[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.

[plato99]

An accurate definition of "God" is, in this case, rather elusive. It is easy enough to say that you believe in "God", or that you have faith that "God" exists, but without actually defining exactly what it is that you believe exists, your profession of faith is meaningless. Just what are we discussing here?

Before any meaningfull discussion of "God" can begin, we must work out what "God" is. Here are some questions to start with:

1) Is this being a physical entity, or is it defined as "spirit"?

2) What are the attributes of this being? (Love, Wrath, Hate, Compassion, Omnipotence, etc.) Are these attributes consistent with all accounts of "God", as in the bible, the writings of St. Augustine, C.S. Lewis, etc.

3) If there are conficting accounts of these attributes, can they be reasonably explained?

Just some ideas to kick around. Enjoy/flame as you please.