The population growth in China is dramatically slowing down; indeed, the country may have reached its population peak in 2021 already, instead of in around 2030, as previously expected (Sixth Tone, 17 January 2022). The Communist Party has responded by continuing to put its emphasis on ideology. World Watch Research analyst Thomas Muller explains: "A new textbook entitled "˜The Principles of Scientific Atheism" was recently distributed in colleges and among Communist Party cadres, according to UCA News reporting on 2 February 2022. In this book, the author claims to explain "˜What God is" and prove that "˜God does not exist". He goes on to discuss "˜The Gods and their Effects" and finally sets out "˜The Communist Party"s Religious Theory and Religious Policy". The author is Li Shen, one time Director of the Confucianism Research Office at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. This shows that Confucianism is seen as being more genuinely Chinese and more easily adaptable to Communism than other religions. Reportedly, Shen even saw Confucianism as a form of atheism." Thomas Muller continues: "Trying to make sense of the 2021 National Religious Work Conference (NRWC) - or in the words of a China Source article: "˜Reading the tea leaves" (China Source, 4 February 2022). Professor Carsten Vala has raised some very interesting points in this article. The concept of Sinicization (which can be understood as a form of "˜nationalization", according to China Source) is well-known among country observers. Now, however, President Xi Jinping seems to be adding layers to the concept of "˜Three Self". Originally, this concept was more concerned with self-governance, self-support and self-propagation, which has long been the very backbone of the "˜Three-Self Patriotic Movement", or state-controlled TSPM churches in China. However, in his 2021 NRWC speech, Xi Jinping spoke now of strengthening the "˜self-education, self-management and self-discipline" of religious leaders, defining the autonomy of religion as being limited by the rules and needs of the Communist Party. It is therefore clear that Christians in China will have to adapt to a new and much narrower environment, especially the Christian groups who are not affiliated to state-approved churches." Thomas Muller concludes: "One crucial channel for implementing all these ideological terms and slogans are the so-called "˜New Era Civilization Practice Centers", as China File explains in a detailed report published on 31 January 2022. These have been developed since 2019 as neighborhood centers for encouraging citizens to "˜feel the warmth of the Party and the government", according to an explanation by The People"s Daily. A 2019 Communist Party directive proposed that these centers should enlist 13% of permanent county residents to serve as volunteers. While the effectiveness of this policy is as unknown as the total number of volunteers, such a strategy may also serve the Party"s goal of maintaining social stability and quenching the people"s thirst for becoming active on social or political issues. According to the "˜2019 Implementation Plan" issued jointly by the Party"s Central Propaganda Department and its Central Guidance Commission on Building Spiritual Civilization, the centers should model the kind of behavior the Party deems "˜civilized" and help "˜truly open up the last mile in terms of propagandizing to the masses, educating the masses, leading the masses, serving the masses." This aptly shows the main priorities:‚  Propaganda and guidance come first, service last."