Date of Publication

8-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Theology

Subject Categories

Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Theology and Religious Education

Thesis Advisor

Ma. Marilou S. Ibita

Defense Panel Chair

Rebecca G. Cacho

Defense Panel Member

Agnes M. Brazal
Willard Enrique R. Macaraan
Francis Xavier R. Salcedo
Anne Frances N. Sangil

Abstract/Summary

This study identified and critically analyzed parallelisms, divergences, and intersecting themes in the narratives of the characters of Jesus as Christos in the gospel according to Matthew and of Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series. Both narratives were critically analyzed using Joseph Campbell’s monomyth framework, a 17-section template of the mythological structure of the heroic narrative. The narrative of Jesus as Christos reflected 11 of the 17 elements of the monomyth, while Harry’s story contained 12 out of the same number of elements. This crucial first step acknowledged and analyzed the narrative parallels and divergences while it exposed some limits of the monomyth framework. The study then revealed that there are 29 parallels and five divergences between the two narratives. These finding also uncovered the intersecting themes of identity, righteousness, and love, which are built on patterns, values, and behaviors that can be openly identified as intersecting with the formative elements of the Matthean Jesus’ life and of Christianity in general. Finally, the results of the study were explored as resources for doing theology. This study’s outcome affirms that the monomyth framework is a potential tool for biblical interpretation such that the characters of Jesus as Christos and Harry Potter can be sources of discourse in a Christology, especially for the youth, that is reflected in modern fantasy literature.

Keywords: Jesus, Christos, Matthew, Harry Potter, Joseph Campbell, monomyth

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Physical Description

xii, 475 leaves

Keywords

Theology; Jesus Christ—Person and offices

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Embargo Period

8-11-2026

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Available for download on Tuesday, August 11, 2026

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