Question 1: what is the question?

The question "Does God exist?" is so loaded and yet so empty of detail that I've decided to avoid it altogether for a bit. I don't even know what type of question it is or what is meant by two out of three of the words. So I'm going to compare it to similar statements that I have a better chance of understanding. Then I'll creep up on the original question and see if I can catch it by surprise.

1) Elvis existed
2) King Arthur existed
3) Harry Potter exists

Same format: X exists or existed. Different values of X. This is Not Rocket Science™.

I can't compare with a single X as that would be begging the question (in the older and nicer sense), so I've chosen a selection of Xs that cover 'true', 'debatable', and 'false'. I've also chosen Xs that have enough in common that a useful comparison can be made. They don't necessarily have anything in common with God. Apologies if that offends any Elvis fans

What do we mean by 'exist' then? All the Xs above are recognisable names. They've all appeared in books and films. They've all probably had erotic internet fan fiction written about them. Is that enough to 'exist'? Not by any useful definition as I've deliberately chosen one obviously false statement.

(If you want to argue whether Harry Potter exists, there's probably a primary school nearby. If you want to argue whether or not it's possible to prove that Harry Potter does not exist, there's probably an undergrad common room nearby. I may join you in the common room later in the blog. Just don't offer me any of that nasty instant coffee.)

So a useful definition of 'exists' needs to be true for Elvis, false for Harry Potter, and debatable for King Arthur. Then I can worry about whether the statement 'God exists' is similar to any of the three examples. Then I go to hell for blasphemy regardless of the conclusion. Sorted.