How Would Mankind React If Malevolent Gods Created Us?
Beliefs about the divine have shaped human civilization for millennia. Many religions already incorporate multiple deities or are flexible enough to accommodate a variety of divine entities. But what if a pantheon of malevolent gods, not from any existing religion, revealed themselves and claimed to have created mankind, how would humans react?
Prevalence of Polytheism
Most people would not be flabbergasted by such an announcement. Hinduism, one of the world's largest religions, is polytheistic. The Christian trinity, though often seen as a departure from earlier polytheistic traditions, still hints at the existence of multiple divine entities. Many Christians believe in angels and saints with godlike powers, and Satan is often depicted as a powerful adversary. Similarly, Buddhism is compatible with polytheism, and Judaism has a rich history of polytheism before becoming more monotheistic. Islam, while predominantly monotheistic, could find ways to reinterpret its texts to accommodate a pantheon of malevolent gods.
Common Human Reactions
Mankind is not a monolith, and no single reaction can be predicted with certainty in response to such a revelation. The most likely scenario would be a collective scream of disbelief followed by utter horror.
“Incredible! Far worse than the Standard Models!”
This reaction would be reminiscent of our response to extraterrestrial life forms that may want to exploit humans for their own ends. Most people would be terrified and attempt to protect themselves. However, some might try to worship or placate these malevolent gods in an attempt to avert their wrath.
Multitude of Reactions
Humanity's diversity ensures that reactions will vary. In any 'what if' scenario, some people might have similar responses, but no two responses can be predicted with certainty. The social nature of humanity means that groups and individuals will react differently.
Peace no matter which pantheon.
24 July 2018
Alternative Scenarios
People may propose various strategies to deal with such a terrifying revelation. Some might suggest negotiating for a recipe book from which to serve humans as a delicacy for these malevolent gods. Others might opt for a violent revolution, attempting to kill these gods. Alternatively, some might choose to serve these gods diligently, using the opportunity to weaken them before ultimately conspiring to eliminate them.
Disclaimer: I am not equipped to answer hypothetical or often sensationalistic scenarios as such beliefs are not aligned with factual evidence. In reality, the human response to such a revelation has already been observed and is vastly different. Mankind has thus far rejected such evidence and chosen to remain unconcerned about accountability to any authority.