The Varieties of Religious Experience · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James.
William James
major
Also known as Unknown, your, him, me, thee, yourself
The author and narrator, presenting his lectures on religious experience.
Leo Tolstoy
supporting
Also known as Tolstoy, myself
Russian novelist whose personal crisis and conversion are analyzed as a case study.
Jesus Christ
supporting
Also known as Christ, the Christ, Jesus, Jesus Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus
Central religious figure whose life and teachings are referenced throughout.
Saint Teresa of Ávila
supporting
Also known as Saint Teresa, Teresa, Saint Teresa:
Spanish mystic whose writings on prayer and visions are quoted extensively.
George Fox
supporting
Also known as George Fox, Fox
Founder of the Quakers, whose spiritual autobiography is a key source.
Martin Luther
supporting
Also known as Luther, Martin Luther, Martin
Reformer whose inner struggles and religious experiences are discussed.
Walt Whitman
supporting
Also known as Walt Whitman, Whitman, W. Whitman
American poet cited as an example of healthy-mindedness.
John Bunyan
supporting
Also known as John Bunyan, Bunyan, Poor patient Bunyan, poor John Bunyan
Author of Pilgrim's Progress, whose conversion experience is analyzed.
Edwin Diller Starbuck
supporting
Also known as Professor Starbuck, Professor Starbuck of California, Starbuck, Dr. Starbuck, E. D. Starbuck, Edwin D. Starbuck
Psychologist whose questionnaires on conversion are frequently cited.
David Brainerd
supporting
Also known as David Brainerd, Brainerd, David
Missionary whose diary records his intense religious melancholy and devotion.
Alphonse Ratisbonne
supporting
Also known as M. Alphonse Ratisbonne, M. Ratisbonne, Alphonse, Ratisbonne
French Jew whose sudden conversion is described in detail.
J. A. Symonds
minor
Also known as J. A. Symonds, Symonds
Writer whose mystical experiences are quoted.
George Müller
minor
Also known as George Müller of Bristol, Müller, George Müller, Mr. Müller
Philanthropist known for his faith and answered prayers.
Immanuel Kant
minor
Also known as Immanuel Kant, Kant
Philosopher whose ideas on morality and religion are discussed.
Henry Suso
minor
Also known as Suso, the Blessed Henry Suso
Medieval mystic whose sufferings and visions are cited.
Antonia Bourignon
minor
Also known as M. Antonia Bourignon, Antonia Bourignon, Janet, Antoinette Bourignon
Flemish mystic whose religious experiences are referenced.
R. M. Bucke
minor
Also known as Dr. Bucke, Dr. R. M. Bucke, R. M. Bucke
Physician who described his own cosmic consciousness experience.
Thomas Carlyle
minor
Also known as Carlyle, Thomas Carlyle, Tom
Essayist quoted on the sense of wonder and the infinite.
Saint Augustine
minor
Also known as Saint Augustine, Augustine
Early Christian theologian whose conversion is a classic example.
Robert Louis Stevenson
minor
Also known as R. L. Stevenson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Stevenson
Novelist quoted on the divided self and moral effort.
Paul Rousselot
minor
Also known as Paul Rousselot
Author of a mystical work quoted by James.
Jonathan Edwards
minor
Also known as Jonathan Edwards, Edwards
American theologian and preacher, analyzed for his religious affections.
Marcus Aurelius
minor
Also known as Marcus Aurelius, Marcus Aurelius:
Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, cited on the sense of dependence.
Théodore Jouffroy
minor
Also known as The French philosopher Jouffroy, Jouffroy, Th . Jouffroy
French philosopher whose crisis of doubt is described.
Stephen H. Bradley
minor
Also known as Stephen H. Bradley, Bradley, Mr. Bradley
Convert whose experience is recounted in a personal narrative.
Margaret Mary Alacoque
minor
Also known as Marie, Marguerite Marie, Mary, Margaret Mary Alacoque, Margaret Mary
French nun known for her visions of the Sacred Heart.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
minor
Also known as Saint Ignatius, Loyola, Ignatius Loyola, Ignatius
Founder of the Jesuits, whose spiritual exercises are discussed.
Saint Gertrude
minor
Also known as Saint Gertrude, Gertrude
Medieval nun whose mystical experiences are quoted.
S. H. Hadley
minor
Also known as Mr. S. H. Hadley, Mr. Hadley, S.
Reformed alcoholic whose conversion story is told.
Cotton Mather
minor
Also known as Cotton Mather
Puritan minister cited on religious experiences.
Saint Paul
minor
Also known as Saint Paul, Paul
Apostle whose conversion and writings are foundational.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
minor
Also known as Emerson, R. W. Emerson
Transcendentalist philosopher quoted on the soul and nature.
Alphonse Gratry
minor
Also known as Father Gratry, young Gratry, Gratry
French priest whose youthful despair and conversion are described.
Theodore Parker
minor
Also known as Theodore Parker, Parker
American minister cited on the sense of God's presence.
Jacob Boehme
minor
Also known as Jacob Behmen, Behmen, Jacob, Boehme, Jacob Boehme
German mystic whose writings are referenced.
Henry Alline
minor
Also known as Henry Alline, Alline, the Rev. Mr. Henry Alline, Young Mr. Alline
Evangelist whose conversion and inner struggles are detailed.
André Towianski
minor
Also known as Towianski, André Towianski
Polish mystic whose influence is mentioned.
Uneducated Domestic Servant
minor
Also known as An uneducated domestic servant
Anonymous servant whose religious experience is quoted.
