The history of holy books does not inspire confidence that they are anything more than human-created artifacts. With regard to the Bible, the fact that virtually all of its doctrines predate it in pagandom demolishes the claim that it is unique.
 
Nevertheless, religions and their scholars contend that what their books say proves they are the product of the Creator's hand. So, the common urging is for unbelievers to just read the books and the divine inspiration and truth will become apparent.
 
That means the books, at the least, should comport with our own reasoning sensibilities. They should match what we can know about the Creator by looking at the reality that has been created and the created laws governing it.
 
Vedic Holy Writings
 
In the Ordinances of Manu—a Vedic legal scripture (500 CE), it's said: "the king should cause his (a person of low rank who spits upon another of high rank) two lips to be cut off; and if he make water upon him, his penis; and if he break wind upon him, his buttocks . . . Anything pecked by birds, smelt by a cow . . . sneezed on or polluted by head lice becomes pure by throwing earth upon it."
 
This holy book goes on to describe that one becomes a heron for stealing fire or a house-wasp for stealing a house utensil. For stealing silk, linen, cotton, a cow, or molasses, one is reborn as either a partridge, frog, curlew, iguana, or bird. A Brahman who has violated his rules returns as the ghost Ulkamakhu, an eater of vomit.
 
Such illogical and unjust nonsense is inconsistent with natural law and conscience and thus reflects human authorship, not Creator authorship.
 
The Koran
 
The Muslim Koran says: "Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate." – 9:73; "Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them . . ." – 9:123. Many other examples of dealing harshly with unbelievers can be found at Qu'ran:2:15; 2:89; 2:98; 2:122; 2:126; 2:168; 2:176; 2:190-93; 2:216; 2:217-18; 3:10; 3:19; 3:118; 3:140; 3:169; 4:46; 4:55-56; 5:86; 6:70; 6:125. According to the Hadith (number 2,562 in the collection known as the Sunan at-Tirmidhi), believers who blow themselves up to kill unbelievers can do so with the incentive of, "The least [reward] for the people of Heaven is 80,000 servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome of pearls, aquamarine, and ruby."
 
Such injustice and unverifiable promises are not consistent with natural law nor conscience and thus reflect the authorship of humans, not the Creator.
 
The Bible
 
Martin Luther began the movement away from religious authority. He assumed the Bible was written by the Creator and was the source of redemption, not the Catholic church. But he didn't go far enough in his urgings for disintermediation between man and god. The religions that arose out of his rebellion still had intermediaries between individuals and their Creator, namely the Bible and its interpreters.
 
That's fine as long as the book accurately reflects what we can know about the Creator from the creation itself.
 
The Creator's natural laws are reasonable, truthful, and consistent. A Creator book must be the same.
 
However, the Bible says:
 
A fish swallowed a man who then lived for three days in its belly and then was spit out on dry land. (Jonah 1-2)
 
A boat could hold and feed breeding representatives of all land creatures on Earth for a year. (Genesis 7-8)
 
The Earth will remain forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4) —but that contradicts the Creator's Second Law of Thermodynamics that demands all things eventually degrade to absolute disorder.
 
Genesis says the creation occurred in steps, days, interpreted by some as twenty-four hours and others as thousands of years each. But that contradicts the absolute interdependency of planets, moon, stars, and sun as well as that of plant and animal creatures.
 
In the book of Joshua, it says the sun stood still permitting the Jews to slaughter non-believers. (Joshua 10:12) This implies that the sun rotates around the Earth and denies the catastrophic effects of a solar system in stasis. In addition, the Bible wrongly says the Earth has foundations, skirts, edges, ends, and corners.
 
The god of the Bible is said to do nothing without revealing it first to his prophets. (Amos 3:7) But it would be impossible for an infinite god to reveal all actions to a finite mortal, nor is there any evidence the Creator has done so.
 
Leprosy, venereal disease, and other ailments are said to be cured by treatments such as sprinkling the blood of two turtledoves around a house, getting rid of demons, or being dipped in water seven times. (Leviticus 13; 14; 15)
 
Men who lap water like a dog are claimed to be the best soldiers. (Judges 7:5-)
 
An entire army would flee because one soldier was killed with a stone. (1 Samuel 17:49-51)
 
A plague that killed 24,000 could be stopped by thrusting a spear into the genitals of a woman. (Numbers 25:8)
 
Jesus says only those without sin should judge, but that would mean courts would be vacant of judges and juries. (John 8: 3-11)
 
A dead person could come to life and sneeze seven times because a prophet laid on him. (2 Kings 4:34-36)
 
. . . and so on.
 
