Wallace Clift
Encyclopedia
Wallace Bruce Clift, Jr., the author of several books and articles in the field of psychology of religion
, is professor emeritus at the University of Denver
, where he chaired the Department of Religion for many years. He has lectured and given workshops extensively in the United States, Australia, Europe and Asia on such topics as Jungian psychology, Christian theology
, pilgrimage
, spiritual growth, journaling, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
. Clift has published five books, three of which were co-authored with his wife, Jean Dalby Clift
.
with honors in economics and government from the University of Texas at Austin
in 1949. Clift then went on to earn a law degree at Harvard Law School
in 1952, and practiced law in Houston, Texas
, before attending seminary
. He married Jean Dalby in 1954. In 1960, he earned an M.Div. from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific
. Ordained deacon in 1960 and priest in 1961, Clift served as vicar of Grace Church and the Church of the Resurrection in Houston until 1964.
In 1964, Clift received a Farish Foundation grant to study the psychology of Carl Jung
. He studied from 1964 to 1966 at the C. G. Jung Institute in Zürich
, Switzerland, where he worked with analyst Jolande Jacobi
. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Divinity School
with his dissertation Psychological and Biblical-Theological Perspectives on Hope from the Viewpoints of C. G. Jung and John Knox.
from 1969 to 1992, and in 1981 helped start its joint Ph.D. program in religious and theological studies with the Iliff School of Theology
.
Clift co-founded the C. G. Jung Society of Colorado in 1976, and served as its first president. After his retirement from the University of Denver in 1992, Clift was appointed Canon Theologian of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and invited to head the Anglican Studies program at St. Thomas Theological Seminary. When St. Thomas closed in 1995, Clift and the Episcopal diocesan bishop negotiated the Anglican Studies program's move to the Methodist Iliff School of Theology, where Clift continued to head the program for another seven years.
awarded Clift an honorary doctorate in 2003. Clift served as President of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado
from 1989 to 1990 and is Canon Theologian Emeritus of the diocese.
Psychology of religion
Psychology of religion consists of the application of psychological methods and interpretive frameworks to religious traditions, as well as to both religious and irreligious individuals. The science attempts to accurately describe the details, origins, and uses of religious beliefs and behaviours...
, is professor emeritus at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, where he chaired the Department of Religion for many years. He has lectured and given workshops extensively in the United States, Australia, Europe and Asia on such topics as Jungian psychology, Christian theology
Christian theology
- Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...
, pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
, spiritual growth, journaling, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment is a psychometric questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions...
. Clift has published five books, three of which were co-authored with his wife, Jean Dalby Clift
Jean Dalby Clift
Jean Dalby Clift, an Episcopal priest and pastoral counselor in private practice, is the author of several books in the fields of psychology and spirituality. "Dr...
.
Early career and education
Clift earned a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
with honors in economics and government from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1949. Clift then went on to earn a law degree at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1952, and practiced law in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, before attending seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. He married Jean Dalby in 1954. In 1960, he earned an M.Div. from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific is one of the eleven seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is located in Berkeley, California, and is a member of the Graduate Theological Union...
. Ordained deacon in 1960 and priest in 1961, Clift served as vicar of Grace Church and the Church of the Resurrection in Houston until 1964.
In 1964, Clift received a Farish Foundation grant to study the psychology of Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
. He studied from 1964 to 1966 at the C. G. Jung Institute in Zürich
C. G. Jung Institute in Zürich
The C.G. Jung Institute in Zürich, Switzerland was founded in 1948 by the psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung, the founder of Analytical Psychology...
, Switzerland, where he worked with analyst Jolande Jacobi
Jolande Jacobi
Jolande Jacobi was a Swiss psychologist, best remembered for her work with Carl Jung and her writings on Jungian psychology. She was born in Budapest, Hungary as Jolande Szekacs, but became known as Jolande Jacobi after her marriage at the age of nineteen to Andor Jacobi. She spent part of her...
. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Divinity School
University of Chicago Divinity School
The University of Chicago Divinity School is a graduate institution at the University of Chicago dedicated to the training of academics and clergy across religious boundaries...
with his dissertation Psychological and Biblical-Theological Perspectives on Hope from the Viewpoints of C. G. Jung and John Knox.
Academic career
Clift taught psychology of religion at the University of DenverUniversity of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
from 1969 to 1992, and in 1981 helped start its joint Ph.D. program in religious and theological studies with the Iliff School of Theology
Iliff School of Theology
Iliff School of Theology is a graduate theological school adjoining the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.An average of 300-350 students attend the school each year in the following degree programs:* Master of Divinity...
.
Clift co-founded the C. G. Jung Society of Colorado in 1976, and served as its first president. After his retirement from the University of Denver in 1992, Clift was appointed Canon Theologian of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and invited to head the Anglican Studies program at St. Thomas Theological Seminary. When St. Thomas closed in 1995, Clift and the Episcopal diocesan bishop negotiated the Anglican Studies program's move to the Methodist Iliff School of Theology, where Clift continued to head the program for another seven years.
Professional recognition
In 2000, Bette Lanning endowed the Wallace B. and Jean Dalby Clift Scholarship Fund at Iliff to provide funds for students enrolled in its Anglican Studies Program. Church Divinity School of the PacificChurch Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific is one of the eleven seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is located in Berkeley, California, and is a member of the Graduate Theological Union...
awarded Clift an honorary doctorate in 2003. Clift served as President of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado
Episcopal Diocese of Colorado
The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America which covers all of Colorado. It is in Province VI. Its cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness, is located in Denver, along with its offices. John F. Spalding was the first...
from 1989 to 1990 and is Canon Theologian Emeritus of the diocese.
Books
Australia: ISBN 9780859242431. Australia: ISBN 9780824507275. Australia: ISBN 9780824510329. Republished 2004 by Wipf & Stock, ISBN 1592445438. Australia: ISBN 9781592445431.Encyclopedia entries
- Clift, Wallace (1987). "Child"; "Rejuvenation"; "Vierkandt, Alfred"; & "Wundt, Wilhelm" in Encyclopedia of Religion. (Eliade, Mircea, ed.) New York: Macmillan.