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

This is a book about understanding our common Christian heritage--the Bible, the history of the Church and, most importantly, the truth of the Gospel. I (the author) make no attempt to persuade the reader that a proper understanding of these things is essential. I assume you already believe this. ( If you did not believe this, I don't think you would have bought the book.) But before many can penetrate to the core of the Christian Faith, they will have to hurdle the tall, and wide obstacle that presses in on them at every step: the biases of their own culture.The reader should be aware that this book has many limitations. First, this book is not a thorough exposition on Eastern Christianity but only a sketch of its vision. Second, I purposely do not outline every Evangelical and Catholic position Again, my main purpose is to describe the Eastern vision of Christianity, not offer a comparative review of it against every stream of the faith. And third, although the perspectives represented in this book are sympathetic to those of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, I confine my comments to that denomination's theology, not to its present government or practices (many of which ignore its own teachings.)