This fast-paced, inspiring and original work proposes that, if religions fade, then secular law provides a much more comprehensive moral regime to govern our lives. Backed by potent and haunting images, it argues that the rule of law is the one universal framework that everyone believes in and that the law is now the most important ideology we have for our survival. The author explores the decline of religions and the huge growth of law and makes predictions for the future of law and lawyers. The book maintains that even though societies may decide they can do without religions, they cannot do without law. The book helpfully summarises both the teachings of all the main religions and the central tenets of the law – governing everything from human relationships to money, banks and corporations. It shows that, without these legal constructs, some of them arcane, our societies would grind to a halt. These innovative summaries make complex ideas seem simple and provide the keys to understanding both the law and religion globally. The book will appeal to both lawyers and the general reader. The book concludes with the author's personal code for a modern way of living to promote the survival of humankind into the future. Vividly written by one of the most important lawyers of our generation, this magisterial and exciting work offers a powerful vision of the role of law in centuries to come and its impact on how we stay alive.

The questions -- The purpose of morality and law -- The past and the future -- What is religion? -- What is the rule of law? -- The families of religion: western religions -- The families of religion: eastern religions -- The families of law -- A brief tour of secular law -- Money, banks and corporations -- Secularisation and religious decline -- Reasons for the decline of religiosity -- Secularisation of government -- The rise of the lawyers -- Who rules the world: lawyers or economists? -- What is wrong with the law? -- Scientific progress and the law -- A way of living -- A billion years from now

Provocative, audacious and challenging, this book rejuvenates not only the historical study of law but also the role of Law Schools by asking which stories we tell and which stories we forget. It argues that a historical approach to law should be at the beating heart of the Law School curriculum. Far from being archaic, elitist and dull, historical perspectives on law are and should be subversive. Comparison with the past underscores: how the law and legal institutions are not fixed but are constructed; that every line drawn in the law and everything the law holds as sacred is actually arbitrary; and how the environment into which law students are socialised is a historical construct. A subversive approach is needed to highlight, question, de-construct and re-construct the authored nature of the law, revealing that legal change on a larger scale is possible. Far from being archaic, this recasts legal history as being anarchic. Subversive Legal History is not a type of Legal History but is its defining characteristic if it is to be a central part of Law School life. It describes a legal method that should not be the preserve only of specialist legal historians but rather should be part of the toolkit of all law students, teachers and researchers. This book will be essential reading for all who work and study in Law Schools, proposing a radical new approach not only to the historical study of law but also to the content, purpose and ambition of legal education. A subversive approach can revolutionise Law Schools providing a more ambitious legal education which is grounded in the socio-legal reality, helping to ensure that today’s law students are better equipped to be the professionals and citizens of tomorrow.

We must continue to demand justice and compassion for victims of Catholic clergy abuse. This is not optional. Time and time again in recent years, Catholics and non-Catholics alike have been horrified by hideous stories of wretched abuse and betrayal. However, there is a side of the Catholic Church abuse narrative that is not getting the attention it warrants. Countless priests in the United States have been falsely accused of committing horrendous child abuse. Topics in this book include: ... how the most recent figures indicate that one third of accused priests have been accused falsely; ... the stunning court declaration with the opinion from a retired FBI investigator that "one half" of all accusations are "entirely false" or "greatly exaggerated"; ... the American cardinal who has been the target of two bogus abuse charges; ... how accusers have retained huge monetary settlements even though their allegations later proved to be false; ... the father of an accuser who appeared at the funeral of an accused priest and apologized for the false allegation that his son leveled; ... the Catholic archbishop who tells of being spat upon by a member of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests); ... the monsignor who waited five years to be exonerated of abuse charges even though his alleged victims denied that they were molested; plus much more.

This landmark book reveals not only that women were priests, bishops, and prophets in early Christianity, but also how and why they were then suppressed.

The prevalence of the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy and its shocking cover-up by church officials have obscured the largely untold story of the tort system's remarkable success in bringing the scandal to light. The lessons of clergy sexual abuse litigation give us reason to reconsider the case for tort reform and to look more closely at how tort litigation can enhance the performance of public and private policymaking institutions.

Chapter 1. The Roles of Defence and Crown Counsel -- Chapter 2. Crown Disclosure Obligations -- Chapter 3. The Age of Information and Defence Implications -- Chapter 4. Client and Other Witness Interviews -- Chapter 5. Presenting Evidence-In-Chief -- Chapter 6. The Defence of Alibi -- Chapter 7. The Objectives of Cross-Examination -- Chapter 8. Preparation for Cross-Examination -- Chapter 9. Courtroom Manner: Connecting With the Jury -- Chapter 10. Observation and Recollection -- Chapter 11. Techniques of Cross-Examination -- Chapter 12. Prior Inconsistent Statements -- Chapter 13. Further Limitations and Obligations in Examining Witnesses -- Chapter 14. The Expert Witness -- Chapter 15. Cross-Examination of the Jailhouse Informant, Accomplice and Other Unsavory Witnesses -- Chapter 16. Cross-Examination of Police Officers -- Chapter 17. The Identification Witness -- Chapter 18. Cross-Examination of Child Witnesses -- Chapter 19. Re-Examination -- Chapter 20. Reply, Surreply and Collateral Questions -- Chapter 21. Reopening The Case -- Chapter 22. The Preliminary Inquiry -- Chapter 23. Demonstrative Evidence and Jury Deliberation Aids -- Chapter 24. Criminal Records -- Chapter 25. Character Witnesses -- Chapter 26. Privileges -- Chapter 27. Competency and Compellability of Witnesses -- Chapter 28. Hearsay Evidence and Its Exceptions -- Chapter 29. Opinion Evidence By Non-Experts -- Chapter 30. The Right to Silence and Self-Incrimination -- Chapter 31. Similar Fact Evidence -- Chapter 32. The Contested Bail Hearing -- Chapter 33. Judicial Interference -- Index.