Marxism Research Network
Unofficial English Translation

Introduction to the Research Office of Marxist Atheism

About the Institute

The Marxist Atheism Research Department currently comprises four researchers: one Senior Research Fellow, one Associate Research Fellow, two Assistant Research Fellows, and one Master's supervisor. The current Director of the Department is Huang Yanhong.

The primary research areas of the Marxist Atheism Research Department include General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on religious work, the theory and practice of Marxist atheism, Marxist religious studies, atheism publicity and education, the Party’s theories, principles, and policies on religious work, the history of Chinese and foreign atheism, the "Two Combinations" [1] and the atheistic genes within fine traditional Chinese culture, the scientific spirit and scientific methods, as well as cults and worship groups. Currently, members of the Department are undertaking four ongoing National Social Science Fund projects: the Academic Society project "Achievements and Experiences of Atheism Publicity and Education in the New Era," the Key project "Research on the History of the Rise and Fall of Soviet Atheism," the General project "Research on Contemporary Western New Atheist Trends," and the Youth project "Research on Theoretical Innovation and Practical Experience of Marxist Atheism Publicity and Education in the New Era," alongside several other national, provincial, and ministerial-level projects.

Centering on these primary research areas, the representative research outputs of the Department in recent years are as follows:

Books:

  1. Center for Science and Atheism Research, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin on Scientific Atheism, China Social Sciences Press, 2024.
  2. Huang Yanhong: Research on the Development of Science and Culture in China's Rural Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Press, 2021.
  3. Margaret Thaler Singer: Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Threat, translated by Huang Yanhong, Lantai Press, 2020.
  4. Zhang Ge: Research on Marxist Atheism Publicity and Education in Contemporary China, China Social Sciences Press, 2024.

Articles:

  1. Huang Yanhong: "The Origin of the Academic System of Chinese Marxist Religious Studies: An Historical Inquiry Based on Research from its Founding Period," Studies in World Religions [2], Issue 6, 2020.
  2. Huang Yanhong: "The 'Three Major Systems' of Disciplinary Construction in Soviet Scientific Atheism," The World Religious Cultures, Issue 2, 2024.
  3. Huang Yanhong: "A Brief History of Ideas in Marxist Atheism Research in New China," Science and Atheism, Issue 5, 2022.
  4. Han Qi: "Marxist Religious Studies' Thought on Science and Religion: Based on Engels' Research," Studies in World Religions, Issue 8, 2022.
  5. Han Qi: "On the Theoretical Connotation of 'Critical Theology'," The World Religious Cultures, Issue 2, 2024.
  6. Han Qi: "Report on the Development of Marxist Atheism Publicity and Education in the New Era (2012–2022)," Science and Atheism, Issue 5, 2022.
  7. Zhang Jiansong: "Plekhanov's Critique of 'God-Seeking' and the Interpretation of Marxist Atheism," Marxist Studies, Issue 2, 2024.
  8. Zhang Jiansong: "Plekhanov: A Shining Banner of Marxist Atheism," Science and Atheism, Issue 5, 2022.
  9. Zhang Ge: "The Worldview and Methodological Implications of General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Discourses on Religious Work," Studies in World Religions, Issue 3, 2024.
  10. Zhang Ge: "The Scientific Connotation, Original Contributions, and Practical Requirements of Xi Jinping's Important Discourses on Atheism Publicity and Education," Observation and Reflection, Issue 5, 2024.
  11. Zhang Ge: "The Construction Logic of the Narrative System for Marxist Atheism Publicity and Education," Science and Atheism, Issue 5, 2022.

The Department specifically organizes the CASS Scientific Atheism Forum and the Annual Conference of the China Association for Atheism. Founded in 2014, the CASS Scientific Atheism Forum is one of the ten major forums of the CASS Marxism Theory Research and Development Project [3], held annually.

As the only dedicated atheism research entity in the country, the Marxist Atheism Research Department operates under an "integrated editorial and research" model with the editorial office of Science and Atheism. Simultaneously, it works in a "four-in-one" capacity with the CASS Center for Science and Atheism Research and the China Association for Atheism to shoulder the mission and tasks of disciplinary construction for "Scientific Atheism." Scientific Atheism is a "special discipline" supported by the CASS "Peak Strategy" (Dengfeng Strategy) [4]. The Department carries the important task of leading and promoting the disciplinary construction of Scientific Atheism and Marxist religious studies. Furthermore, to effectively carry out the Party’s ideological work, the Department undertakes the vital task of exploring and promoting atheism publicity and education. To support the Party’s religious work, the Department maintains a continuous focus on researching, preventing, and resolving risks and hidden dangers in the religious sphere, actively providing policy recommendations.