Paula Xiberras
The meaning of the name ‘Wilbur’ is ‘resolute’ or ‘brilliant’ and curious Wilbur of Matthew William’s book is indeed both resolute to learn about the Abrahamic religious traditions of his own faith and those of his friends and ‘brilliant’ in how he goes about it. I recently chatted to Matthew Williams who is Head of Faith and Mission at St Mary’s College about his book, perfect for the approaching Christmas season, in fact for all seasons with the message it conveys of acceptance and understanding of differences and at the same time acknowledgment of similarities between the different faiths.
The story is aimed at upper primary students by appealing to their love of Australian Rules football.
In Matthew’s book, aimed at upper primary students by appealing to their love of Australian Rules football are encouraged to learn about the Abrahamic religious traditions (those religions that trace their origins to the patriarch Abraham). The comparisons are clear, many people follow football religiously and understand it rites and rules. Matthew wants students through drawing on the similarities between football and religion, to arrive at a greater understanding of those with different faiths.
Matthew’s utilises attendance at a football match by his protagonist, Richmond fan Wilbur and his friend Imran to prompt discussion on Imran’s Islamic faith, the same faith of Richmond player Bachar Houli.
Wilbur also learns about Judaism and Christianity with his other friends. The section devoted to Christianity, again, successfully employs the football metaphor to explain the differences between Wilbur and his friends’ three different ‘codes’ of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Protestantism and Catholicism. The history of each faith is explained and the friends conclude that just like football the codes might be different but the essential rules and rites, as well as the devotion to certain religious figures and holy places are held in common by all three.
You can read more at the following link
http://au.blurb.com/b/6895629-curious-wilbur-learns-about-abrahamic-religious-tr
