How can you identify the word of God without critical assessment of God?

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If something were presented as the word of God, and if you accept that you should not question the word of God, how could you determine whether or not it is indeed the word of God?

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If Lumpy hands me a book and says it was written by George Washington, investigation into whether that book was written by George Washington has no reflection on George Washington himself. If I determine that that book is not written by George Washington, it doesn't reflect badly on George Washington, but on the person who presented it as written by George Washington.IMO, people misunderstand who and what is being critically assessed. The person presenting the book is being assessed and the book itself. To not question what God said (which God hasn't said that we can't) one has to know that what is written is what God said.Determining whether the book carries God's words has nothing to do with critically assessing God.So yes you can critically assess a book to determine its origin without finding fault with God.Better to follow the correct words, than to follow the wrong ones and look really stupid in God's eyes.

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There may be prophets and there may be false prophets. There may be holy books and there may be false books. How can you tell them apart without critically assessing them using your fallible mortal understanding?

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We're human, it's the only understanding we have. What other option is there? Again, critically assessing them has nothing to do with critically assessing God. They are just as fallible as any other human.

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An example could be choosing between the Oahspe and the Bible as a religious works. Could your choice as to which one of them is God's word be based on anything other than mortal assessment?

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The cannons were derived from religious leaders assessing the writings and deciding what represented their beliefs in God. It has nothing to do with assessing or doubting God.Religious leaders decide what is or is not a religious work for their religion. Individuals just have to choose which religious leader or religion they trust to teach them truthfully about God.We aren't critically assessing God, we are assessing other humans and what they present as being from God.

How could it be both? How is one assessing God when authenticating a claim? Doubting that the words came from God is not the same as doubting God.

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Are you implying that, if you are satisfied with the human presenting the word of God, then you have identified the word of God?

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For some that is all that is needed.

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Or are you implying that you cannot identify the word of God?

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NoPlease explain why you feel God is being critically assessed when humans authenticate a claim?

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'It' is possible to BOTH assess God AND authenticate a claim. So, the fact that you are authenticating a claim does not imply you are not assessing God.

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It also doesn't imply that one is, so again, what is the issue?

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And for you, personally?

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(Interestingly, you have done what nwr did in Message 23 and jar did in Re: Critical assessment of God (Message 24). I am starting to observe a certain pattern of coyness )

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This is a debate forum, not a personal encounter group. We debate the position not the person.Please explain why you feel God is being critically assessed when humans authenticate a claim?