Whatever Happened to Justice Ch 18

What is considered the new god in the religion described in the content?

In the context of this new religion, what is the primary ritual performed by worshippers?

What does the passage suggest about the relationship between legislation and personal responsibility?

What metaphor is used to describe legislators in the new religion?

According to the passage, how has the perception of legislation changed over time?

What physical structure is mentioned as resembling a place of worship?

What sentiment does the author express regarding the 'god' of political law?

What does the author imply about the state of lawyers in the U.S.?

What percentage of the world's lawyers were located in America according to the study mentioned?

What was the number of lawsuits filed in America per year as stated in the content?

According to Alexander Hamilton, what is essential for the idea of a law?

What has the American approach to law become, as indicated in the content?

What does the content suggest about the priority of protecting innocent persons under law?

What was the number of lawsuits filed in federal district courts in the year 2000?

How is the current American legal system characterized in the content?

New Religion of Law

Author Eric argues that modern reliance on laws to solve all problems has created a new religion, where government is the god and legislation is the ritual.
This belief, often deeply held, leads people to trust in legislation to fix problems, potentially neglecting personal responsibility.
This new religion is increasingly popular and has replaced old religions.
Experts and even those with greater knowledge have adopted this new approach.
The author argues that this new religion is ineffective.

Characteristics of the New Religion

The god is the government.
The ritual is to create/pass legislation.
The belief is that government can solve any problem with the right law

Comparison to Traditional Religion

Modern reliance on law is replacing traditional religious practices.
Legislators are seen as modern priests, and government buildings are considered temples.
The author uses the analogy of a state capitol to support this argument, highlighting its cathedral-like resemblance.
The author points out a strange inclination to behave with religious reverence while in government buildings.

Lawsuits and Legal Reliance in America

Excessive reliance on law is a characteristic of the US.
The US has a disproportionately high number of lawyers compared to its population.
Statistical data from 1950 to 2000 show a considerable increase in lawsuits.
Law has become the first resort, not the last.

Criticisms of the Current Legal System

Law is not the solution to every problem, and shouldn't be the first solution.
Reliance on law reduces individual responsibility in solving complex problems.
The author argues that the goal of protecting the innocent through the legal system has been overshadowed by other legal applications.

Explore Eric's argument that modern society has developed a 'new religion' centered around government and legislation, positioning them as solutions to all problems. This quiz delves into the characteristics of this new belief system and compares it to traditional religions, highlighting its implications on personal responsibility and societal values.