View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Lewis emphasizes what about the evils of World War II?

2. Lewis' books were generally intended to bridge the gap between what types of writing?

3. What was the audience for the lecture transcribe in Part I, Essay 10, "Christian Apologetics"?

4. What it is about choosing to aid the sick that might be problematic for a Christian?

5. According to Lewis, Christianity holds what believe about myth?

Short Essay Questions

1. What argument does Lewis make to suggest that science incapable of invalidating religion?

2. Explain the way that Lewis states that probability judgments of events in Christianity should be made?

3. According to Lewis' argument in Part I, Essay 12, "Man or Rabbit?", what are the difficulties of using Christianity to become a better person ?

4. According to Lewis, how could a Materialist lead a good life without Christianity?

5. According to Lewis' writings in Part I, Essay 17, "Answers to Question on Christianity", what is problematic for Christians about healing the sick, and why is this action acceptable anyways?

6. How are schoolboys taught Christianity in England?

7. According to Lewis' writings in Part I, Essay 19, "What Are We to Make of Jesus Christ", what possible contradiction makes it difficult to discount the miracles associated with the life of Jesus?

8. What is the purpose of the prayer books according to Lewis?

9. Why does Lewis believe that philosophy alone is insufficient for faith?

10. Why does the answering of prayers not always necessitate supernatural intervention?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dogma is the more or less unchanging set of beliefs and rules that establish and maintain a religion's identity. Although often vehemently despised by materialist thinkers and liberal churches, Lewis contends that dogma is an important component of faith and essential for a mature religion.

1) Explain what dogma is, especially in the Christian church, and how and why is remains unchanging. Explain one element of Christian dogma that has not changed significantly in a very long time.

2) Discuss the problems that outsiders, liberal thinkers, and materials have with dogma.

3) Explain how dogma aids a religion in maintaining its cohesion, and explain Lewis' suggestion that dogma's unchanging nature is a strength, and not a weakness.

Essay Topic 2

Bulverism is the flawed argumentative technique of assuming that the opponent is wrong and then merely explaining how that person came to that flawed belief. Although this technique may sway audiences, and even cause a person to question their beliefs, it does nothing to determine the relative truth of an issue.

1) Explain the concept of Bulverism, how it is employed, and why it is flawed as a method of argument.

2) Discuss some of the common uses of Bulverism in debate, including a discussion of particular subjects that are especially vulnerable to this type of attack.

3) Speculate as to why a person might resort to Bulverism, and whether or not one who argues in this way is arguing honestly and in good faith.

Essay Topic 3

Lewis recognizes the supreme importance of a human being's right to pursue happiness, but he loudly opposes anyone's explicit right to happiness itself.

1) Discuss the concepts of a "right to happiness" and a "right to pursue happiness" according to Lewis, and explain their differences.

2) Explain Lewis opinion regarding the importance of the right to pursue happiness within a free, democratic, and capitalist society.

3) Explain the way that Lewis believes that attempting to guarantee a right to happiness will lead inexorably to severe social problems.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,053 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample