutated forms of theistic trends. It must be clarified that atheistic education is not a simple denial of 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.
Second, the Sinicized and modernized development of Marxist atheism must be accurately understood. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has proceeded from the overall strategic situation to scientifically assess the state of atheistic propaganda and religious work, systematically expounding a series of major theoretical and practical issues. Based on the theoretical achievements of the New Era, the important discourses of General Secretary Xi Jinping on religious work and ideological and political education must be comprehensively integrated into the entire educational process. This promotes the fusion of atheistic education with the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, ensuring that theoretical study always resonates at the same frequency as the times.
Finally, the innovation of atheistic theoretical research must be actively promoted. On one hand, disciplinary support and the training of specialized talent should be strengthened to deepen research on the basic principles, evolutionary laws, and educational practices of atheism. On the other hand, the cross-integration of atheistic research with related disciplines such as philosophy, history, psychology, and sociology should be promoted to expand and enrich the theoretical system of atheism from multiple dimensions.
(2) Innovating Work Methods
Influenced by technological development and the diversification of social trends in the New Era, the ideological concepts, cognitive models, and information-reception methods of Party members, cadres, and the masses have undergone profound changes. For Marxist atheistic education to achieve results, it must break through the limitations of traditional models and actively explore new methods, paths, and carriers adapted to the new situation.
On one hand, it is necessary to integrate diverse communication channels—including traditional theoretical preaching, offline practice, and new media—to construct an all-around, multi-dimensional communication matrix. Currently, various theistic and superstitious ideas use network platforms and new media technology to spread in more hidden, diverse, and deceptive ways. This requires atheistic propaganda and education to advance with the times and respond to these impacts with more flexible methods. Simultaneously, the discourse system of theoretical propaganda must be innovated, transforming obscure and abstract "official discourse" into easy-to-understand "popular language." Logic fallacies such as "creationism" should be debunked using specific cases, allowing the spirit of scientific rationality to truly integrate into daily thinking and become an ideological weapon for people to understand and transform the world.
On the other hand, modern technological means must be deeply integrated to break the limitations of educational scenarios. 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 to enhance the appeal and sense of experience of the education. Importance must be attached to the construction of online ideological positions for scientific atheism. Big data and artificial intelligence should be leveraged to accurately capture user needs, push adaptive educational content, and actively respond to the challenges of theism and superstition, guiding internet users to establish a scientific atheistic worldview. Furthermore, focus should be placed on the combination of theory and practice, pushing atheistic education deep into the real life of the masses. Through rich cultural, scientific, and volunteer activities, the masses can experience the practical value of Marxist atheism through participation.
(3) Highlighting Work Priorities
Marxist atheistic propaganda and education is a systemic project. One should adhere to the approach of "grasping the key to drive the whole." On the basis of coordinating the overall situation, the relevance to the educational subjects should be enhanced to achieve precise "drip irrigation" [10] and targeted efforts, ensuring that educational resources are used where they matter most.
First, one must grasp the "key minority" [11] of leading cadres, giving play to their leading and exemplary role of "leading from the top." As the leadership core of the Party's various tasks and the backbone of the Party and state's cause, the purity of a leading cadre's faith directly relates to the Party's governance capacity, leadership level, and foundation of rule. Therefore, strengthening Marxist atheistic education for leading cadres is the top priority of 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 discipline education, thereby building a firm ideological frontline of atheism for leading cadres.
Second, the focus should be on the youth, consolidating the "foundation project" of Marxist atheistic education. The youth are in a critical period for the formation of their worldview, outlook on life, and values; their cognitive discrimination ability is not yet mature, making them vulnerable to the penetration of idealist trends and the traps of theism. We should boldly and justly promote atheistic education in textbooks and classrooms. Particularly in areas deeply affected by religion, courses on Marxist atheism should be gradually added to primary, secondary, and higher education in accordance with educational laws. Simultaneously, a system for textbook compilation, teacher training, and teaching practice adapted to the characteristics of the youth must be constructed.
Finally, emerging fields must be expanded to bridge educational blind spots. With the rapid economic and social development of our country, profound changes in production methods and social structures have promoted the vigorous development of the "Three New" [12] fields. However, because traditional Party building is relatively weak and ideological and political work coverage is insufficient in these areas, they easily become breeding grounds for the spread of theism and superstition. Therefore, strengthening atheistic education in the "Three New" fields is an important front that urgently needs expansion. The problem of coverage can be solved through a "regionalized + functionalized + networked" system. A "linkage of online + offline" learning matrix and layered/categorized education can reinforce atheistic ideological guidance. Party members in the "Three New" fields should be encouraged to play a vanguard and exemplary role, respecting and understanding the ideological reality of ordinary employees, guiding them to abide by national laws and regulations and profoundly understand national religious policies. Policies should be tailored to the characteristics of new economic organizations, new social organizations, and new employment groups, integrating atheistic education into the daily management of enterprises to avoid stiff preaching and formalism.
(4) Establishing and Improving a Long-term Mechanism for Atheistic Education
Marxist atheistic propaganda and education is not a temporary task but a systemic project that requires long-term persistence. A complete, scientific, standardized, and effective work mechanism must be established and improved to ensure that the education continues to exert force and achieve results.
First, improve the responsibility implementation mechanism. Party leadership is the major premise. Transforming macro responsibilities into specific, executable task lists is the core of implementation. We must persist in Party leadership and construct a work pattern where the Party committee provides unified leadership, the Party and government manage together, relevant departments take their respective responsibilities, and the whole of society participates coordinately. Atheistic education should be treated as an important part of ideological work, incorporated into the Responsibility System for Ideological Work. The primary responsibility of Party organizations at all levels must be refined to form a "chain of responsibility," ensuring that the construction of a long-term mechanism is managed, overseen, and implemented.
Second, construct an assessment and evaluation mechanism. A scientific assessment mechanism can effectively transform "soft rules" into "hard constraints." A comprehensive evaluation system combining quantitative and qualitative measures should be established, and the results of atheistic propaganda and education assessments should be included as important content in the evaluations of Party organizations and units. Advanced models and successful experiences should be promoted and commended, while instances of insufficient emphasis or weak implementation should be urged for rectification to form a clear work orientation.
Third, strengthen the guarantee and support mechanism. A sound guarantee mechanism lays a solid foundation for carrying out Marxist atheistic education systematically and normally. Rule-of-law thinking and methods should be used to carry out atheistic education, incorporating its basic principles and requirements into relevant laws, regulations, and rules. Financial investment should be increased to establish a fiscal guarantee mechanism with steady growth, and funding channels should be broadened. Finally, the disciplinary construction of Marxist atheism must be strengthened, cultivating a professional education corps to enhance the professional level of the education.
Fourth is the improvement of supervision and feedback mechanisms. The long-term mechanism for atheism education requires continuous adjustment and perfection based on practical feedback, forming an effective closed-loop management system. It is necessary to conduct timely investigations to grasp the ideological trends of the masses and the implementation status of education, accurately identifying key areas and weak links where theist ideological trends [13] may infiltrate. A rapid response mechanism must be established to provide timely guidance and correction when signs of erroneous ideas emerge. Education content and methods should be dynamically adjusted based on feedback to ensure that atheism education remains consistently aligned with practical needs.
Source: Science and Atheism, Issue 1, 2026. Editor: Huihui