The Hero’s Journey
Joseph Campbell is probably the most well-known mythologist, ever. He studied myth – what it is, what it does, how it works, and why cultures chose to express their experiences through the language of myth. In this study, he determined that the common understanding of myth is a false perception. The common understanding states that whatever is deemed a myth or mythical is false and not real, i.e. Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Bloody Mary, etc. The common meaning uses myth to explain the unexplainable in the sense of it not being real. The ancient understanding of myth, such as in the Greek and Roman cultures, was also a way to explain the unexplainable, but in the sense of something being real and true, but not being able to understand it fully. The ancient understanding of myth sought to explore the deeper meaning and truth of someone or something.
In this study of the ancient understanding, Campbell found something in common between all the heroic stories, i.e. Hercules, Perseus, Jason (and the Argonauts), Odysseus, etc. The common thing was something that Campbell called the hero’s journey. The journey is complex and long, so I will provide a rough summary so I do not have to write a book. The hero is called to go on an adventure leaving the know to journey into the unknown to defeat an evil force. At first, the hero refuses, but will eventually accept the call. Along the way, he meets a wise sage that teaches and trains the hero. The hero faces various challenges that they must overcome. Eventually reaching the final challenge to defeat the evil force. The hero is victorious, returning home with a great reward. Sometimes, the hero faces challenges on the way home and on returning home shares the reward. Campbell states that the hero’s journey is a monomyth, a myth which can be found in most, if not all stories.
The hero’s journey is also the journey of the Christian. But for us, it is not just a story, it is reality. We live our lives in an ordinary world doing our own thing, when all of a sudden we are called by God to take an adventure and go on a journey with Him. Sometimes, we want to refuses the call. Sometimes we say no. But a person can only resist for so long. Eventually, the called person accepts the invitation and sets out on this journey. Along the way, the Christian comes across a wise sage, a pastor or mentor that teaches, trains, and shows this new Christian what it means to be a Christian and how to live a faithful life. As the Christian continues on their journey, they will come across challenges and tests that they have to face and overcome, remembering that He who called them will provide the tools needed to pass the test and overcome the challenge. As the Christian continues on the journey, eventually there will come something so evil, so dark that they must take a stand up against it, and although they will not be able to defeat it (God will defeat the villain), they will have done their part in standing up and saying this is wrong, this is not the way things should be. In a way, they will have triumphed and will be rewarded for their courage, bravery, willingness, and staying the course. The Christian should then return to their homeland – their families, friends, and church to share with them journey and to say there is a great evil out there, what will you do to stand up and challenge it, will you shout out that this is wrong? So, when God calls you, what are you going to do? Will you accept the call to adventure or will you refuse it? Will you complete the journey? Will you share the reward? When you encounter a great evil, will you challenge it, will you stand up to it naming it as wrong? We all want the world to be a better place. There is only one way to do it, when God calls you to go on the hero’s journey, say yes.