Friendly Atheism

[mcc1789]

I'm also still unclear on where the line is between classical theism and pantheism (or perhaps there's none really).

Certainly the classical theologians say there's a difference. 

There are a number of different flavors of pantheism, apparently. Very likely I'm not aware of all of them. 

The main point of pantheism, though, seems to be that God is identical with the world. What the world is, that is God. 

Classical theology will point to a number of differences: 

~ The world is contingent, God is necessary. 

~ The world changes, God is impassible and eternal. (And note here that the possibility that the world has always existed -- that the multiverse has no beginning, or whatever -- is not relevant here, as "eternal" does not mean "lasts for all time.") 

~ The world exists, God is existence.

I know they say that, but I'd been unclear on the difference.

A common definition for "eternal" is in fact "lasting forever". That is semantics though I realize.

I've never been clear on how God "is" existence according to them.