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Early in the leadership period of Xi Jinping, the vanguard party offered guidance and leadership on the meaning and practice of atheism for Communist Party cadres. The object of that guidance was 信鬼神 [Belief in Ghosts and Gods]. The object was to distinguish spiritualism, belief in ghosts and gods (信鬼神) from believe in science (相信科学). It builds on a long process of re-imagining Chinese civilization now through the lens of Marxist-Leninist rationality (for a quite interesting readings, see, Xiaofei Kang, Enchanted Revolution: Ghosts, Shamans, and Gender Politics in Chinese Communist Propaganda, 1942-1953 (OUP, 2023). But the move was bound up in the ancient conneciton between the spirit, morality, and the administration of the State that can be traced back in one form or another to earliest times.One gets a sense of this from Remarks delivered by Xi Jinping early in the time of his leadership:
Strengthening ideals and beliefs and adhering to the spiritual pursuit of Communists have always been the foundation for Communists to settle down and live their lives. Belief in Marxism, socialism and communism is the political soul of Communists and the spiritual pillar for Communists to withstand any test. To put it figuratively, ideals and beliefs are the spiritual "calcium" of Communists. Without ideals and beliefs, and if ideals and beliefs are not firm, there will be a spiritual "calcium deficiency" and "rickets." In real life, some party members and cadres have problems of this kind. In the final analysis, they are confused in their beliefs and spiritually lost. (Speech delivered at the first collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee on November 17, 2012).That fundamental position was elaborated a little in 2013 in 官员信鬼神患的是“精神缺钙”病 [Officials who believe in ghosts and gods are suffering from "mental calcium deficiency" disease], the text of which follows below.
坚定理想信念，坚守共产党人精神追求，始终是共产党人安身立命的根本。对马克思主义的信仰，对社会主义和共产主义的信念，是共产党人的政治灵魂，是共产党人经受住任何考验的精神支柱。形象地说，理想信念就是共产党人精神上的“钙”，没有理想信念，理想信念不坚定，精神上就会“缺钙”，就会得“软骨病”。现实生活中，一些党员、干部出这样那样的问题，说到底是信仰迷茫、精神迷失。（2012年11月17日在十八届中央政治局第一次集体学习时的讲话）(习近平：坚定理想信念 补足精神之钙, 二 [Xi Jinping: Strengthen ideals and beliefs to replenish spiritual calcium, at ¶ 2 ]).
But these sorts of pronouncements require constant examples--stories that can be used to illustrate and train. Here is one from the Mudanjiang Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision related by Liao Yongsong and Huang Shi (廖永松 黄师) in in 2023 on cadre "mental "calcium deficiency" and loss of direction" (精神“缺钙” 迷失方向). It is entitled: "Take the case as a lesson | He ended up in jail for lack of ideals and beliefs" [以案为鉴｜理想信念缺失 他终陷囹圄].
Tan Shengxian claimed to be loyal to the party, firmly believed in Marxism-Leninism, and science, but secretly he engaged in feudal superstitious activities. After serving as the main leader of Jinchengjiang District, he did not appreciate the organization's training and trust, but became more superstitious about Feng Shui, and even pinned all his hopes for fame and fortune on gods and Buddhas. In order to "seek luck", Tan Shengxian has been friends with so-called "Feng Shui masters" for a long time. Whenever he encounters difficulties or setbacks in work or life, he invites so-called "Feng Shui masters" to his home or even the office to see Feng Shui, measure good and bad luck, and perform "faithful rituals" with the intention of changing his "fate" and achieving "smooth sailing." In August 2019, after learning that the organization was investigating his violations of discipline and law, Tan Shengxian used his public holidays to visit the statues in the scenic spot, pray for "peace charms" and "amulets", and purchased Five Emperors ancient coins to carry with him, with the intention of protecting his career. In May 2020, after learning that the relevant personnel with whom he had jointly obtained financial funds were subject to organizational review and investigation, Tan Shengxian hired a "Feng Shui master" to perform "legal services" for him at a high price in an attempt to defuse and evade the organizational review and investigation. On the day he was detained by the organization, Tan Shengxian carried an amulet of Five Emperors ancient coins with him. Even the screen saver on his mobile phone was a peace amulet. When the investigators were confiscating his mobile phone, he also asked the investigators to leave him the safety charm on the back of the phone case.
