Marxism and ReligionIn Marxism and Religion leading Chinese scholars unfold before our eyes theoretical explorations of religion in present-day China. In addition, they along with senior cadres superintending religious affairs strenuously explain why the Marxist view of religion still has relevance to living religions in a country undergoing deep changes unleashed by the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening-up policies. Mistakenly perceived by so many westerners as outdated and dogmatic quasi-scholarly work in the service of communist regime’s propaganda, studies selected here are brainchildren of a group of creative and reform-minded scholars and cadres who endeavor to uphold Marxist traditions while innovatively sinicizing them, hoping that their efforts will contribute to the ruling party’s ideological reconstruction. Contributors include: Fang Litian, Gao Shining, Gong Xuezeng, He Qimin, Jin Ze, Li Xiangping, Lü Daji, Wang Xiaochao, Wang Zuo’an, Ye Xiaowen, Zhu Xiaoming, and Zhuo Xinping. |
Contents
Opiate of the Masses with Chinese Characteristics Recent Chinese Scholarship on the Meaning and Future of Religion | 1 |
Part One
Theories of Religious Study | 21 |
A Critical Perspective from the Development of Modern Western Religious Studies
| 23 |
2 Theories of Religion in Contemporary China
| 47 |
3 An Overall Inquiry into the Role Religion Plays in the Strategy of Cultural Development
| 81 |
A Fundamental Thesis of Chinese Sociology of Religion
| 95 |
5 A Tentative Analysis of the Relationship between Modernization and
New Religions
| 134 |
6 The Development of Modern Society and the Evolution of Religion | 156 |
8 An Outline of the Basic Theories and Development of Marx and Engels
Historical Materialist View of Religion | 207 |
9 A Comprehensive Understanding and Scientific Appraisal of Leninist
Perspectives on Religion
| 263 |
10 A Survey of Marxist Perspectives on Religion in New China | 292 |
11 On the Sinicized Marxist View of Religion | 321 |
12 On the Socialist View of Religion with Chinese Characteristics | 348 |
13 A Brief Discussion on Theories of Religion and Legal Reconstruction
over the Past Twelve Years
| 376 |
14 Building a Harmonious Society and New Ideas of Religious Work | 387 |
Bibliography
| 397 |
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Common terms and phrases
actively guiding religion administration Anti-Dühring atheism basic Beijing Buddhism CCP’s Chinese characteristics Chinese religion Chinese scholars Christianity chubanshe Communist corporate created cultural development of religion economic Engels’s ethnic existence Feuerbach forces freedom of religious Friedrich Engels fundamental gion gious global heaven history of religion human humankind Ibid idea ideological institutional Islamic Jiang Zemin Karl Marx Makesi Mao Zedong Marx and Engels Marx’s Marxist perspectives men’s nature of religion opium Party Party’s People’s perspectives on religion philosophy political principle regard reli religion in China religious activities religious affairs religious belief religious circles religious groups religious questions religious studies renmin revolution role of religion scientific secular shehui significant Sinicized Sinicized Marxist view social character socialist society socialist view spiritual state’s struggle theology theoretical tion understanding view of religion Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Western world religions Young Hegelians Zhou Enlai zhuyi zongjiao