1) Madaba is a God Concept

Madaba is a God Concept - as well as an actual entity

But let's begin our exploration of him by looking at what a God concept is

The reality of Madaba is very close to the main God Concepts that are in circulation all over the world

He is what the word and concept "God" actually point to

A "God Concept" is any idea about God - about God's nature, character, intentions - etc.

Humankind has many God Concepts

Indeed each individual has his or her own personal God Concept

In the West, the God Concept that we are most familiar with is the Abrahamic God Concept

"The God of Abraham" as some call him

I think that the Abrahamic God Concept corresponds to the reality of God more than any other widely-held mass God Concept

Although I do think that the Abrahamic tradition does tend to over-humanise God

But then this is to be expected, as the Monotheistic Abrahamic God Concept evolved out of polytheism - Yahweh used to be one God amongst many (polytheism) and then he became the only God worshipped and accepted out of many (henotheism) and then only later the one and only God (monotheism)

The Abrahamic God Concept did not drop out of the sky, it emerged in a certain cultural and historical context, under the guidance of God himself

I believe that the reason why the Abrahamic God Concept is so close to the reality of God is due to the influence of God on the ancient Jews - I believe he guided those people from within their hearts and minds and allowed them to come closer to his truth

But God is the Universal God of ALL humankind - there is no chosen people, he does not play favourites with ethnic groups but yes, in the Old Testament he interacted with humanity through the Jews - but not exclusively

And his eye has always been on the whole of humankind

"The God of Abraham" does not exist but Madaba does

But he is in the place where people imagine that "The God of Abraham" lives

And any prayers addressed to The God of Abraham will find their way to Madaba

Madaba is the reality behind that God Concept

I therefore think that Madaba is the name of God! (or whatever else you want to call God)

I believe that Madaba is Upstairs but that different spiritual and religious traditions have different understandings of him - but all point towards him when they employ the word-concept "God"

The various world religions are different ways of following Madaba, of walking The Madaba Path