Chapter 1: What Is God?
In the first chapter of What Is God Like by Paul Copan, the author looks at the concept of God and the different ways that people have understood God throughout the course of history. He examines the various attributes and characteristics of God that have been discussed in various religions and philosophies, including omniscience, omnipotence, immutability, eternality, and omnipresence. He also looks at the differences between pantheistic and monotheistic conceptions of God, and the various theories of how God interacts with the universe. As an example, Copan points to the concept of the Logos, as it was outlined in the Gospel of John, which serves as a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds.
Chapter 2: Is It Possible to Know Anything About God?
In the second chapter, Copan questions whether it is even possible for humans to claim to have any knowledge of God at all. He looks at various tools we have to try and understand the nature of God, including theology, philosophy, and science, and how these tools can help us form an understanding of who God is. Copan also explores the limitations of humanity's ability to comprehend the unfathomable nature of the divine, as well as the power of faith to bridge the gap between what we know of God and what we cannot understand. For example, Copan looks at the paradoxical nature of St. Anselm's ontological argument for the existence of God, which can be used to provide evidence of God's existence without having to open a physical window onto the divine, as the argument relies only on logical reasoning to prove God's existence.
Chapter 3: Does God Intervene in Human Affairs?
In the third chapter Copan looks at the idea of divine intervention and questions whether or not this is actually something that exists. He examines the biblical stories of divine intervention as well as the various spiritual and religious phenomena that are attributed to God, such as miracles and answered prayers. He looks at how these occurrences can be interpreted by different sects as evidence of God's presence in the world, or as something else entirely. As an example, Copan points to the miracle of Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, and how some people might see this as an indication of God's power, while others interpret it as just a story to illustrate Jesus' message.
Chapter 4: How Does God Relate to Suffering?
In the fourth chapter, Copan tackles the difficult issue of how God relates to suffering. He examines the various ways in which people try to make sense of suffering in the world, ranging from attributing it all to God's cosmic plan to denying its reality entirely. Copan looks at the arguments for and against the existence of a good and loving God when faced with the seemingly incongruent realities of human suffering. As an example, he looks at the classic problem of evil and how different sects attempt to reconcile the concept of a good and loving God with the existence of evil and suffering in the world.
Chapter 5: What Does It Mean for Us to Love and Serve God?
In the fifth chapter, Copan looks at the idea of how we can love and serve God in our lives. He examines the various forms of devotion and service that people engage in, and explores how our relationship with God can become more intimate as we grow in faith. He looks at the ways that we can build a relationship with God and how our faith can and should lead us to live more Christ-like lives. Copan explores the different ways that we can deepen our understanding of God, including through prayer, charity, and good works. As an example, Copan looks at the practice of meditation in Buddhism, which serves as a spiritual practice to draw closer to God through reflection and self-inquiry.
