Introduction to the Chinese Atheism Society

The Chinese Atheism Society is a national academic mass organization ^[1] dedicated to the study of Marxist religious studies and Chinese and foreign atheist thought. It was established at the end of 1978 under the sponsorship of the renowned philosopher and scholar of religion, Mr. Ren Jiyu. The Chinese Atheism Society is supervised by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and is currently affiliated with the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.

The mission of the Society is to "propagate the scientific spirit, carry out education in atheism, safeguard the rights of citizens to freedom of religious belief, and promote the implementation of the Strategy for Invigorating the Country through Science and Education ^[2]." For many years, the Chinese Atheism Society has consistently adhered to the application of the Marxist standpoint, viewpoint, and method ^[3]. It employs various forms—including academic conferences, specialized investigations, commissioned research projects, subsidized publications, internal reports, and international exchanges—to promote academic research, publicity, and education in Marxist religious studies and scientific atheism. Through its official public journal, Science and Atheism (a bimonthly), the Society has remained committed to propagating the scientific spirit, eradicating ignorance and superstition, fostering a scientific worldview among youth, and advancing the disciplinary construction of scientific atheism.

Currently, the President of the Chinese Atheism Society is Research Fellow Gong Yun, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Finance. The Vice Presidents are: Research Fellow He Xinyuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Sinicization Studies at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Research Fellow Zeng Chuanhui of the CASS Institute of World Religions; Research Fellow Song Yuehong, Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Contemporary China; Professor Wang Zhen of the Central Institute of Socialism; Professor Lyu Jianfu of Sichuan University; Professor Wang Yueqing of Nanjing University; Professor Gu Guanghai, Vice President of Xinjiang University; Research Fellow Huang Chao, Vice Dean of the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University; Professor Peng Wuqing, Dean of the School of Political Science and Law at Xinjiang Normal University; and Professor Dai Jicheng of the People's Public Security University of China. The Secretary-General of the Society is Associate Research Fellow Huang Yanhong, who serves as both the Director of the Marxist Atheism Research Office at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the Director of the Editorial Department for Science and Atheism. Research Fellow Zhu Xiaoming, former Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the China Tibetology Research Center, serves as the Honorary President of the Society.