Anthony Bradney

Law and Faith in a Sceptical Age is an analysis of the legal position of religious believers in a dominantly secular society. Great Britain is a society based upon broadly liberal principles. It claims to recognise the needs of religious believers and to protect them from discrimination. But whilst its secular ideology pervades public discourse, the vestigial remains of a Christian, Protestant past are seen in things as varied as the structure of public holidays and the continued existence of established churches in both England and Scotland. Religious, Christian values also form the starting point for legal rules relating to matters such as marriage. Active religious communities constitute a very small minority of the population; however, those who belong to them often see their religion as being the most important element of their identity. Yet the world-view of these communities is frequently at odds with both the prevailing liberal, secular climate of Great Britain and its Christian, Anglican past. This necessarily entails a clash of ideologies that puts in question the secular majority's claim to want to protect religious minorities, the possibility of it being able to sufficiently understand the needs of those minorities and the desirability or practicality of any accommodation between the needs of the various religious communities and the secular mainstream of society. Law and Faith in a Sceptical Age addresses these issues by raising the question of whether a liberal, secular state can protect religion. Accommodation to different religious traditions forms part of the history of the legal systems of Britain. This book asks whether further accommodation can and should be made.

Law and Faith in a Sceptical Age

Mandy Burton

Fiona Cownie

English Legal System in Context provides a critical overview of the legal system. It establishes a sound theoretical framework within which to analyse the system and its various intricacies, encouraging students to develop a critical approach to the study of this important topic. The authors provide an insightful contextual analysis of the system and its main protagonists: as well as the traditional core areas of the English legal system such as the courts, case law, legal professionals, and the civil and criminal proceedings, the text discusses the police and their powers,the role of the CPS, private policing, the work of non-police agencies. This edition also contains a new chapter on alternative dispute resolution, designed to broaden the reader's appreciation of this central issue, plus new material on the role of law schools and law students. With a clear, logical structure, and a wealth of references to take the reader further into the subject, this is a perceptive and wide-ranging study that explains and illuminates this fascinating topic.

English Legal System in Context

English Legal System in Context takes a unique and highly praised analytical approach to the subject of the English Legal System. Frequent examples are incorporated throughout the text, illustrating the link between theory and practice, while the concise and engaging style enables students to have an excellent understanding of the subject as a whole. A wide range of traditional core areas are covered in the text, such as the courts, case law, legal professionals and civil and criminal proceedings. However, the authors also discuss areas such as the role of private policing and the work of non-police agencies, giving students a balanced overview of the subject area. Additionally, the text provides a wealth of references for students who want to gain a deeper understanding of the legal system. With a clear and logical structure, this perceptive and wide ranging text provides a unique introduction to the English Legal System.

Anthony Bradney

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