Kenneth Doo Young Lee is the Associate Professor of Asian Religions in the Department of Religious Studies. Born in South Korea and raised in Los Angeles, Dr. Lee joined the California State University, Northridge faculty in the fall of 2006 to teach courses in Asian religions, Buddhism, and introductory courses in religion.
He earned his A.B. in Psychology from Occidental College, M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Columbia University. His book, The Prince and the Monk: Shotoku Worship in Shinran's Buddhism, SUNY Press, traces the evolution of Shotoku worship in Japanese Buddhism.
He has published in a number of books, including a chapter, "Kannon: The Goddess of Compassion in Japan" in The Constant Changing Faces of the Goddess Traditions in Asia and journals, such as his article, “Comparative Analysis of Shinran's shinjin and Calvin's Faith" in the Buddhist-Christian Studies journal. He is currently working on a translation of the Contemplation Sutra (Jpn. Kanmuryōjukyō), which is a major Buddhist text in Shin Buddhism.
Dr. Lee is also on the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Korean History and serves as the Chair of the Buddhist Studies session for the American Academy of Religion, Western Region.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Columbia University, 2001
M.Phil.,Columbia University, 1997
BOOKS/PUBLICATIONS
Books
The Prince and the Monk: Shōtoku Worship in Shinran’s Buddhism, State University of New York Press, 2007.
“Kannon: The Goddess of Compassion in Japan” in The Constant and Changing Faces of the Goddess: Goddess Traditions of Asia, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008.
“The Most Venerable Sangwol: Reincarnation of Kwanseum in Korea,” International Conference of the Korean Buddhist Cheontae Order, Wongak Buddhist Research Institute, 2011.
Selected articles/reviews:
"Comparative Analysis of Shinran's shinjin and Calvin's Faith,” Buddhist-Christian Studies (Vol. 24, December 2004): 171-190.
“Heup Young Kim's Christ & the Tao,” Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (Bulletin 78, January 2007): 1-3.
“Monasticism Buddhist and Christian: The Korean Experience,” edited by Sunghae Kim and James W. Heising, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (Bulletin 82, January 2009).
MEMBERSHIPS
American Academy of Religion