# Saint Francis of Assisi — The Varieties of Religious Experience character guide

> Saint Francis of Assisi in The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis, Francis of Assisi, Francis

**First appearance:** 0014-lectures-xi-xii-and-xiii-saintliness

## Who they are

Founder of the Franciscans, exemplar of saintliness.

## In the story

### [Lecture I: Religion and Neurology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se/chapters/lecture-i-religion-and-neurology)

Mentioned as another religious leader whose experiences are pathologized by medical materialism.

### [Lectures IV and V: The Religion of Healthy-Mindedness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se/chapters/lectures-iv-and-v-the-religion-of-healthy-mindedness)

Mentioned as belonging to the company of optimistic spirits.

### [Lectures XIV and XV: The Value of Saintliness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se/chapters/lectures-xiv-and-xv-the-value-of-saintliness)

Mentioned as a saint who would adapt to modern times, not necessarily in retirement.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se/characters/saint_francis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se/characters