If the title of On Common Ground: Bridging the Mormon Evangelical Divide, by Vincent DiGirolamo, does not tell you everything you need to know about the book, a problem exists. It's clear this book was written as a solution to a religious dilemma.
Rather than trying to say one side is right and the other wrong, the author decides to show similarities between both and allow the reader to decide which parts to agree with. He speaks from experience, as a former Catholic who converted to the Latter Day Saints while attending the U.S. Naval Academy.
How is this supposed to work, you ask? The starting point is relatively simple. Core beliefs, principles, as well as values, are shared when one begins a comparison. Conceptually speaking, it works best to begin where both views come together rather than focus on any differences.
One positive is the author's not insisting upon readers simply take his word. In the back of the book is an extensive glossary. Each term is listed with the scriptural reference point so it can be researched. Should the Book of Mormon be noted rather than the Bible, special note is mentioned.
This helps. If one takes a look at the table of contents for both literary works, they don't match up! The Bible, for example, has both the Old and New Testaments. The Book of Mormon has fewer sections, but longer texts.
Considering this book was written to try and have people come to an acceptance of what is the same between two vastly unique religious groups, I'm not sure the idea was accomplished very well. A few terms are only referred to with one group of research materials.
Readers will appreciate the way DiGirolamo does not suggest his way is best. All he asks is a few minutes of one's time to make up the mind.
The book is available from Lulu.com.
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