Customer Reviews

Common Ground: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity for the American Christian

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For over four hundred years the Orthodox Church was the church of Christianity. This excellent book accurately spells out the differences between the Christian experience in the early church and Christianity in the Western world. It successfully points us back to the basics that made that early church so powerful. In the process I found that my understanding of the faith as something primarily between God and me was very skewed. Having come to understand how the early Christians lived out the faith in covenant community rather than as individuals has redirected my life,and made the bible much more understandable. As a result, I have a much deeper walk with God than I would ever have considered possible. While it may be a primer for those well steeped in the Orthodox tradition, it was a book that took several readings simply because our Western culture is not inherently communal as was the Biblical culture in which Christianity flourished. Anyone who seriously wants to grow in their Christian walk would find this a fount of knowledge and information that can seriously open one's eyes as to just how much more is available to them than most Christians presently experience.

This is the absolute best book for comparing and contrasting Orthodoxy with Roman Catholic and Protestant theologies. One of the biggest problems I have when speaking with others about faith issues is that some just aren't aware that when we say Baptism, Eucharist, Salvation, etc., we don't all mean the same thing. In a non-argumentative way, the author clearly describes the major teachings of Orthodox, Catholic, and major Protestant doctrines side-by-side. Great for cradle Orthodox to understand the theology of other denominations, as well as for others to understand us Orthodox.

I wrote the following review some time ago, and after rereading the book a few times, I am more convinced than ever that this is the best book to give to friends who are interested in the Eastern Church, or to read for yourself if you are looking eastward! I've added some more books to the end of the review for those interested in further study. Enjoy!

Father Bajis' own description of his work cannot be topped, nor should it be. He's done his homework, now do yours! If you read this book serveral things will happen. You'll get a great introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy, geared to the Protestant and Catholic mindset. You'll get an incredible reading list by reading the extensive endnotes. In addition, you will most likely learn more about your own history, whether you're Prot or Catholic. If you have not read his description above this review, please do (yourself a favor)!

Other books of interest: "Not by Scripture Alone" by Sungenis, "The Orthodox Way", "The Orthodox Church", and "How are We Saved?" by Bishop Kallistos Ware. Congar's "Tradition and Traditions" is a great work of Catholic scholarship by one of the masters. "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church" by Vladimir Lossky will reshape your brain (and your nous)! For those of you who are more daring and looking to bite into something more meaty: "Being As Communion" by John Zizioulas; "Energies of the Spirit" by Duncan Reid; "The Ground of Union" by Williams. They deal with east/west theologies of the Trinity and the Holy Spirit, but they touch on everything else in between! Very deep stuff, takes time to read, but highly recommended! Enjoy!

Eastern Orthodoxy is not just another version of what you heard in sunday school or saw on tv. It is the ancient faith of the apostles and their followers handed down through the centuries, rooted in the worship and experience of the God who has revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ.

If I had one book to give to someone interested in Eastern Christianity who was coming out of a Roman or Protestant background, this would be it! After rereading the book a few times over the past 12 years, I am more convinced than ever that this is the best book to give to friends who are interested in the Eastern Church, or to read for yourself if you are looking eastward! I've added some more books to the end of the review for those interested in further study. Enjoy!

Wow! Why read this book? He's done his homework, now do yours! If you read this book several things will happen. You'll get a great introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy, geared to the Protestant and Catholic mindset. You'll get an incredible reading list by reading the very extensive endnotes (almost another book). In addition, you will most likely learn more about your own history, whether you're Protestant or Catholic. It will challenge your assumptions and sterotypes as well as help you rethink what the New Testament actually is for and about. You cannot go wrong with this book. Please buy it. If it is unavailable, Light and Life publishers sells it currently as a 2006 reissue.


