Congress of China Atheism Society OpensOver 70 scientists and atheists gathered Wednesday in Beijing to attend the opening of the First Congress of the China Atheism Society since 1996 and its annual academic conference.Ren Jiyu, chairman of the board of directors of the research body, delivered a report entitled "Display Scientific Spirits and Improve the Quality of the Nation". Ren is also director of the National Library. According to Ren, over the past four years, the society has rebuilt its organization and fought against various kinds of pseudo sciences and neo-theistic bodies, especially the cult of Falun Gong. During the period, the society has launched its academic magazine, "Science and Atheism" and published "The Textbook on Atheism". It has also been engaged in creating greater awareness about atheism among the public. Ren hailed last year's government decision to cancel the Falun Gong cult as "a great turn for the struggle between atheists and neo-theists in China for the past two decades". Sciences are the most truthful, loyal and reliable friend of humans, he stressed. He went on to note that the current atheistic activities are not targeted at legal religious people as pseudo-scientific and neo-theistic activities are also detrimental to normal religious activities. Ren urged legal religious people and atheists to unite in respecting and safeguarding the basic rights of civilians granted by the Constitution and laws. The society, which now has several hundreds of members, mostly scientists and educators, was founded in 1979, but later came dormant for several years due to a lack of funds and other factors, according to Ren. |
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