RADHASOAMI TRADITION (Garland Reference Library of Social Science) [Hardcover]

Lane (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 351 pages
• Publisher: Scholarly Title; First Edition edition (November 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824052471
• ISBN-13: 978-0824052478
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,803,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Christopher Lane is a Professor of Philosophy at Mount San Antonio College and a Lecturer in Religious Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Professor Lane received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego, where he was a recipient of a Regents Fellowship. Additionally, he earned an M.A. in the History and Phenomenology of Religion from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. Dr. Lane is the author of several books including The Radhasoami Tradition and Exposing Cults (New York: Garland Publishers, 1992 and 1994 respectively). He is the founder of the Neural Surfer website. Professor Lane won the World Bodysurfing Championships in 1999 and the International Bodysurfing Championships in 2011, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2004. Dr. Lane is married to Dr. Andrea Diem-Lane, who is also a Professor of Philosophy at Mount San Antonio College and the author of several books including the Gnostic Mystery, Darwin's DNA, and Spooky Physics. They have two boys, Kelly-Joseph and Shaun-Michael. Currently David Christopher Lane is engaged in a writing a series of books on evolutionary philosophy. He is also working on his magnus opus, In Search of the Perfect Coke, which is a philosophical novel set in India and Europe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best History of Radhasoami Ever Published, June 10, 2002

By 

Dr. Scott Flaubert (Oxford, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: RADHASOAMI TRADITION (Garland Reference Library of Social Science) (Hardcover)

Professor Lane's critical history of Radhasoami is the best book of its kind ever published in English. Lane examines the politics surrounding the succession of Sawan Singh, Kirpal Singh, and others, and develops a unique theory in which to explain why certain gurus emerge as viable successors. Dr. Lane has broken ground on Eckankar, MSIA, Sathya Sai Baba, Gary Olsen, and now his own tradition, Radhasoami.

The man is a genius in exposing cults. I heard him lecture once at the London School of Economics (at a conference on New Religions in Europe) and he basically stole the show. In a tour de force I will never forget Professor Lane proceeded to critique Scientology right in front of the President of Scientology who was in attendance that night. The man has guts. Of course, Lane has taken tremendous heat for his positions.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A terrible mistake, April 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: RADHASOAMI TRADITION (Garland Reference Library of Social Science) (Hardcover)

The book appears to deviate from the uses of the Radha Soami tradition of books, most of which contain the path to enlightenment. Maybe if the book was an entertaining read, I might have taken it seriously, but overall, getting into the book was almost as hard as not falling asleep while trying to read it. However, it's originality may not impress the followers of the Radha Soami path, but those who wish for an unbiased view towards the background happenings should not miss this, just because of the rarity of this type of book