Jean-Baptiste Vianney
minor
Also known as M. B., M. Vianney, Vie de M. J. B. M. Vianney
French parish priest known for his piety, cited as an example.
Richard Weaver
minor
Also known as Richard Weaver, Weaver, O Richard, Richard
Convert whose dramatic testimony is quoted.
Baruch Spinoza
minor
Also known as Spinoza
Philosopher whose intellectual love of God is discussed.
Alfred Tennyson
minor
Also known as Tennyson
Poet quoted on mystical states of consciousness.
Voltaire
minor
Also known as Voltaire
French philosopher cited on the limits of reason.
James H. Leuba
minor
Also known as Professor Leuba, Leuba, J. H. Leuba, Dr. Leuba
Psychologist whose studies on religious experience are cited.
Moses
minor
Also known as Moses on Sinai, Moses
Biblical prophet who received the law on Sinai.
John Foster
minor
Also known as John Foster, Foster
Essayist quoted on religious melancholy.
Billy Bray
minor
Also known as Billy Bray, Bray
Cornish miner known for his joyful Christian life.
John Caird
minor
Also known as Principal John Caird, Principal Caird, Principal, John Caird, J. Caird
Scottish theologian quoted on the consciousness of God.
William Ellery Channing
minor
Also known as Channing, 176 Channing, W. E. Channing
Unitarian minister cited on spiritual growth.
Saint Francis of Assisi
minor
Also known as Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis, Francis of Assisi, Francis
Founder of the Franciscans, exemplar of saintliness.
Muhammad
minor
Also known as Mohammed, Mohammed 200
Prophet of Islam, mentioned in the context of religious founders.
The Buddha
minor
Also known as the Buddha
Founder of Buddhism, cited on the universality of suffering.
Frederick W. H. Myers
minor
Also known as Mr. Myers, Myers
Psychical researcher whose work is referenced.
John Cennick
minor
Also known as John Cennick
Methodist preacher whose conversion is described.
Philo of Alexandria
minor
Also known as Philo of Alexandria, Ali
Hellenistic Jewish philosopher cited on mysticism.
Saint Dorotheus
minor
Also known as Saint Dorotheus, Whereupon Saint Dorotheus
Desert father quoted on self-knowledge.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
minor
Also known as Saint Louis of Gonzaga, Louis
Jesuit saint known for his purity, cited as an example.
Augustus Hare
minor
Also known as Augustus Hare
Author whose memoirs are quoted on religious upbringing.
Ernest Renan
minor
Also known as Renan, E. Renan
French historian of religion, cited on the psychology of faith.
Satan
minor
Also known as Satan
The devil, referenced in discussions of religious fear and evil.
Bernardin de Saint-Pierre
minor
Also known as B. de Saint Pierre, Saint Pierre
French writer quoted on the feeling of God's presence.
Horace Fletcher
minor
Also known as Mr. Horace Fletcher, Horace Fletcher
Author cited on the moral equivalent of war and healthy-mindedness.
John Henry Newman
minor
Also known as Cardinal Newman, Newman, J. H. Newman
Cardinal and theologian, quoted on faith and certainty.
Henry Maudsley
minor
Also known as Dr. Maudsley
Psychiatrist cited on the pathology of religious feeling.
Alphonse Daudet
minor
Also known as Alphonse Daudet
French novelist quoted on the fear of death.
George Albert Coe
minor
Also known as Professor Coe
Psychologist of religion whose work is referenced.
Saint John of the Cross
minor
Also known as Saint John of the Cross, Saint John
Spanish mystic and poet, quoted on the dark night of the soul.
George Whitefield
minor
Also known as Whitefield, George Whitefield
Evangelical preacher of the Great Awakening, cited as an example.
John Scotus Eriugena
minor
Also known as Scotus Erigena
Medieval philosopher cited on the nature of God.
Plato
minor
Also known as Plato
Ancient Greek philosopher, referenced on the soul and the good.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
minor
Also known as Goethe
German poet and philosopher, quoted on religious feeling.
Francis Xavier
minor
Also known as Francis Xavier, Saint Francis, Saint Francis Xavier
Jesuit missionary, cited for his zeal and mystical experiences.
Thomas Ellwood
minor
Also known as Thomas Elwood, Elwood
Quaker whose autobiography is quoted on religious experience.
Friedrich Nietzsche
minor
Also known as Nietzsche, 220 Poor Nietzsche
German philosopher, cited on the psychology of morality and religion.
Joseph Smith
minor
Also known as Joseph Smith
Founder of Mormonism, mentioned as a religious leader.
John Wesley
minor
Also known as Wesley, John Wesley, the Rev. John Wesley
Founder of Methodism, whose conversion is described.
Théodule Ribot
minor
Also known as Professor Ribot, Ribot
French psychologist, cited on the psychology of belief.
Henri Perreyve
minor
Also known as Henri, Henri Perreyve
French priest whose letters are quoted on religious sentiment.
Jerry McAuley
minor
Also known as Jerry M’Auley, Jerry, Jeremiah
Reformed criminal and founder of a rescue mission, cited as a convert.
Madame Guyon
minor
Also known as Madame Guyon, Madame de la Mothe Guyon
French mystic associated with Quietism, quoted on prayer.
Mgr Bougaud
minor
Also known as Mgr . Bougaud, Bougaud
French bishop and biographer, cited as a source.
Gabriel
minor
Also known as Gabriel
Archangel, mentioned in the context of religious visions.
Christoph Blumhardt
minor
Also known as Christoph Blumhardt, Blumhardt
German theologian and pastor, cited on the kingdom of God.
