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. According to Chesterton, what was Rome?

2. What accepted social practice common in Christ's time does Chesterton use to exemplify how his teachings are not bound to them?

3. What emotions does Chesterton say a first time reader of the New Testament would experience?

4. What popular belief about the New Testament does Chesterton refute?

5. Which of the following does Chesterton NOT list as one of the five deaths of the faith?

Short Essay Questions

1. What important role does Herod play in the Christmas story as Chesterton sees it?

2. What importance does Chesterton assign to the "Merry Peasant"?

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

4. Explain Chesterton's view on the role of the mother in the Christmas story.

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

6. Explain what Chesterton means when he says that Asia is old but Europe is born again.

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

8. According to Chesterton, how do Hector and Achilles compare when looked at historically?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chesterton's arguments that Buddhism is not a religion and does not have ethics, and that the church is unique in its ability to endure social change is thrown into question by Buddhism itself. Write an essay on Buddhism.

Part 1. Write about the historical spread of Buddhism - when and where it was founded, its subsequent existence and spread throughout history, and its various different types.

Part 2. Who was Buddha? Describe the founder of Buddhism and his teachings.

Part 3. Describe the five precepts, or the code of ethics, in Buddhism.

Part 4. Analyze Chesterton's position on Buddhism in light of your research.

Essay Topic 2

In the chapter titled "God and Comparative Religion", Chesterton refers to the Book of Job as one of the cornerstones of the world. Write an essay about the Book of Job.

Part 1. What is the Book of Job? When was it written and by whom? Where does it remain as religious text?

Part 2. Summarize the Book of Job, including the content of the conversations.

Part 3. What primary and important topics or themes are discussed in the book? Why are they pivotal?

Part 4. What is your personal belief regarding some of these topics. Do you feel the Book of Job offers valuable and useful insight? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In the chapter "The Demons and The Philosophers" Chesterton spends quite a bit of time describing aspects of Confucianism and Buddhism. Write an essay about either Confucianism or Buddhism or both.

Part 1. Who was the man behind the religion? When and where was he born? What did he do during his lifetime?

Part 2. What are some of the fundamental ideologies, practices, and beliefs?

Part 3. Do you agree with Chesterton that this set of beliefs is a mere philosophy or is it a religion? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,094 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample