This Second Edition represents Bellah's summation of his views on civil religion in America. In his 1967 classic essay "Civil Rights in America," Bellah argued that the religious dimensions of American society—as distinct from its churches—has its own integrity and required "the same care in understanding that any religion." This edition includes his 1978 article "Religion and the Legitimation of the American Republic," and a new Preface.

Blending scientific and legal expertise, Kunich proves that a devastating ecological crisis is imminent or even underway already, and that conservation law has yet to catch up with biological science. He challenges readers with a hotspots wager, arguing that he have vastly more to gain than lose by legally protecting biological hotspots, and that foregoing them in favor of the relatively minor and immediate returns arising from their devastation is both foolish and, ultimately, dangerous. Legal thought lags behind modern science in focusing on and setting priorities for global conservation. An extinction spasm is imminent, many scientists argue, due to the ongoing global devastation of biological hotspots, home to a disproportionate share of all life forms, including perhaps millions of unknown species. These hotspots have already lost 88 percent of their primary vegetation and are likely to lose much more, yet few legal measures exist to protect them. Environmental legal protections are often incomprehensive and feebly enforced. Even worse, 62 percent of all hotspots are unprotected. Kunich provides a brief history and science of extinction. He discusses the importance of saving species from extinction and analyzes the legal measures directed toward preserving biodiversity in nations that harbor hotspots.

What would you do if you got the chance to live your life over again? Rick Deeter might just find out. Unsatisfied with his career choice and miserable with his home life, Rick knows that his current situation is a culmination of choices--some misguided, some due to his own naivety. Regardless of his motivation, he realizes that they were his decisions that brought him to this point. Then one day, on his evening commute as he laments his predicament, he says something. He thinks it's just a few rambling thoughts, but in fact, he has spoken the words of the Covenant. Now Rick has the chance to make those decisions over again. If he makes the right choices, he will get the life he has always dreamed of, but he also knows that one wrong decision will return him to the life he so desperately wants to escape.

An unprecendented highest level account of Israeli war, peace, and politics, and a stern accusation about how the Bush administration intervened in Israel's internal politics, dictated its foreign policy, and abetted the fall of the Likud government.