Abbotsford writer David Tickner has published a book on the origins of more than 200 everyday words of religion and spirituality.
The book May I Have a Word with You? answers questions such as: Where does the word “amen” come from? What is the difference between “alleluia” and “hallelujah”? Where do words such as “cathedral,” “pastor” or “sacred” come from?
During February, the House of James in Abbotsford will have a feature display of the book.
“I have always been interested in the origin and history of words,” Tickner says. “I wrote this book because I wanted to stop and look again at words which have surrounded me since childhood, words which I have tended to take for granted.”
Tickner says he focused not so much on the meaning of the words but on where they come from. In particular, the book asks, “What experiences are the source of words related to religion and spirituality?”
Tickner says that writing May I Have a Word with You? was like doing genealogy as he traced the history and family tree of each word.
He said he wrote the book for the general reader who has an interest in words and in word origins as well as for those who have an interest in the origin of words related to religion and spirituality.
Tickner has studied history – especially church history, etymology, religion, and spirituality – and has lived and worked all over the world as a professor and consultant for colleges and universities on curriculum and faculty development projects.
He is also an artist and is currently the president of the Fraser Valley Watermedia Society.
The book can be purchased at Banyen Books (Vancouver), the Trinity Western University Bookstore, Friesen Press Bookstore, Whitby’s (White Rock), Bolen Books (Victoria), online via Amazon.ca, and soon will be available in other retail bookstores. It is also available as an eBook.
Visit davidtickner.ca/author for more information.