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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 one reason Lewis gives in support of women serving as priests?

2. What kinds of sins does Lewis believe are the most important to repent of?

3. Which of the following does Lewis NOT see as a major adversary for Christian philosophy?

4. How relevant does Lewis believe the sex of a person to be in spiritual life?

5. The philosopher J.J.C. Smart distinguishes between whether an institution of moral rules is a good and idea and what?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. According to Lewis' writings in Part II, Essay 15, "Before We Can Communicate", what challenges do Christians face in dealing with non-believing Englishmen?

3. What is Lewis' opinion about Christian literature?

4. Why is Lewis opposed to the commercialism of Christmas?

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

6. Why does Lewis believe that the decline of religion occurring at his time was less dramatic than it appeared?

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

8. What reasons does Lewis give to support the idea of women serving as priests?

9. Why does Lewis find it important for everyone to read older texts?

10. According to Lewis, how do most modern people approach the subject of God, and how should the subject be approached?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theory of humanitarian punishment emphasizes rehabilitation and therapy for criminals. Although many can empathize with this approach, Lewis contends that there are significant practical problems that it can lead to.

1) Explain the humanitarian theory of punishment and how it differs from traditional method of punishment. What type of punishment would most criminals prefer to have brought against them?

2) Discuss some of the reasons that Lewis gives to explain why the humanitarian theory is embraced and supported. What apparent advantages does it have?

3) Explain in detail Lewis' argument against this approach to punishment, and describe the problems that he associates with it.

Essay Topic 2

Lewis explains that self-love is a complicated subject for Christians. He states that Jesus' commandment to "love thy neighbor as yourself" is an important contribution of the faith, and it implicitly encourages love of the self. However, he suggests that Christians are also commanded to avoid excessive greed, worldliness, and other symptoms of self-love.

1) Explain the reasons that Lewis gives to suggest that Christians are conflicted over the subject of self love, and discuss why this conflict is more prevalent in Christianity than in other faiths.

2) Discuss some of the dangers that Lewis explains that Christians face in practicing either excessive or insufficient self-love.

3) Explain Lewis' opinion on the subject of self-love within Christianity and discuss the way that he believes Christians should resolve this problem.

Essay Topic 3

The title essay of the book expresses Lewis' misgivings about the way that modern man approach the subject of God. Many, especially Materialists, attempt to place God in judgment.

1) Explain what Lewis means by the statement that modern men judge God. Explain the typical judgments that are laid against the Christian God.

2) Discuss the way that Lewis believes the subject of God should be approached.

3) Speculate as to how modern mindsets such as individuality and scientific reasoning contribute to what Lewis views as a flawed approach to the subject of God.

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