| | The '''Communist Party of China''', founded in 1921, was the Asian branch of the [[Comintern]], controlled by [[Joseph Stalin]] from Moscow. [[Mao Zedong]] was present at the founding <ref>Dick Wilson, ''The People's Emperor Mao: A Biography of Mao Tse-tung'', New York 1979, pg. 60.</ref> and became the dominant party leader in 1935 during the [[Long March]], whose survivors controlled the party into the 1990s. Mao and his CCP were the bitter enemies of the [[Kuomintang]] party ('''KMT''') under [[Chiang Kai-shek]], which ruled China until defeated by the CCP in 1949. Chiang and his army retreated to the nearby island of Taiwan, which still operates a separate regime. American conservatives have always been vehemently hostile toward Mao, and against his CCP until the 1980s, when a modernizing, pro-capitalist faction led by [[Deng Xiaoping]] (1904–97) came to power. The currently leader of the party is [[Xi Jinping]]. | | The '''Communist Party of China''', founded in 1921, was the Asian branch of the [[Comintern]], controlled by [[Joseph Stalin]] from Moscow. [[Mao Zedong]] was present at the founding <ref>Dick Wilson, ''The People's Emperor Mao: A Biography of Mao Tse-tung'', New York 1979, pg. 60.</ref> and became the dominant party leader in 1935 during the [[Long March]], whose survivors controlled the party into the 1990s. Mao and his CCP were the bitter enemies of the [[Kuomintang]] party ('''KMT''') under [[Chiang Kai-shek]], which ruled China until defeated by the CCP in 1949. Chiang and his army retreated to the nearby island of Taiwan, which still operates a separate regime. American conservatives have always been vehemently hostile toward Mao, and against his CCP until the 1980s, when a modernizing, pro-capitalist faction led by [[Deng Xiaoping]] (1904–97) came to power. The currently leader of the party is [[Xi Jinping]]. |
| | + | In 1955, [[China|Chinese]] communist leader Zhou Enlai declared, "We Communists are atheists".<ref>Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.</ref> In 2014, the [[Communist Party of China]] reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.<ref> |
| | + | *[http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], ''New American'', 2014 |
| | + | {{cquote|A senior Chinese advisor on religious affairs has said the country should promote atheism throughout society, in remarks that appear to reflect a deepening campaign to reinforce traditional Marxist values in China — and could add to concern about official attitudes among believers in the country’s five officially recognized religions.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/senior-chinese-religious-advisor-calls-promotion-atheism-society-2363850 Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society], ''International Business Times''</ref>}} |