The 6th National Congress of the Chinese Atheism Society and the 2023 Annual Academic Conference Convened in Beijing

To thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party, and to further implement the spirit of the 2016 and 2021 National Conferences on Religious Work, the Sixth Membership Representative Assembly of the Chinese Atheism Society and the 2023 Annual Academic Conference were held in Beijing from June 10–11. This conference was hosted by the Chinese Atheism Society, the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and the CASS Center for Science and Atheism, with the editorial department of Science and Atheism co-organizing the event. The theme of the conference was "Atheist Propaganda and Education in Rural Areas in the New Era."

Gong Yun, a research fellow, Party Secretary, and Deputy Director of the Institute of Finance at CASS, Vice President of the Fifth Council of the Chinese Atheism Society, and Director of the CASS Center for Science and Atheism, delivered the opening remarks. Fan Jianxin, Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Institute of Political Science at CASS and President of the Fifth Council of the Chinese Atheism Society, presented the Work Report of the Fifth Council. He Xinyuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Sinicization of Marxism Research at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, 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] to "strengthen the study of religious issues." Today’s grand convening of the Sixth Membership Representative Assembly of the Chinese Atheism Society and the 2023 Annual Academic Conference serves both as a commemoration of Comrade Mao Zedong’s important instruction and as a tribute to the elder generation of founders of Marxist atheist research, such as Mr. Ren Jiyu ^[2]. Today, representatives from across the country have gathered to elect the new Council and its leadership. Simultaneously, scholars from various research fields have met in Beijing to offer advice and suggestions for atheist propaganda and education in rural areas in the New Era.

President Fan Jianxin delivered the work report to the Sixth Membership Representative Assembly on behalf of the Fifth Council of the Chinese Atheism Society. He noted that since the Fifth Membership Representative Assembly was held in December 2018, the Society has moved through a series of major events and joyous occasions: the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the centenary of the CPC, the successful completion of the poverty alleviation mission, the comprehensive building of a moderately prosperous society, and the successful convening of the 20th National Congress. During this period, under the firm leadership of the governing units and with the strong support of all members and directors, the Society’s work has developed steadily. Remarkable achievements—and in some areas, significant breakthroughs—have been made in atheist discipline building and theoretical research, atheist propaganda and education, the containment of religious extremist ideologies, and the provision of policy recommendations.

Following the opening ceremony, the assembly held elections for the Council of the Chinese Atheism Society. First, members from across the country elected the members of the Sixth Council. Subsequently, the Council members elected the leadership and executive directors of the Sixth Council. Gong Yun was elected President; Wang Zhen, Wang Yueqing, Lü Jianfu, Song Yuehong, He Xinyuan, Gu Guanghai, Huang Chao, Peng Wuqing, Zeng Chuanhui, and Dai Jicheng were elected as Vice Presidents; and Huang Yanhong was elected Secretary-General. Newly elected President Gong Yun stated that he would shoulder this mission and unite Marxist atheist researchers and educators nationwide to strengthen and expand the cause of Chinese atheism, ensuring the Chinese Atheism Society plays its proper role.

During the keynote report session, Zhu Xiaoming, a research fellow, Honorary President of the Chinese Atheism Society, and former Party Secretary of the China Tibetology Research Center, shared several insights on persisting in and promoting Marxist atheism. First, adhering to Marxist atheism is a major principle. Second, we must always maintain the dominant position of Marxist atheism as the mainstream ideology in the minds of the masses. Third, we must comprehensively implement the Party’s basic policy on religious work. Fourth, we must properly grasp the relationship between "freedom of religious belief and ideological struggle." Fifth, we must strengthen Marxist atheist propaganda in a targeted manner.

Tian Xinming, a research fellow, consultant to the Chinese Atheism Society, and former Director of the Social Sciences Center of the Ministry of Education, discussed the primary questions in atheist research: What is Marxist atheism, and how should it be treated? He argued that only Marxist atheism constitutes scientific atheism in the sense of the social sciences. The relationship between Marxist atheism and the discipline of atheism is that of a guiding ideology to a disciplinary, academic, and discourse system ^[3] guided by it. Research and discipline building in atheism should involve a "division of labor without separation" from religious studies; this means closely monitoring and participating in the research and development of religious studies while remaining dedicated to the construction of our own discipline to promote the cause of atheism.

Jia Runguo, a research fellow, member of the Academic Advisory Committee of the CASS Center for Science and Atheism, and Deputy Director of the Religious Research Center of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out that the mission of Marxist atheist research in the New Era is to construct the "Three Major Systems" for Marxist atheism. First, it must be clarified that Marxist atheism is a foundational discipline of Marxist religious studies and a cross-disciplinary field between Marxist religious studies and philosophy. Second, the "disciplinary system" should be constructed according to the practical needs of Marxist atheist education. Third, the "academic system" should be constructed based on the realities of religious and atheist developments both domestically and internationally. Fourth, the "discourse system" of Marxist atheism must be constructed.

Professor Gu Guanghai, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Xinjiang University, Director of the Center for Forging a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation, Dean of the School of Marxism, and Director of the Institute of Philosophy, first provided a theoretical definition of "adapting religion to socialist society." He then analyzed several prominent issues where religion does not adapt to socialist society and finally offered several suggestions on how to guide religion toward such adaptation.

During the conference summary stage, Jia Runguo pointed out that the next task is to further explore the construction of the "Three Major Systems" of Marxist atheism in the New Era. Professor Li Shen remarked, "We can now say this: atheism is finally being spoken of!" He noted that atheism is the ideological foundation of Marxism and the ideological foundation for Communist Party members; therefore, we must continue to stand firm in our atheist position. Although our cause has developed significantly, the international and domestic situations suggest it will be difficult to achieve rapid development in the short term. Atheist research, propaganda, and education constitute a long-term and arduous undertaking; we must hold our ground and prepare for a long and persistent defense. He expressed hope that in this battle, which resembles a spiritual "Shangganling" ^[4], none of the colleagues present would fall behind or retreat.

During the expert presentation phase, participating scholars conducted in-depth discussions on themes such as: "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," "Discipline Building of Marxist Religious Studies," "Religious Governance," "The Party’s Religious Work," "Research on Anti-Cultism," and the "History of Atheism in China and Abroad."

More than 90 representatives attended the meeting from the United Front Work Department, the Central Party School, 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, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and other universities, Party schools (academies of administration), scientific research institutions, and ethnic and religious affairs departments.