覃生贤嘴上说对党忠诚，坚信马列主义、相信科学，而背地里却大搞封建迷信活动。在担任金城江区主要领导之后，他不感谢组织的培养和信任，而是更加迷信风水，甚至将名利双收的希望全部寄托在神佛身上。 为了“求运势”，覃生贤长期与所谓的“风水大师”结交。每当工作、生活中遇到困难或挫折，他就邀请所谓的“风水大师”到家里，甚至是到办公室看风水、测吉凶、做“法事”，意图更改“命数”，获得“一帆风顺”。 2019年8月，覃生贤在得知组织对其违纪违法问题进行核查后，利用公休时间参拜景区神像，祈求“平安符”“护身符”，购买五帝古币随身携带，意图保佑自己仕途平安。 2020年5月，覃生贤在得知与其共同套取财政资金的相关人员被组织审查调查后，又高价找来一名“风水大师”为其做“法事”，企图化解、逃避组织审查调查。 被组织采取留置措施当天，覃生贤就随身携带着五帝古币的护身符，就连手机屏保也是平安符。当办案人员在对其手机进行收缴时，他还请求办案人员将手机壳背后的平安符留给他。(以案为鉴｜理想信念缺失 他终陷囹圄)
The consequence was corruption:
Mentally "calcium deficient" and with incorrect outlook on life, especially a severely distorted outlook on power, Tan Shengxian completely lost his direction in life. During his tenure as the main leader of Jinchengjiang District, he would not refuse red envelopes from his subordinates during holidays, weddings, and weddings. Not only that, he also used his power to intervene and intervene in many engineering projects in the fields of development and reform, finance, transportation, education, water conservancy, urban investment and other fields, greeting and providing help to project bosses in project contracting. 精神上“缺钙”，三观不正，特别是权力观严重扭曲，让覃生贤彻底迷失了人生方向。在担任金城江区主要领导期间，逢年过节、红白喜事，面对下属的红包，他来者不拒。不仅如此，他更是利用手中的权力干预和插手发改、财政、交通、教育、水利、城投等领域多个工程项目，为工程老板在项目承揽方面打招呼、提供帮助。(Ibid.)
And the penalty: expulsion from the Party, a large fine and a long prison sentence. "In February 2022, Tan Shengxian was expelled from the party and public office for serious violations of discipline and law; in August 2022, he was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for bribery and corruption, and was fined 1 million yuan." 2022年2月，覃生贤因严重违纪违法被开除党籍和公职；2022年8月，因犯受贿罪、贪污罪被判处有期徒刑十二年六个月，并处罚金100万元。(Ibid.).
The problem is not necessarily belief in ghosts and gods, but rather such a belief is symptomatic of ideological deterioration. That deterioration, in turn, is understood, as the pathway to corruption of all sorts. This line was made clearer in 今日锐评 | 迷信背后是信仰迷失 [Today's critical commentary | Behind superstition is the loss of faith (8 August 2022)]. "If
a person has no faith, his spirit will easily collapse and collapse; if
a party member and cadre does not have strong communist ideals and
Marxist-Leninist beliefs, his soul will become empty, and decadent
things will take advantage of it." (一个人没有信仰，精神就容易坍塌、崩溃；一个党员干部，共产主义理想、马列主义信念不强，心灵就会变得空虚，腐朽没落的东西就会乘虚而入。) (Ibid.).
