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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 war do most of Lewis' countrymen believe their nation had a part in starting?

2. Overall, Lewis feels that vivisection should be treated in what way?

3. Lewis advocates therapy for criminal offenders of what type?

4. What qualities does Lewis ascribe to the King James Version of the bible?

5. Lewis notes that disagreements from Christian history appear small in what context?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

5. According to Lewis' writings in Part II, Essay 10, "Modern Translations of the Bible", how do translations of the bible change over time?

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

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

8. What is the problem in the village described in Part IV, Letter 5, "A Village Experience"?

9. Explain some of the problems that Lewis sees as challenges to Christianity in England.

10. What is Lewis' opinion about Christian literature?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Punishment is of major interest to Lewis. He believes strongly in punishment based on "deserts" and believes that the type of punishment a society metes out can have a profound impact on its character and future.

1) Discuss the nature and importance of punishment according to Lewis. What are its aims, and why must it exist in a civilized society?

2) Explain how Lewis believes the concept of punishment is related to the concept of repentance. Detail any similarities between the two.

3) Describe some of the types of punishment that Lewis discusses in the book and explain how he believes these types of punishments will shape the society that practices them.

Essay Topic 2

Although he is not primarily concerned with politics, the subject is unavoidable, and Lewis discusses the relationship between Christianity and politics in several different ways throughout the book.

1) Explain the unusual connection between church and state that existed in England during Lewis' time.

2) Discuss Lewis' opinions about compulsory religious activity forced on citizens by the state. Provide and explain some examples from the book.

3) Many have called for Christians to form a political party. Explain the argument Lewis uses to reject these concept.

Essay Topic 3

According to Lewis and the scholars he shares correspondence with, suffering appears to be nearly universal in the world. It is not difficult to find human suffering, even in wealthy first-world nations, and animals suffer both in the wild and in human captivity. These scholars agree that the problem of suffering is a significant and important one for Christians, who believe that God is loving and moreover, pure good.

1) Explain the argument that some use to explain how suffering shows that the Christian God does not exist.

2) Describe the counter-arguments made by Lewis and others on this subject, to show that suffering may be an important and necessary component of the world.

3) Assess whether or not suffering is inherently evil, and which position this quality of suffering supports.

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