God is an abstract concept of course.

Assumption entails abstraction. The moment one uses language, or a symbol, or experiences, there must be abstraction. Even 'knowing' is abstraction.

Don't forget that 'knowledge' entails abstraction. Knowledge and belief systems are merely tools to give meaning to experience.

@¿, I will try to show you how 'God' is abstract, and how 'he' is a concept. Then I'll show how 'belief' is related to abstract concepts.

'God' is a noun. Nouns represent specific things. 'Things' imply 'identification' and 'seperation'; but how is 'identification' and 'seperation' possible? How does one know 'it' is a 'cup'? There must be some structure and function associated with it. That structure and function doesn't reside in the 'it'. If you break 'it' the structure and function remains, but where is this structure and function? In the mind. The mind? Where's the mind? 'Things' in the mind include 'ideas' and associations of 'ideas'. Structure and function entail ideas and association of ideas- what we know as concepts, and concepts entail abstraction.

Therefore, identification and differentiation entails abstraction and conceptualization. All nouns are abstract concepts. 'tycho' is an abstract concept.

Let's test this assertion. Moses the prophet wants to see God. But God isn't in the thunder. . . in the end, God is, 'I am who I am'. Beyond instantiation - only possible via conceptualization.

Belief is basically using concepts and ideas to prescribed effects. Belief, as you pointed out, is for filling gaps. Gaps imply states, and states, experience. Belief transforms experience; and at the same time experience transforms belief. Meaning emerges from this process.

There's something else. The most energetic forms of matter are removed from definite forms and are almost random statistical configurations- abstract concepts.

Other animals have no linguistic capacity because they can't create abstract concepts. The power of abstraction and conceptualization is 'mystical'. The mind isn't visible. How powerful is it?

@tycho - Let me clarify, I am talking about the existence of God. You are talking about an idea of God. This idea is shaped by your beliefs,the assumptions they rely on and the meaning you give existence. On that level God is an abstract concept but that does not mean God does not exist.