You: Because the universe is everything, there is nothing left for it to be dependent on.

Aaron: Now it is you who is playing with words. You are merely defining God to be part of the universe and then calling the universe independent.

You: You are correct only if God exists. If he does, though, your argument is no stronger. One could still ask how the system of the universe and God exist independently.

Aaron: And the answer would be that the system of the universe and God can exist independently because one of its members — namely God — has the quality of independence.