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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 does Chesterton say created the opportunity for opulence and moral degradation to enter into mainstream life in Rome?

2. What position does Chesterton take in the chapter "The Riddles of the Gospel"?

3. What does Chesterton say is strong roots for humanity?

4. In Part II, Chapter VI, what state does Chesterton say the church is currently in?

5. What side of Christ does Chesterton say the church emphasizes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What two elements does Chesterton claim the church unites? How does it do it?

2. What reason does Chesterton give for presenting the last chapter in this fashion?

3. How does Chesterton connect Christ's intellectual ability to his claim of divinity?

4. How does Chesterton refute the common idea to label Christ as a man who was a great philosopher, or a social reformer, or a healer?

5. What was the religious state of Rome when Christ appeared?

6. Explain how Chesterton comes to the conclusion that Christ was an intellectually apt and astute man?

7. Explain what Chesterton meant when he said the birth of Christ turned the universe inside out, or that the circumference had been turned into the center.

8. Explain the difference that Chesterton sees in the wandering of Christ from the wandering of other philosophers.

9. What does Chesterton mean when he refers to the Church's ability to rise again?

10. What possible exception does Chesterton make to the statement that Christendom is unique in the creation of church militants? Why does he say the exception doesn't count?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

On page 82 Chesterton refers to Comtism. Auguste Comte's positivistic philosophy states that metaphysics and theology should be replaced by a hierarchy of sciences. Write an essay about the philosophies of Auguste Comte.

Part 1. Who was Auguste Comte? Write a short biography of the man.

Part 2. What philosophy is he known for? Discuss positivism and Comtism.

Part 3. How do the philosophies of Comte differ from the positions of Chesterton?

Part 4. What is your reaction to the philosophies of Comte?

Essay Topic 2

In the chapter titled "War of Gods and Demons", Chesterton states that the struggle for Christianity would have been very different if the Carthaginians had won the Punic wars. In the next chapter he creates a psychological profile of what Rome was like when Christianity arrived. Set the psychological stage for the coming of Christ, as Chesterton did for Rome, for the arrival of Christ if Rome had lost the Punic wars. Write an essay about what might have been different.

Part 1. Describe the civilizations of Carthage and Rome.

Part 2. Summarize the war and the major players and events in it.

Part 3. What if Rome had fallen and became a colony of Carthage? What would have changed in society?

Part 4. How do you think these changes might have affected the arrival of Christianity? What would have been different?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about G.K. Chesterton.

Part 1. Write a short biography of Chesterton. When and where did he live? What did he do professionally?

Part 2. What kind of material did Chesterton write? What are some of his better known works?

Part 3. What colleagues did Chesterton have who are also well known names? Did he influence them or did they influence him? How?

(see the answer keys)

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