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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 did the woman see in Part I, Essay 2, "Miracles"?

2. What forces alter the characters of individuals, according to Christian doctrine?

3. In Part I, Essay 9, "The Grand Miracle", Lewis compares the actions of God to those of which of the following?

4. Price argues what about religion?

5. How common is the belief in the conflict between religion and science?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How is Christianity transmitted, according to Lewis' writings in Part I, Essay 13, "On the Transmission of Christianity"?

3. What is the theory of dualism?

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

5. What is the difference between religion and politics, according to Lewis?

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

7. According to Lewis, how could a Materialist lead a good life without Christianity?

8. Why does the answering of prayers not always necessitate supernatural intervention?

9. How did Lewis' Socratic Club operate?

10. What are the problems with dualism, according to Lewis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jesus is widely accepted as a good moral teacher, but the gospels say that he also made impressive claims about himself that cannot be simply ignored. Christian apologists such as Lewis often suggest that Jesus' documented wisdom makes it impossible to discount or dismiss his claims.

1) Explain the common conception of Jesus according to Lewis, and the nature of the claims made by him in the Christian gospels.

2) Discuss the position of Lewis on the subject of Jesus life, teachings, and claims about himself. Why does Lewis believe that the combination of these elements is a strong argument in favor of Christianity's truth?

3) Explain some of the alternatives that Lewis concedes to be possible. Explain some simple changes in doctrine or interpretation of scripture that could lead to a different interpretation either of Jesus' teachings, or his claims about himself, and discuss why Lewis rejects these alternatives.

Essay Topic 2

Punishment is of major interest to Lewis. He believes strongly in punishment based on "deserts" and believes that the type of punishment a society metes out can have a profound impact on its character and future.

1) Discuss the nature and importance of punishment according to Lewis. What are its aims, and why must it exist in a civilized society?

2) Explain how Lewis believes the concept of punishment is related to the concept of repentance. Detail any similarities between the two.

3) Describe some of the types of punishment that Lewis discusses in the book and explain how he believes these types of punishments will shape the society that practices them.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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