[Sungirl]

you'd have to find some agreement on what "God" meant, how she is defining God

Yes..that was my last response to her...I never got an answer yet on that. I just said, "I hope your friend doesn't think God is this body floating around in the stars....". hahaha
I think that is what some people think of those who do believe in God....that God is floating up in space all day. I think it's a way to convince themselves they are right not to believe because that is such a ridiculous idea.

[D-fendr]

quite often, the conversation can begin with agreeing that the "God" the other person doesn't believe exists - doesn't exist.

That's often a good start. The Old-Man-With-A-Beard in the sky as we thought and were taught as children doesn't exist. We agree.

A good beginning definition, at least it has been useful to me, is to define God as "the creative process of the universe."

I emphasize this is a beginning, incomplete, definition. But it can start the discussion in a good and useful direction.

[D-fendr]

It may also help to inform her that God as a "being existing in time and space" is not taught by theologians of any major religion. It is, of course, used as a limited analogy for some instances, such as for children, and can be used properly.

But if the "being in the sky God" is what she doesn't believe in, congratulate her, so far, she's in agreement with most theologians.

[fish hawk]

Just got back to Maui from two months in Calif. While in Sacramento I saw a great bumper sticker. "the Big Bang Theory, God spoke and BANG, it happened." Aloha