There are limits, though these come with some ambiguity. In 党纪学习教育·每日一课丨关于党员信仰宗教、搞迷信活动的处分规定 (30 April 2024) (“Party
Discipline Study and Education: Daily Lesson丨Regulations on Penalties
for Party Members to Believe in Religion and Engage in Superstitious
Activities”) the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission explained:
In the process of practice, there are two points that need to be grasped: First, the identification of party members’ religious beliefs does not require party members to participate in religious initiation ceremonies or obtain religious certificates such as lay certificates and conversion certificates for lay followers of Buddhism and Taoism. The premise is that the party member has participated in religious activities in a legal religious venue, but the criterion should be that the party member abandons his communist beliefs and believes in a certain religion. The second is to distinguish organizing or participating in superstitious activities from organizing and participating in general folk customs and customary activities, as well as normal participation in tourist activities. Some folk customs and customary activities with historical, cultural traditions and national and regional characteristics cannot be regarded as superstitious activities. Party members and cadres occasionally visit some temples, Taoist temples, churches and other legal religious venues to visit or participate in activities and ceremonies. The purpose is only for sightseeing or work, and should not be regarded as participating in superstitious activities. 实践过程中，有两点需要把握：一是认定党员信仰宗教问题的，既不以党员参加入教仪式或取得佛道教在家信徒的居士证、皈依证等宗教类证件为前提，也不以在合法宗教活动场所参加过宗教活动为前提，而是应当以该党员背弃共产主义信仰，信仰某一宗教为判定标准。二是把组织或参加迷信活动与组织、参加一般的民俗、习俗活动，以及正常参加游览活动区分开来。不能把一些有着历史文化传统和民族、区域特色的民俗、习俗活动当成迷信活动。党员干部偶尔到一些寺庙、道观、教堂等合法宗教活动场所参观游览或参加活动仪式等，其目的仅仅是为了游览或工作，也不应认定为参加迷信活动。
Context matters, as does place, space and time. And the ideal against which much is measured is corruption. Corruption, interestingly enough, is now measured, at least conceptually, against the expectations of decisions undertaken n the spirit of the Mass Line. "To further inquire, for a leading cadre who "does not ask the people but ghosts and gods", how much can he listen to the demands and sufferings of the people? How scientifically can the various principles and policies of the party and the country be implemented?" (进一步追问，对于一个“不问苍生问鬼神”的领导干部，百姓的诉求、群众的疾苦能听多少？党和国家的各项方针政策能科学地落实多少？) (今日锐评 | 迷信背后是信仰迷失).
官员信鬼神患的是“精神缺钙”病
旁观者2013
2014年05月05日15:24 来源：人民网-中国共产党新闻网
近日，经中共中央批准，中纪委对四川省委原副书记李春城进行“开除党籍、开除公职”处理，在李春城诸多违纪违规事件中，重迷信、讲风水、摆道场等事项令人侧目震惊。“花千万请风水先生做道场，安排道士做法驱邪”，在重迷信、讲风水等方面，李春城绝不是第一个，或许也不是最后一个。（5月1日，新华网）
世间本来就没鬼神，有一定的文化水平的人都知道。我们的党员干部本该是无神论者，应该相信科学，坚持真理，信仰马列主义，而少数人却要去信鬼神，真是愚昧荒唐之极。其实，党政官员之所以热衷于烧香、算命、问卦、看风水、摆道场、做法事等封建迷信活动，皆因心中有鬼，身上邪气重而导致正气不足，从而寻求神灵庇护。
当下，我们应该看到，世情、国情、党情深刻变化，党也面临着新的挑战。面对“四大考验”，必须加强对精神懈怠、能力不足、脱离群众、消极腐败等“四大危险”的防范。“党坚强有力，党同人民保持血肉联系，国家就繁荣稳定，人民就幸福安康”，“落实党要管党、从严治党的任务比以往任何时候都更为繁重更为紧迫”，习近平总书记的系列讲话振聋发聩，令人警醒。
官员信鬼神的实质其实是精神问题。正如习近平总书记所说：“现实生活中，一些党员干部出这样那样的问题，说到底是信仰迷茫、精神迷失。”从李春城、刘铁男、郭永祥等近期被查的一些高级领导干部来看，哪一个不是因为丢失信仰、迷失自我才最终堕落的？
当前，党的群众路线教育实践活动正在深入开展，让广大党员干部走出办公大楼，深入基层一线，多到群众中去，多晒实践的“太阳”。根据“照镜子、正衣冠、洗洗澡、治治病”的总要求，早日对作风之弊、行为之垢来一个大扫除，才能杜绝精神空虚，给精神“补钙”。
加强学习也能防范“精神缺钙”。坚持干什么学什么、缺什么补什么，加强对优秀传统文化、党纪党章的学习，加强对世界各国历史文化的学习，以学益智，以学修身，从学习中看成败、鉴得失、知兴替，从学习中知廉耻、懂荣辱、辨是非，从而树立正确的世界观、人生观、价值观，通过学习开阔胸襟视野，提高能力水平，做到内化于心、外化于形。
党所面临的“赶考”远未结束。历经９０多年艰苦奋斗的中国共产党人，必将继续从严治党，永葆青春活力，永立时代潮头，永做中国人民奋勇前行的精神支柱。
Officials who believe in ghosts and gods are suffering from "mental calcium deficiency" disease
Bystander 2013
May 05, 2014 15:24 Source: People's Daily Online - China Communist Party News Network
Recently, with the approval of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection expelled Li Chuncheng, the former deputy secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee, from the party and from public office. Among Li Chuncheng's many violations of disciplines and regulations, his emphasis on superstition, feng shui, and arrogance have raised eyebrows. Shock. "Spend tens of millions of dollars to hire a Feng Shui master to build a dojo and arrange Taoist practices to ward off evil spirits." Li Chuncheng is by no means the first, and perhaps not the last, to emphasize superstition and Feng Shui. (May 1, Xinhuanet)
