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- BEIJING (Agence France Presse) - Marxism must replace age-old superstitions
if China is to prosper in the next century, a front-page editorial in the
People's Daily said Monday.
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- Superstition had gained ground in some
parts of the country in past years and had had a negative impact on the
people's work, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party added.
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- "More seriously, some party members
and officials who pursue personal gain have been deeply involved in worshipping
Buddha, and practicing astrology, divination, geomancy and physiognomy.
They have fallen captive to idealism," it said.
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- The Communist Party had always pushed
a "scientific world outlook of Marxism" to help the Chinese people
"free themselves from old ideas and superstitious thoughts."
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- "However, efforts to improve scientific
research levels and the people's understanding of science have always run
up against ignorant and superstitious activities," the commentary
added.
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- "We should be highly vigilant against
superstition, for it may confuse our thinking, undermine our fighting will,
shake our beliefs and destroy our cohesiveness," the editorial said.
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- On April 25, some 10,000 members of the
Falun Gong sect quietly assembled the largest protest in the Chinese capital
since 1989 to complain about official harassment of the group and their
belief in a form of meditation.
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- The day-long sit-in rattled authorities,
who since have said Falun Gong practitioners could still conduct group
exercises in the morning but must not upset "social stability"
or spread rumors.
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- Western analysts have seen a recent surge
in Buddhism, Christianity and religious sects in China amid its 20-year
capitalist drive toward a market-based economy.
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- "In order to win in the present
atmosphere of fierce international competition and overcome all difficulties
and evil forces, science must be respected, and the banner of Marxist materialism
and antitheism has to be upheld," the editorial said.
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