Other books of interest: "Not by Scripture Alone" by Sungenis, "The Orthodox Way", "The Orthodox Church", and "How are We Saved?" by Bishop Kallistos Ware. Congar's "Tradition and Traditions" is a great work of Catholic scholarship by one of the masters. "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church" by Vladimir Lossky will reshape your brain (and your nous)! For those of you who are more daring and looking to bite into something more meaty: "Being As Communion" by John Zizioulas; "Energies of the Spirit" by Duncan Reid; "The Ground of Union" by Williams. They deal with east/west theologies of the Trinity and the Holy Spirit, but they touch on everything else in between! Very deep stuff, takes time to read, but highly recommended! Enjoy!

This book is not afraid to ask the tough questions, or make the tough comparisons. For this reason, it may make many uncomfortable. It bucks the the modern trend to over-pursue the appearance of "avoiding being judgemental" and so avoids the common pitfall of bland assertions. My first encounter with it was in the context of a discussion group, and things got quite heated. The large format of the book lends itself well to writing notes in the margins. As others have mentioned, the bibliography has many good pointers.

The book's main purpose is to describe the type of Christianity typically associated with eastern orthodox churches but which, for me, seems close in many ways to themes within post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism (the author is clear to point out that this tradition took a decided turn at that juncture). Significant topics for me included the nature of authority (e.g., scripture, clergy, spirit), choices made during the Reformation and by Evangelical traditions, the central role of communion (in the Trinity and church), and salvation (along with 'original sin'). It provided me with important perspectives on these 'traditional' topics from my own background (Presbyterian raised, now Catholic), and the contrasts he drew helped provoke me into a deeper dialogue concerning my ever-evolving faith (as well as discussions within my parish). A scholarly effort, well-research; highly academic tone in most though not all places, but the text is not bulky (chapter endnotes carry that weight and are quite valuable). Lastly, individuals pursuing ecumenical dialogues, seminarians from all traditions, and those searching for a faith-full home grounded in (common) tradition -- whence the title "Common Ground" -- would be well served to read this book.

The book's main purpose is to describe the type of Christianity typically associated with eastern orthodox churches but which, for me, seems close in many ways to themes within post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism (the author is clear to point out that this tradition took a decided turn at that juncture). Significant topics for me included the nature of authority (e.g., scripture, clergy, spirit), choices made during the Reformation and by Evangelical traditions, the central role of communion (in the Trinity and church), and salvation (along with 'original sin'). It provided me with important perspectives on these 'traditional' topics from my own background (Presbyterian raised, now Catholic), and the contrasts he drew helped provoke me into a deeper dialogue concerning my ever-evolving faith (as well as discussions within my parish). A scholarly effort, well-research; highly academic tone in most though not all places, but the text is not bulky (chapter endnotes carry that weight and are quite valuable). Lastly, individuals pursuing ecumenical dialogues, seminarians from all traditions, and those searching for a faith-full home grounded in (common) tradition -- whence the title "Common Ground" -- would be well served to read this book.

"Common Ground" is an excellent resource I'm frequently referring to in sharing about the Orthodox Church to Christian friends. Not just an introduction to Orthodoxy, the book raises issues all Christians need to contemplate. Valuable also for those within the communion of the Orthodox Church. Highly recommended.

Looking at Fr. Jordan's footnotes, the only critical question I would ask is, if nearly all his positive references and definitions of genuine, ancient Christianity come from canonical Orthodox sources, why isn't he (and his independent congregation) in the communion of the canonical Orthodox Church?

But don't let that criticism stop you from getting this book. It is a most helpful resource, especially if you are in or attending an Orthodox Church, where it becomes not just theory but "rubber meets the road" praxis.

If you are a serious student of Christian history and wish to get a full blown scholarly view of the distinctives between Eastern and Western Christianity, this is the book for you. It is not a book for the casual reader though. But if you wish to get out into the deep end of the pool, both theologically and historically, I would definitely recommend this book for those investigating Orthodoxy.

Excellently written, comprhensive data on why the Orthodox Church worships like it does. The author has researched the early beginnings of the church, the councils that made doctrinal decisions, and the chisms of 1054 and the reformation. For the Christian wanting church history as well as details about the Orthodox Church, this is an excellent book. This was another great buy from Amazon.