EMAIL: dlane@mtsac.edu
MAILING ADDRESS: David Christopher Lane, Philosophy and Sociology Department, Mount San Antonio College, 1100 North Grand Avenue, California, USA, 91789. Phone: 909 594 5611 (ex: 4593).
CURRENT POSITIONS: Professor of Philosophy, Mount San Antonio College (started in 1989, tenured since 1991).
EDUCATION: Ph.D. in Sociology (with emphasis on sociology of knowledge/culture/religion), University of California, San Diego (1991); M.A. in Sociology, University of California, San Diego (1988); M.A. in the History and Phenomenology of Religion, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, with an affiliation to the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (1983); B.A. in Religious Studies with a minor in History, California State University, Northridge (1978); A.A. in general education from Los Angeles Valley College; High Schools, North Hollywood High (1974) and Notre Dame High: Elementary School, Saint Charles (1970); Kindergarten, Colfax Elementary (1962).
HONORS: Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) from the Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra, India (2021); Who's Who in The World (Marquis, 1997); Who's Who in America (1998); Who's Who in the West (1990); National Endowment of Humanities Grant (University of Hawaii: Religion and Material Culture, summer 1993); Regents Fellowship, UCSD (1984-1985); OGSR Travel Grant to India, UCSD (1987); M.A. Thesis passed with highest honors (Berkeley: GTU, 1981); Numerous Teaching Awards.
SCHOOLS TAUGHT AT INCLUDE: California State University, Long Beach; Mount San Antonio College; Warren College Writing Program, University of California, San Diego; California School of Professional Psychology; University of London (study abroad program); Palomar College; Mira Costa College; Long Beach City College; University of Humanistic Studies; University of San Diego, High School; Chaminade College Prep; Moreau High School; and St. Charles. Invited Lectures at the London School of Economics, California State University, Fullerton, and Dayalbagh Educational Institute in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, among others.
BOOKS: The Sound Current Tradition and New Religious Movements (Cambridge University Press, England, forthcoming, 2022); The Oxford Bibliography in Hinduism, The Radhasoami Tradition, co-authored (Oxford: Oxford University, 2018). The Radhasoami Tradition: A Critical History of Guru Succession (New York: Garland Publishers, 1992); Exposing Cults: When the Skeptical Mind Confronts the Mystical (New York: Garland Publishers, 1994); The Unknowing Sage: the life and work of Faqir Chand (MSAC, 1993); The Making of a Spiritual Movement: the untold story of Paul Twitchell and Eckankar (Del Mar Press, 1983); DA: The Strange Case of Franklin Jones (MSAC, 1995), The Enchanted Land: A Journey with the Saints of India (1995) and fifty other plus titles not listed.
ATHLETIC AWARDS: 8-time winner (and 20 time finalist) of the Men's Division at the Manhattan International Bodysurfing Contest (97, 98, 2000, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016); 11-time finalist at the World Bodysurfing Contest in Oceanside (1st place in 1999 and 3rd in 2000 and 2009; and 4th in 2003 and 2006 and 2010 and 2014; fifth in 2013 and 1994; 2nd place in 2012, etc.); 4-time finalist at the Carlsbad International Bodysurfing Contest (2nd place twice); 3-time finalist at the Ventura Coldwater Classic; 1-time finalist at the Point Panic Bodysurfing Championships in Hawaii; 2-time finalist in the Carlsbad International Bodyboarding Championships (2nd place in 1998); 1st place in the Master's Division of the Del Mar Surf Club's Annual Contest, shortboard (1984). 2-time finalist in team bodysurfing relays at the Carlsbad International Bodysurfing Contest (2nd place and 4th place respectively). See 2016 results here.
PROFILES IN PRINT AND MEDIA: Cult Buster, San Diego Reader (long feature article on life and work by Dodie Bellamy, 1995); Now It Can Be Told, Geraldo Rivera (Fall 1991); Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults (by Gordon Melton); Success in the 1980s, t.v. profile (1984); Marie Vega show, t.v. profile (1984) and Leslie Shepard's Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology; Life 102 by Peter McWilliams, and other numerous other reference books, websites, and journals. For the latest series of articles that I have written (60 distinct essays) go to the European website, Integral World: http://integralworld.net/readingroom.html#DL
PUBLISHED ARTICLES: "The Hierarchical Structure of Religious Visions", Journal of Transpersonal Psychology (1983), "The Himalayan Connection: UFOs and the Chandian Effect, Journal of Humanistic Psychology (1984), "Genealogical Tree of Radhsoami Gurus in Mark Juergensmeyer's Radhasoami Reality, Princeton University Press (1991), several encyclopedia entries/essays, including articles on Eckankar and Radhasoami and cults, and over 100 other articles and book reviews in such magazines as Laughing Man, Fate Magazine, Yoga Journal, and Connect.
FILMS: Created over 100 original films on neuroscience, quantum theory, consciousness, philosophy, religion, and surfing/bodysurfing. Go to Neural Surfer Vision on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/neuralsurfer
PERSONAL DATA: Born on April 29th, 1956 in Burbank, California. 6"1, green eyes, and surfs too much. Married: Andrea Grace Diem, and two boys: Shaun and Kelly.
CURRENT PROJECT: "The Messiah Project: 3 Degrees to L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology"
LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_C._Lane and Encyclopedia of Parapsychology