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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. Lewis would most likely explain the creation of wine through natural processes as which of the following?

2. What do most people believe about national repentance?

3. The problems discussed in Part II, Essay 12, "God in the Dock" mainly stem from criticisms of Christianity from what quarter?

4. Lewis disagrees with what common response to crime?

5. One of the lectures presented in Part II, Essay 5, "Two Lectures" suggests that evolution is what?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

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

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

6. Why is Lewis opposed to giving all men a "right to happiness"?

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

8. What reasons does Lewis give for being uninterested in hymns?

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

10. What kind of compulsions does Lewis argue against?

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 "witnessing" is the Christian practice of sharing the "good news" as expressed by Jesus in the New Testament with those who are outside of the church, attempting to educate and convert them to the Christian faith. Lewis contends that Christians are specifically commanded to pursue this practice, and that failure to do so has serious consequences for themselves and those they fail to convert.

1) Explain the concept of witnessing within the Christian church that Lewis describes. Explain its practices, aims, and target audience.

2) Discuss Lewis' view on the importance of witnessing for Christians.

3) Describe some of the difficulties that Christians experienced in "witnessing" in England in Lewis' time, and discuss techniques that Lewis recommends in order to surmount these difficulties.

Essay Topic 3

National repentance is the phenomenon of a nation's citizens feeling as if they must each personally atone for the wrongs of the nation as a whole. Although this guilt and the consequent repentance often makes people feel good, Lewis argues that it is undesirable and dangerous.

1) Explain the concept of national repentance and why it was prominent in Lewis' time.

2) Discuss the positive aspects that Lewis believes national repentance can bring about and what it is intended to achieve.

3) Discuss the problems that Lewis sees in national repentance. Explain how it can act as a distraction from real spiritual matters, and detail Lewis' arguments against it.

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