Writer shuns a universal god (4)
I believe the answer is:
thor
'god' is the definition.
(Thor is an example)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
(Other definitions for thor that I've seen before include "can be classed as immortal" , "Norse god of thunder - a weekday is named after him" , "Norse god for whom Thursday is named" , "Norse god wielding a hammer" , "Mythical figure" .)