Levi McLaughlin

Levi McLaughlin is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at North Carolina State University, within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. His scholarship centers on the intersection of religion and politics in modern Japan, with a particular focus on the Soka Gakkai movement.

His educational background includes a B.A. and M.A. in East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto, advanced study at the University of Tokyo, and a Ph.D. from Princeton University.

McLaughlin's research explores how religious organizations influence political culture and national identity in secular societies. His work emphasizes the role of Soka Gakkai in shaping civic engagement and ideological narratives in postwar Japan. He examines religious practices as forms of social mimesis and nation-building, especially through the lens of the organization's doctrinal and institutional evolution.

His major publication, Soka Gakkai’s Human Revolution: The Rise of a Mimetic Nation in Modern Japan (2019), represents a foundational study in this area, tracing the movement’s transformation from a lay Buddhist organization into a significant socio-political force. The thematic trends across his writings include religion-state relations, religious innovation, and the public role of faith in ostensibly secular democracies.

• Soka Gakkai’s Human Revolution: The Rise of a Mimetic Nation in Modern Japan (2019)

McLaughlin has contributed to public scholarship through blog posts and events, including at the Berkley Center, where he discussed the policy relevance of religion in Japan. While his advisory and grant activities are not detailed, his engagement with interdisciplinary forums indicates an active role in bridging academic research with contemporary policy discourse. He has not been listed as part of any formal lab or research team in the provided texts.