Relates the history of the church in eighteenth century Scotland to social change, the decline of an agrarian society, migration of communities, and the rise of an industrial and urban society. Concerns not only the Church of Scotland and dissident Presbyterians, but also the Episcopal Church in Scotland, the Roman Catholic Church, and the small sects. Examines the social and theological factors in the rise o the Evangelicals, the loss of power int eh Assembly by Moderates, and the "Ten Years' War" from 1834 to 1843, when the Scottish church was brought to crisis and division. Questions the interpretation of the Disruption from the standpoints of Scottish history and the twentieth century.

Do animals have rights? If not, do we have duties towards them? If so, what duties? These and a myriad of other issues are discussed in the brilliantly argued Animal Rights and Wrongs. Issues discussed include- - Why are animal-rights groups so keen to protect the rights of rabbits and foxes but not of rats or mice or even humans? - How can we bridge the growing gap between rural producers and urban consumers? -Why is raising animals for fur more heinous than raising them for their meat? -Are we as human beings driving other species either to extinction or to a state of dependency? Animal Rights and Wrongs includes chapters on the livestock crisis, fishing, BSE and a layman's introduction to philosophical concepts. The book presents a radical response to the defenders of animal rights, and a challenge to those who think that because they are kind to their pets, they are therefore good news for animals.