A message by Nuggin in the now-closed "Is The Bible Authoritative and Truly Inspired?" thread reminded me of a more general theological question which on the surface, appears to have no reasonably stable and strong answer. Perhaps some of the more religiously-minded debators here can give it a shot.
For brief background: many if not all religions claim that their sacred texts and doctrines are inspired by the deity in question, divine in origin and worthy of the respect one gives to one's ultimate superior.
On the other hand, many of these religions also feature some form of personified evil e.g. Satan who is notorious for playing tricks on the faithful (and indeed anybody providing the opportunity) or trying to twist them into signing over their souls to evil. These tricks and plots are sometimes quite devious, which makes one wonder exactly what limits could be placed on something supposedly tough and smart enough to have challenged a god and not been annihilated immediately.
The question is this: how do the faithful know that their holy text is truly divine in origin, and not just the best trick ever devised by some evil god, demigod or other superbeing;
how do you tell who really inspired that scripture?
Discussion preferably limited to methods and/or facts which are involved in determining the being(s) responsible for the above, and criticisms of said methods and facts.
I'm guessing Bible A&I or Bible Study; whichever is more appropriate.
Edited by Adminnemooseus, : Add one more blank line.
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