Oh My God, The Possibilities Are Endless! Quiz

Answer: False

C.S. stands for Clive Staples. Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, Ireland, on November 29, 1898, to Albert James Lewis and Florence Augusta Lewis. His father was a solicitor and his mother was a daughter of a priest of the Church of Ireland. Therefore, his grandfather was a clergyman.

C.S. Lewis also had an older brother, Warren, whom he was very close to. They were friends their whole lives.

Answer: Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland is a part of the Anglican communion. Anglicanism is, interestingly, a mix of Catholicism and Protestantism. It considers itself Catholic because it believes in the Catholic Creeds, traditions (or at least some of their members believe in Catholic traditions), and sacraments, especially the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist. Yet, they also consider themselves Protestants because they deny the authority of the Pope, and Anglican churches don't require their members to believe in any doctrines except what they believe the Bible teaches or supports. Apparently, some Anglicans lean more "Catholic", while others are more "Protestant".

Like Catholics, Anglicans practice infant baptism. Lewis was baptized and raised in the Church of Ireland.

Answer: Jack

Lewis didn't like the name "Clive" and preferred to be called "Jack", which his friends and family usually called him, even when he was older. It seems that the only person who called him "Clive" was his tutor, William Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick became Lewis's tutor when Lewis was 16.

When Lewis was a child, he had a dog named Jacksie. When Lewis only four, Jacksie was ran over (killed) by a car. Originally, Lewis wanted to be called "Jacksie", but eventually accepted "Jack" instead.

While his dog's death no doubt impacted Lewis, the death of his mother really, really impacted Lewis. His mother died of cancer when he was 10 years old. In one of his autobiographies, "Surprised by Joy", Lewis wrote about how devastated he was after his mother died.

Answer: Anglican

Yes, he returned to Anglicanism, the denomination he was born into. Nonetheless, Christians of all denominations have appreciated his writings and apologetics (arguments for and defenses of the Christian faith). Although he was an Anglican, Lewis didn't consider Anglicanism superior. In "Mere Christianity", he said, "You will not learn from me whether you ought to become an Anglican, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, or a Roman Catholic".

It is ironic and fascinating to note that Lewis, who has been so popular among conservative, fundamentalist, and/or Evangelical Christian fans was, in fact, not a fundamentalist himself. While Lewis believed that perhaps much of the Bible was the Word of God, he evidently didn't believe in inerrancy or that all of the Bible is literally or historically true. At the very least, he was open to the possibility that not all of it is true. In addition, even though Lewis didn't agree with everything Roman Catholicism teaches either, he was more accepting of Roman Catholicism than many Evangelicals or fundamentalist Protestants are.

In "Reflections of the Psalms", Lewis wrote, "At one point I had to explain how I differed on a certain point from both Catholics and Fundamentalists: I hope I shall not for this forfeit the goodwill or the prayers of either. Nor do I much fear it."

Answer: False

Lewis actually fought in World War 1. In 1917, at the age of 19, Lewis was sent to France to fight in the war. Lewis was wounded, while his friend, Paddy Moore, died in battle. Lewis and Moore vowed to each other that if one of them died in the war, the other would take care of Moore's mother and Lewis's father.

After Moore died, Lewis kept his word and took care of Moore's mother, including financially.

Answer: Magdalen (Oxford) and Magdalene (Cambridge)

Originally from Ireland, Lewis spent most of his life in England. In 1925, Lewis began working as an English Fellow and Tutor at Magdalen (no ending "e") College, a part of Oxford University. While at Magdalen, he joined the Inklings, a group of writers who helped him to believe in God and Jesus. One of these writers was J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of "The Lord of the Rings".

In 1954, Lewis was appointed Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English (literature) there at Cambridge University. As the professorship is attached to Magdalene College (includes ending "e") he moved there. In the summer of 1963, he resigned from that position due to health issues and then in November of that year, he died.

Both colleges were named after Mary Magdalen/Magdalene (literally, Mary of Magdala) Jesus's friend from the New Testament.

Answer: David and Douglas

The relationship between Lewis and Davidman is fascinating. She was originally an American and ethnically/culturally Jewish, but she was raised in a secular household. Like Lewis, she was also a writer and an atheist before becoming a Christian. She met Lewis when she visited England. After the two were friends for a while, she evidently had already fallen in love with Lewis, but he initially only saw her as a good friend and a fellow intellectual. In 1956, the two agreed to a civil marriage, but he claimed that it was only to help out his friend, so she could stay in the United Kingdom. Even though they were technically married, they didn't live together. When Davidman was very sick, Lewis realized that he didn't want to live without her; he loved her, so they had an Anglican priest marry them while she was on her hospital bed. The "proper" marriage took place in 1958.

Davidman's first husband was apparently abusive to her and committed adultery against her as well.

Answer: A Grief Observed

His wife died in 1960 when she was only 45 years old. Lewis originally had "A Grief Observed" published in 1961 under the pseudonym N.W. Clark apparently because he didn't want to attract attention to himself. In addition, he called Joy Davidman simply "H" in the book. Her first name was actually Helen; her middle name was Joy. After Lewis's own death, the book was re-published under his real name.

It's sad but interesting how both Lewis's mother and wife died of cancer.

The other choices are also his writings. "The Great Divorce" is a fictional story about people who had gone to Hell being able to visit Heaven. Despite Davidman being American, "Letters to an American Lady" was evidently written to an American woman whom Lewis never met. "Surprised by Joy" ironically has nothing to do with his wife. In fact, it was written many years before he met her.

Answer: Judas Iscariot

Lewis compared Edmund to Judas Iscariot, the infamous disciple who betrayed Christ. He compared them because both were traitors, but this doesn't mean that Edmund represents Judas per se. As Lewis noted, Edmund, unlike Judas, repented and was forgiven. Even though Judas experienced guilt after what he did, he didn't actually confess his sin to God and ask for forgiveness.

He simply committed suicide. Unlike Judas, Edmund also didn't kill himself. So, while there are a few similarities between Judas and Edmund, the differences are why Edmund can't be or isn't a true allegory for Judas.

The White Witch is similar to Satan.

Answer: John F. Kennedy

Lewis died in Oxford, England the same day that the United States president, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated. Lewis had been having several health issues, but what ultimately got him was kidney failure. He is buried in the graveyard of Holy Trinity Church in Oxford.

Lewis said once that nobody would read any of his writings after he died. He was so wrong!