There are no ghosts and gods in the world, and everyone with a certain level of education knows that. Our party members and cadres are supposed to be atheists and should believe in science, adhere to the truth, and believe in Marxism-Leninism, but a few people want to believe in ghosts and gods. It is really ignorant and absurd. In fact, the reason why party and government officials are keen on burning incense, telling fortunes, asking divination, reading Feng Shui, setting up dojos, performing rituals and other feudal superstitious activities is because they have ghosts in their hearts, and their bodies are full of evil spirits, resulting in insufficient righteousness, so they seek the protection of gods.
At present, we should see that the world situation, national situation, and party situation have undergone profound changes, and the party is also facing new challenges. In the face of the "four major tests", we must strengthen prevention against the "four major dangers" such as mental slackness, lack of ability, isolation from the masses, and passivity and corruption. "If the Party is strong and powerful, and the Party maintains flesh-and-blood ties with the people, the country will be prosperous and stable, and the people will be happy and healthy." "The task of implementing the Party's need to manage the Party and govern the Party strictly is more arduous and urgent than ever before," Xi Jinping said. The General Secretary’s series of speeches were inspiring and alarming.
The essence of officials' belief in ghosts and gods is actually a spiritual issue. As General Secretary Xi Jinping said: "In real life, some party members and cadres have problems of one kind or another. In the final analysis, they are confused in their beliefs and spiritually lost." Judging from some senior leading cadres who have been investigated recently, such as Li Chuncheng, Liu Tienan, and Guo Yongxiang, Which one did not eventually fall because he lost his faith and lost himself?
At present, the party's mass line education and practice activities are being carried out in depth, allowing the majority of party members and cadres to go out of the office building, go deep into the grassroots, and go among the masses to get more exposure to the "sun" of practice. According to the general requirements of “seeing oneself in the mirror, correct hats and clothes, cleaning up and treating illness”, only by cleaning up the defects in work style and behavioral dirt as soon as possible can we put an end to spiritual emptiness and “replenish calcium” for the spirit.
Strengthening learning can also prevent "mental calcium deficiency". Persist in learning what you do and make up for what you lack, strengthen the study of excellent traditional culture, party discipline and party constitution, strengthen the study of the history and culture of various countries in the world, use learning to educate and cultivate oneself, and learn from learning to see success and failure, gain and loss, and gain knowledge. Instead, learn about integrity, understand honor and disgrace, and distinguish right from wrong, thereby establishing a correct world view, outlook on life, and values. Through learning, you can broaden your horizons and improve your ability level, so that it can be internalized in the heart and externalized in the body.
The "rush for exams" faced by the party is far from over. After more than 90 years of arduous struggle, the Chinese Communists will continue to govern the party strictly, maintain their youthful vitality forever, stay at the forefront of the times, and be the spiritual pillar for the Chinese people to move forward bravely.
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