Foundations

It occurred to me the other day, after having a conversion with someone holding differing views than myself, that I had been missing a vital key to fruitful dialog.  This person complained that, to them, it was bothersome that my side of the dialog always returned to theology.
My revelation?  That my discussions are always built upon and lead to theology, because "love of God" is my foundation.  I came to realize that if the person with whom I am speaking does not have the same foundation, the conversation will most likely fail.
So the point that I need to remember and articulate is that my discussion partner may have differing foundations than myself and I need to know and understand (or at least discover and help them articulate) what his foundation is.  From there I can then find a common ground and build.
The whole point of dialog is to gain understanding and communicate love.  To most efficiently do so, I must understand him and speak to him in a way he can appreciate.  To begin from a common point and then move forward, so as to move him in the right direction, avoiding the logical or practical errors that would lead to falsehood, is the ultimate goal.
The great thing about logic is that one can begin a conversation literally anywhere, move in the right direction and the dialog will eventually move into Orthodoxy.  All truth belongs to God, therefore all discussion of truth will lead to his church.  Our responsibility is to be able to see it, understand it and be able to use it in a manner that leads in love. 
To communicate truth in a way that exudes love is what it is all about.  Even if the partner in dialog rejects the truth and love of God, we have done our work in communicating the gospel in a God honoring manner.