Would you worship a powerful, godlike alien?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Three years from now, Voyager mysteriously crash-lands in Australia. A tall and somewhat handsome creature walks out of the spacecraft, becoming an instant YouTube hit. Several Australian university students welcome him with gifts of emu steak and water. In gratitude, he snaps his tentacles and turns the continent into a lush rainforest. Then the Americans attack him. Disappointed, he shakes his head-things and liquefies California, accidentally taking out Canada as well.

Having demonstrated his power, he commanders the smartphones of the world and broadcasts his message in every language known to our species. He offers you a deal: In exchange for your individual loyalty, he shall occasionally grant you favors, but also test you from time to time. He warns you that you will not always understand his rationale. He also offers you a way out: If you don’t accept his deal, he’ll leave you alone for the time being (unless you lived in California or Canada).

You don’t know if you can completely trust him. You don’t know what will happen if you accept the deal and then change your mind later. You just know he’s plenty powerful. You have one hour to decide, then you must text him your decision.

On the news, you hear about early texters become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. You hear about crops doing unimaginably better. You also hear horror stories about someone being turned into stone, and others being turned into chickens, despite sacrificing their third-born daughter’s best friend to an angry volcano. Worship of this creature seems unpredictable, yet potentially rewarding.

What would you choose?

2

If California is gone, I’m gone, so it’s moot.

If I was out of state at the time, I would dedicate the rest of my existence to terminating his.

3

I would refuse his offer, and accept that for now at least I’d be left alone. I would not “worship” him.

4

Nope, I’d look for ways to destroy it, especially if it’s malevolent

Simply put, nothing can convince me that “supreme beings” exist

5

What does “loyalty” mean in this context?

6

Heck, I’ll even worship a powerful, godlike human, if I think there’s something in it for me.

I’m a bit of a whore that way.

7

I wouldn’t - I don’t care how many rainforests he creates, if he’s willing to mass murder millions of people, he’s a monster.

8

If he tells me to be cool to my fellow humans, I’m cool with it. Otherwise, I take my chances.

9

I might. I will probably be interesting.

10

Not only would I not worship it, I wouldn’t acknowledge its superiority, nor its means of demonstrating its strength. We, also, have strengths.