Say there was a worldwide flood. Only a few people survived by jumping into a large boat. When the flood receded they told the story to their children, and
they told the story to
their children, and so on, until the story is spread across nearly the entire world.
Now say someone made up a story about a giant flood, told it to their children, and
they told it to
their children. and so on, until the story is spread across nearly the entire world.
How would we tell the difference?