View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. The island Gaunilo describes is greater than an island with all of the Island's properties save what?

2. Is Anselm's task of defending the Christian faith complete?

3. What must He be in order to atone for men as a species?

4. Why must the Island have this property?

5. The rational mind is the _________ part of us.

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Chapters 3 through 8 discuss?

2. Was the God-man born with original sin? How does this affect Him?

3. What can be known about the Trinity?

4. What does Anselm outline to prepare the reader for Book II?

5. Why must humans be saved?

6. How will souls be rewarded?

7. What is known about each human soul?

8. What do Chapters 6 and 7 argue?

9. Why is the sacrifice of the God-man so important?

10. How is the Greatest Conceivable Island compared to God?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Anselm denies it is a fallacy to deduce the existence of a being in reality to one that exists in the understanding.

Part 1) Do you agree with him? Why or why not? How does he support his belief? Are his points valid? Why or why not?

Part 2) What does this belief reveal about Anselm's beliefs about man's abilities to conceive and understand?

Part 3) Is God, according to Anselm, greater than what one can conceive? Why or why not? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In Cur Deus Homo, Anselm represents his argument in dialogue form.

Part 1) Describe this dialogue. Why might he choose to use dialogue form? Why has he not used it in his other writings?

Part 2) How effective is this dialogue? Explain. How does it support his other writings?

Part 3) What else, besides the dialogue form, is unique to this writing? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Anselm argues that, despite the fact that we cannot truly understand the nature of the Trinity, we should believe in it.

Part 1) Why can one not truly understand the Trinity? Why should one believe in it, even though he or she does not understand it?

Part 2) Is this lack of understanding and need to believe anyway exist in other aspects of Christianity? If so, give an example. If not, why not?

Part 3) In what do you believe? Do you have complete understanding of this? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,164 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample