Francis Clive-Ross
Encyclopedia
Francis Fabian Clive-Ross (1921–1981) was a publisher and author
whose works focused on occultism, comparative religion
, and the Traditionalist School
. Clive-Ross was also a Trustee of the World of Islam Festival (held in London in 1976), as well as a justice of the peace
.
, and parapsychology
, some of them highly critical and skeptical. Readers demanded that the journal revert to its former role as a Spiritualist publication. Clive-Ross pointed out that he had accepted editorship on the condition that Light be an independent journal. Subsequently, he resigned and Dr. V. F. Underwood took over.
Clive-Ross formed Perennial Books to specialize in metaphysics
, philosophy
, and religion
. He retained a critical faculty in dealing with occult subjects, believing that there is a good deal of fraud or self-deception in Spiritualism
and psychical research. Clive-Ross was the founder, editor-in-chief and publisher of Studies in Comparative Religion
; the earliest English-language journal of traditional studies, founded in Britain
in 1963 and continuing until its publication was interrupted in 1987. The journal focused on the spiritual practices and religious symbolism of the world's religions. The journal was notable for the number of prominent Perennialists
who contributed to it.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
whose works focused on occultism, comparative religion
Comparative religion
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...
, and the Traditionalist School
Traditionalist School
The term Traditionalist School is used by Mark Sedgwick and other authors to denote a school of thought, also known as Integral Traditionalism or Perennialism to denote an esoteric movement developed by authors such as French metaphysician René Guénon, German-Swiss...
. Clive-Ross was also a Trustee of the World of Islam Festival (held in London in 1976), as well as a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
Publishing
Clive-Ross was the proprietor for many years of the Aquarian Book Service, established at Pates Manor. He relinquished his interest in Aquarian Press around 1966. Soon after the London Spiritualist Alliance was reorganized as the College of Psychic Science in 1955, Clive-Ross became editor of the long-established Spiritualist journal Light. Under his editorship, the journal expanded its scope to include articles on occultism, comparative religionComparative religion
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...
, and parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
, some of them highly critical and skeptical. Readers demanded that the journal revert to its former role as a Spiritualist publication. Clive-Ross pointed out that he had accepted editorship on the condition that Light be an independent journal. Subsequently, he resigned and Dr. V. F. Underwood took over.
Clive-Ross formed Perennial Books to specialize in metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, and religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. He retained a critical faculty in dealing with occult subjects, believing that there is a good deal of fraud or self-deception in Spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
and psychical research. Clive-Ross was the founder, editor-in-chief and publisher of Studies in Comparative Religion
Studies in Comparative Religion
Studies in Comparative Religion was a quarterly academic journal published from 1963–1987 that contained essays on the spiritual practices and religious symbolism of the world's religions. The journal was notable for the number of prominent Perennialists who contributed to it...
; the earliest English-language journal of traditional studies, founded in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1963 and continuing until its publication was interrupted in 1987. The journal focused on the spiritual practices and religious symbolism of the world's religions. The journal was notable for the number of prominent Perennialists
Traditionalist School
The term Traditionalist School is used by Mark Sedgwick and other authors to denote a school of thought, also known as Integral Traditionalism or Perennialism to denote an esoteric movement developed by authors such as French metaphysician René Guénon, German-Swiss...
who contributed to it.
Books
- Studies in Comparative Religion: 1967 Commemorative Annual Edition (World WisdomWorld WisdomWorld Wisdom is an independent publishing company established in 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana. World Wisdom publishes religious and philosophical texts, including the work of authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda K...
, 2007) ISBN 9781933316543 - Studies in Comparative Religion: 1968Commemorative Annual Edition (World WisdomWorld WisdomWorld Wisdom is an independent publishing company established in 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana. World Wisdom publishes religious and philosophical texts, including the work of authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda K...
, 2007) ISBN 9781933316550 - The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, East Bedfont (British Publishing, 1970)
See also
- Studies in Comparative ReligionStudies in Comparative ReligionStudies in Comparative Religion was a quarterly academic journal published from 1963–1987 that contained essays on the spiritual practices and religious symbolism of the world's religions. The journal was notable for the number of prominent Perennialists who contributed to it...
- The Matheson TrustThe Matheson TrustThe Matheson Trust is an educational charity based in London dedicated to further and disseminate the study of comparative religion, especially from the point of view of the underlying harmony of the major religious and philosophical traditions of the world....
- Traditionalist SchoolTraditionalist SchoolThe term Traditionalist School is used by Mark Sedgwick and other authors to denote a school of thought, also known as Integral Traditionalism or Perennialism to denote an esoteric movement developed by authors such as French metaphysician René Guénon, German-Swiss...