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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. A Christian political party would lack which of the following?

3. One theory about ethics and philosophy is that they grew out of what?

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

5. The letter that Lewis passes on in Part IV, Letter 5, "A Village Experience" is from what kind of person?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is Lewis' opinion about Christian literature?

3. Why did Lewis believe that the Nazi emphasis on Nordic myth was absurd?

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

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

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

7. What kind of compulsions does Lewis argue against?

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

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Lewis concedes that animal pain is a major problem for theist belief. Although there are many classical arguments to explain the experience of pain by humans, who are able to learn and grow as a result of suffering, there are very few ways to explain the necessity for animals to suffer.

1) Summarize the "problem of pain" for Christianity specifically and for theist belief as a whole that Lewis outlines. Explain how Lewis resolves this problem in the case of human beings.

2) Discuss why the experience of pain by animals remains problematic for Christian apologists.

3) Describe Lewis' theory of "animal stages" and how it acts to explain away some of the problem of animal pain.

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