Is there a reliable test for determining whether any purport

Is there a reliable test for determining whether any purported work of sacred scripture is truly the word of God? What is it? Does any work of scripture pass that test? Would members of other religions agree?

Solution

There is no test for determining whether any purported work of sacred scripture is truly the word of God. All religions are believed to be revelations to some holy men at different times in human history. In the case of the Bible, all the books of the Bible are written by human authors, though the Church says that they wrote them under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In the case of Hinduism, the greatest scripture of the Hindus, the Bhagvad Gita is a song said to have been sung by Lord Krishna, who is an avatar or reincarnation of the Supreme God. Similarly, the Muslims believe the Holy Koran to be a revelation to the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel.

        However, there is no evidence, that any scripture is written by a God. No two religions have the same idea of God, though there are similarilties. Thus there is no litmus test to put the sacred scriptures to.

        Even if we could devise such a test, it would not pass scrutiny according to my opinion.

        No member of any religion would agree to a scientific scrutiny of their beliefs some of which are completely incomprehensible in the light of modern science. E.g the case of the virgin birth – this is a recurring theme in many religions of the world, yet modern biology tells us that this is not possible.

        Hence many religious persons have started using the statement, “ Religion cannot be subjected to scientific scrutiny, religion and its acceptance by a person depends on faith alone. Faith does not need one to pass a scientific test”.