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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the primary importance of Christmas to Lewis?

2. Lewis believes that Humanitarianism can lead to what outcome?

3. Lewis fears that doctrinal issues will be settled with changes in what?

4. What is Lewis' stance on compulsory religious activity?

5. What concept must be warred against according to Christianity?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Lewis' opinion about Christian literature?

2. How does Lewis feel about the Anglican church allowing Catholic-like invocation of the saints?

3. According to Lewis, how might vivisection be justified?

4. Why does Lewis believe that an outside-in perspective is impossible to attain?

5. According to Lewis' writings in Part II, Essay 2, "Two Ways with the Self", what apparent contradiction exists in Christianity regarding self-love, and how is it resolved?

6. Why does Lewis reject the creation of a Christian political party?

7. What theological reasons does Lewis give to reject the idea of women serving as priests?

8. Why does Lewis believe that a therapeutic approach to crime will lead to tyranny?

9. What problem does Lewis identify in the rules discussed in Part IV, Letter 1, "Conditions for a Just War"?

10. Explain the logical fallacy that Lewis cautions against in Part III, Essay 3, "The Sermon and the Lunch"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

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.

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