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Faculty Profile

Dr. Stephen Kaplan Professor of Religious Studies

 

Education:

• B.A., Pennsylvania State University
• M.A., Temple University
• Ph.D., Temple University

Research and Scholarly Interests:

Hindu and Buddhist thought with a special interest in comparative psychological and philosophical studies. The comparative studies have often revolved around the use of holography as a model for understanding psychological and philosophical issues in a cross-cultural context.

Awards:

Dr. Kaplan received a 2002 Science and Religion Course Award from the Center for Theology and Natural Sciences.  This grant was for the design and implementation of Mind, Brain and the Search for the Self - an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach to understanding human nature, utilizing materials from religion, philosophy, the neurosciences and the field of artificial intelligence.  This course is offered as   RELS 425: Psychology and Religion (WordPerfect format). In 2006, Kaplan was a Senior Investigator at the Mind & Life Summer Research Institute exploring the intersections of Buddhist thought and the neurosciences.

Publications:

His most recent book is Different Paths, Different Summits: A Model for Religious Pluralism (Rowman and Littlefield, 2002).  Dr. Kaplan has published articles in a number of edited volumes and leading journals such as Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Philosophy East and West, Journal of Indian Philosophy, Journal of Asian Philosophy, Zygon, Journal of Religious Pluralism, and Eastern Buddhist as well as another book on Indian and comparative philosophy.

Community Activities:

In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Stephen Kaplan has also been involved in New York City public school reform. He has chaired the development and establishment of an alternative elementary school - PS 51. He also received a New Vision II Award to open a public middle school and a high school in New York City. This school, the Jonas Bronck Academy, an educational collaboration with Manhattan College, originally located on the MC campus, is moving to a new location in the Bronx (2009).  Kaplan has also been actively engaged as a community organizer for over a decade working on the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory as a commercial, recreational, and educational center.

Courses Taught/Teaching:

• RELS 110: Nature and Experience of Religion
• RELS 300:  Yoga: Phiulosophy, Praxis and Art 
• RELS 354: History and Development of Buddhism
• RELS 357: China and the Far East
• RELS 358: Religions of India
• RELS 360: Comparative Religions
• RELS 425: Psychology and Religion (WordPerfect format)
• RELS 460: Buddhism and the Modern World

Contact Information:

• Telephone: (718) 862-7113
• Office: Miguel 432
• Fax: (718) 862-8044
• e-mail: stephen.kaplan@manhattan.edu

 

Page last updated by M. LaMonica June, 22 2009