Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth, broadcast these essays on the BBC in 1990. They proved prophetic, with the rise of political fundamentalism in various parts of the world and the perversion of faith into threat even in the most tolerant locales. Rabbi Sacks points out that modernity does not necessarily run parallel with the triumph of secularism, and that even in an environment of faith that is tolerant and seeks the truth rather than political pre-eminence, religion can become an element of separation rather than reconciliation. He points out that tradition includes the acceptance that we are a "community of communities," and that fundamentalism as well as liberalism carry their own burdens of exclusion at certain levels. He is keenly aware of the ambivalence and paradox inherent in pluralism, but argues a cohesive morality can unite the diverse bonds of faith. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)