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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 contends that dualism gives evil what natures?

2. In Part I, Essay 1, "Evil and God", what state does Lewis assert that the concepts of good and evil have failed to reach?

3. Price argues what about religion?

4. According to his speech in Part I, Essay 10, "Christian Apologetics", what terms does Lewis prefer to speak on?

5. Joad believed that various philosophical theories of human evolution were which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Joad argue in his original 1941 article, "Evil and God"?

2. What does Lewis believe about the roles of suffering and discomfort in Christianity?

3. What mistakes does Lewis believe that the Bishop of Woolwich makes in his arguments about scripture?

4. What is the role of apologetics?

5. According to Lewis, what distinction does Christianity carry, compared to other religions?

6. What does Dr. Pittenger say about Lewis' arguments in his earlier works?

7. What is the problem with relying only on experience according to Lewis' argument in Part I, Essay 2, "Miracles"?

8. Explain the distinction that Lewis makes between thinking and imagining.

9. According to Lewis' argument in Part I, Essay 12, "Man or Rabbit?", what are the difficulties of using Christianity to become a better person ?

10. What argument does Lewis make to suggest that science incapable of invalidating religion?

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

Lewis suggests that one of the major reasons that women should not serve as priests is because one of a priest's roles is to represent God on earth, and the Christian God has apparently asked, through Jesus Christ and the prophets of the Old Testament, to be referred to as a man. The concept of a perfect divine begin having or desiring to be thought of as having a gender is a strange one, but Lewis contends that it is supportable.

1) Discuss the importance of masculinity in the Christian church. What elements of the church as essentially masculine or patriarchal and would be dramatically different without the masculine interpretation of God.

2) Describe some of the behaviors that the Christian God exhibits according to Lewis' assessments in the book which support the concept of God being more masculine than feminine.

3) Explain the evidence that supports the concept that the Christian God desires to be thought of as a man. Assess the strength of the evidence and other possible interpretations of it.

4) Speculate as to why an all-powerful divine being might prefer to be thought of as being one gender or another.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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