The 6th National Congress of the Chinese Atheism Society and the 2023 Annual Academic Conference Held in Beijing
To deeply study and implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, and to further implement the spirit of the National Conference on Religious Work held in 2016 and 2021, the 6th General Assembly of the Chinese Society of Atheism and the 2023 Academic Annual Meeting were held in Beijing from June 10–11. This meeting was sponsored by the Chinese Society of Atheism, the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and the Center for Science and Atheism of CASS, with the editorial department of Science and Atheism providing co-organization. The theme of the conference was "Atheist Propaganda and Education in Rural Areas in the New Era."
Gong Yun, a research fellow who serves as the Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Institute of Finance of CASS, and who was Vice President of the 5th Council of the Chinese Society of Atheism and Director of the Center for Science and Atheism of CASS, delivered the opening remarks. Fan Jianxin, Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Institute of Political Science of CASS and President of the 5th Council of the Chinese Society of Atheism, presented the work report of the 5th Council. He Xinyuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Sinicization of Marxism at the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS, presided over the opening ceremony.
In his remarks, Gong Yun pointed out that 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of Comrade Mao Zedong’s important instruction [1] on "Strengthening the Study of Religious Issues." Holding the 6th General Assembly of the Chinese Society of Atheism and the 2023 Academic Annual Meeting today is both a commemoration of Comrade Mao Zedong’s instruction and an expression of high respect for the older generation of pioneers in Marxist atheist research, such as Mr. Ren Jiyu [2]. Today, representatives from across the country have gathered to elect the new Council and Council leadership of the Chinese Society of Atheism. Simultaneously, scholars from various research fields have met in Beijing to offer counsel and suggestions for atheist propaganda and education in rural areas in the New Era.
President Fan Jianxin delivered the work report to the 6th General Assembly on behalf of the 5th Council of the Chinese Society of Atheism. He noted that since the 5th General Assembly was held in December 2018, the Society has experienced a series of major and joyous events over the past four years, including the 70th-anniversary celebrations of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the successful completion of the task of poverty alleviation, the comprehensive building of a moderately prosperous society, and the victorious convening of the 20th National Congress. During this period, under the firm leadership of the supervisory unit and with the strong support of all members and directors, the Society’s work has developed steadily. Notable achievements, and even important breakthroughs in certain areas, have been made in the construction of atheism as a discipline, theoretical research, atheist propaganda and education, the containment of religious extremist trends of thought, and providing policy recommendations [3].
Following the opening ceremony, the assembly held the election for the new Council of the Chinese Society of Atheism. First, members from across the country elected the directors of the 6th Council. Subsequently, the directors elected the leadership and executive directors of the 6th Council. Gong Yun was elected President; ten individuals, including Wang Zhen, Wang Yueqing, Lü Jianfu, Song Yuehong, He Xinyuan, Gu Guanghai, Huang Chao, Peng Wuqing, Zeng Chuanhui, and Dai Jicheng, were elected Vice Presidents; and Huang Yanhong was elected Secretary-General. Newly elected President Gong Yun stated that he would shoulder his mission, unite and lead Marxist atheist researchers and propaganda workers nationwide to expand and strengthen the cause of Chinese atheism, and give full play to the due role of the Chinese Society of Atheism.
During the keynote report session, Zhu Xiaoming, Honorary President of the Chinese Society of Atheism and former Party Secretary of the China Tibetology Research Center, shared several insights on persisting in and publicizing Marxist atheism. First, adhering to Marxist atheism is a major principle. Second, one must always maintain the dominant position of Marxist atheism as the mainstream ideology in the minds of the masses. Third, fully implement the Party's basic policy on religious work. Fourth, properly grasp the "relationship between freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle." Fifth, strengthen targeted propaganda for Marxist atheism.
Tian Xinming, Consultant to the Chinese Society of Atheism and former Director of the Social Sciences Development Center of the Ministry of Education, spoke on the primary question in atheist research: what is Marxist atheism, and how should it be treated? He posited that only Marxist atheism constitutes scientific atheism in the sense of social science. The relationship between Marxist atheism and the discipline of atheism is that of a guiding ideology and the disciplinary, academic, and discourse systems [4] guided by it. Atheism research and disciplinary construction should have a "division of labor without separation" from religious studies; it should closely monitor and participate in the research and development of religious studies while remaining committed to its own disciplinary construction to promote the cause of atheism.
Jia Runguo, a member of the Academic Advisory Committee of the CASS Center for Science and Atheism and Deputy Director of the Religious Research Center of the Central United Front Work Department, pointed out that the current mission of Marxist atheist research in the New Era is to construct the "three systems" of New Era Marxist atheism. First, clarify that Marxist atheism is a foundational discipline within the Marxist study of religion and a cross-disciplinary field between the Marxist study of religion and philosophy. Second, construct the "disciplinary system" based on the practical needs of Marxist atheist education. Third, construct the "academic system" based on the actual situation of religious and atheist development domestically and internationally. Fourth, construct the "discourse system" of Marxist atheism.
Professor Gu Guanghai—Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Xinjiang University, Director of the Base for Forging a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation, Dean of the School of Marxism, and Director of the Institute of Philosophy—first theoretically defined "adapting religion to socialist society." He then analyzed several prominent issues where religion does not adapt to socialist society and finally proposed several suggestions on how to guide religion toward such adaptation.
During the conference summary phase, Jia Runguo pointed out that the next task is to further explore the construction of the "three systems" for Marxist atheism in the New Era. Professor Li Shen remarked, "Now we can say one thing: there are finally people speaking about atheism!" He pointed out that atheism is the ideological foundation of Marxism and the ideological foundation of Communist Party members; therefore, we must continue to remain firm in our atheist stance. Currently, although our cause has developed significantly, looking at the international and domestic situations, it remains difficult to achieve rapid development in a short period. Atheist research, propaganda, and education constitute a long-term and arduous cause; we must hold our ground and prepare for a long-term, persistent defense. He expressed hope that in this battle, which resembles the spiritual "Battle of Shangganling," [5] none of the colleagues present would fall behind or retreat.
During the expert speech session, participating scholars conducted in-depth discussions on themes such as "The Theory and Practice of Atheist Propaganda and Education in Rural Areas in the New Era," "History and Experience of Atheist Propaganda and Education in China and Abroad," "Basic Theory of Marxist Atheism," "Chinese Civilization and Atheism," "Disciplinary Construction of Marxist Religious Studies," "Religious Governance," "The Party’s Religious Work," "Research on Countering Cults," and "The History of Atheism in China and Abroad."
More than 90 representatives attended the meeting from archives and institutions including the Central United Front Work Department, the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Institute of Socialism, the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the CASS Institute of Political Science, the CASS Institute of Finance, the CASS Institute of Contemporary China, the CASS Institute of World Religions, Xinjiang University, Xinjiang Normal University, Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics, Shihezi University, Inner Mongolia University, Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Shanxi University, Hebei Normal University, Nankai University, Shandong University, Wuhan University, Sichuan University, Zhejiang University, People's Public Security University of China, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beihang University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Capital Normal University, and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, as well as various Party schools (academies of governance), research institutions, and departments of ethnic and religious affairs.