The fall of the priests and the rise of the lawyers / Philip R Wood.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wood, Philip (Philip R.), 1942- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Law--History.

Law.

Law--Philosophy.

Religion and law.

Rule of law.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (289 p.)

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; Portland, Oregon : Hart Publishing Ltd, 2016.

Summary:

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

Contents:

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.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

9781509905577

150990557X

9781509905553

1509905553

OCLC:

932463451