--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think there are innumerable gods. What…" description: "\"I think there are innumerable gods. What we on earth call God is a little tribal God who has made an awful mess. Certainly forces operating through hum..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/william-s-burroughs-528_awful_i-think-there-are-innumerable-gods-what_384033.png" --- # I think there are innumerable gods. What we on earth call… ![“I think there are innumerable gods. What we on earth call God is a little tribal God who has made an awful mess. Certainly forces operating through human consciousness control events.” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/william-s-burroughs-528_awful_i-think-there-are-innumerable-gods-what_384033.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/william-s-burroughs-528_awful_i-think-there-are-innumerable-gods-what_384033.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/william-s-burroughs-528_awful_i-think-there-are-innumerable-gods-what_384033.png) > “I think there are innumerable gods. What we on earth call God is a little tribal God who has made an awful mess. Certainly forces operating through human consciousness control events.” [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human consciousness is shaped by many divine forces, and our concept of God is a limited tribal version. **In simple terms:** God is a small tribal concept; many forces influence us. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse influences on belief. Themes religion philosophy consciousness Mood reflective skeptical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - spiritual practice - psychology - politics - art - education Key Concepts polytheism cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What forces shape your worldview? - How do you define 'God' beyond tribal terms? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on divine may ignore human agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Human consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-consciousness/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [This rising global humanism is, in fact, the rising into consciousness of a tribal god similar to the kind of tribal god that functioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/this-rising-global-humanism-is-in-fact-the-rising-into-consciousness/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“For thousands of years humans were oppressed— as some of us still are— by the notion that the universe is a marionette whose strings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/for-thousands-of-years-humans-were-oppressed-as-some-of-us-still-are/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The gods made the earth for all men t' share. 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