Given that the Creator is the epitome of reason, truth, consistency, and justice, such attributions are, therefore, slanderous and blasphemous.
 
The Creator's natural laws are consistent and not contradictory. Therefore, a Creator book must be the same.
 
However, the Bible says:
 
A person cannot live and see the Bible god vs god talked face to face with men, wrestled with a man and put his leg out of joint, and demanded that a camp be kept clean so he could walk through it at night. (Exodus 33:20;1Timothy 6:16 vs Exodus 33:11, Numbers 12:5,8; Numbers 14:13-20/Genesis 32:24-30 vs Leviticus 26:12; Deuteronomy 23:14;1Chronicles 17:6)
 
No man can hear god's voice vs he speaks and is heard. (John 5:37 vs Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7)
 
God does not change his mind vs he changes it. (Psalm 89:34; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 1:10-12; James 1:17-20; vs Exodus 32:14; Numbers 14:13-20; Hebrews 7:18; 8:6-13)
 
Women with no hymen should be stoned to death vs there should be forgiveness for fornication. (Deuteronomy 22:20,21 vs John 8:4-11)
 
God cannot defeat chariots of iron vs he is all-powerful. (Judges 1:19 vs Job 37:23; Revelations 4:11, 7:12)
 
Wisdom, knowledge, and pride are good vs those attributes are condemned. (Acts 17:11 vs Proverbs 19:8; Matthew 10:16,19; Romans 12:2; Philippians 1:9-10;1Thessalonians 5:21;1Peter 3:15)
 
Animals are to be sacrificed, maimed, and given diseases vs cruelty to animals is condemned. (Leviticus, Deuteronomy vs Proverbs 12:10)
 
God is not all-knowing vs he is all-knowing. (Exodus 3:7-; 12:13; 33; 34-; Numbers 12:5-;1Samuel 8:21- vs Jeremiah 39; Ezekial 7:3,8; Revelations)
 
God promises not to get angry vs he does get angry and slaughters thousands. (Isaiah 54:9-10; Jeremiah 3:12 vs throughout the Bible)
 
God demands aid, love, and assisting the enemy vs commands killing and plundering them. (Exodus:23:4,5 vs Numbers 31; Deuteronomy 13)
 
The Bible god is perfect vs he has regrets. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:30 vs Genesis 6:7; Judges 2:18;1Chronicles 21:15; Jeremiah 26:19; Joel 2:13)
 
An eye for eye justice vs forgive and turn the other cheek. (Leviticus 24:16- 22 vs Matthew 5:38,39)
 
It is impossible to fall from grace vs it is possible. (John 3:16; Acts 16:31 vs Joshua 2:13;1Corinthians 5:11-13; Galatians 5:19-21;1Timothy 5:8;1Peter 1:17; Revelations 21:8)
 
People should be critical and prudent vs believe like children and don't question. (Proverbs 14:15; Romans 12:2;1Thessalonians 5:21 vs Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17;1Timothy 1:4; 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9)
 
Distinguishing good from bad is condemned vs exercising conscience is praised. (Genesis 3:4 vs Hebrews 5:14)
 
Divorce is okay vs it's sinful. (Deuteronomy 24:1,3; Isaiah 50:1 vs Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18)
 
Jesus brings peace vs he comes to divide. (John 14:27; Acts 10:36;1Corinthians 14:33; Hebrews 12:14 vs Matthew 10:21, 22, 34-36; Mark 13:12- 13, Luke 12:51-53; 14:26; 21:16-17;1Thessalonians 5:3)
 
Jesus says anyone who calls another a fool is condemned vs he calls people fools. (Matthew 5:22 vs Matthew 23:17)
 
Jesus says commandments must be obeyed to be saved vs he disobeys them. (Mark 10:19 vs Matthew 12:46-50; 19:29; 21:1; Mark 2:24-27 [work on Sabbath]; 3:31-35; 5:13; 10:29,30, Luke 8:20-21; 9:61-62; 18:29-30 [disrespect parents] Luke 19:29-35 [theft])
 
Defend beliefs vs don't argue. (Proverbs 14:15; Romans 12:2;1Thessalonians 5:21;1Peter 3:15 vs1Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:14, 23-26)
 
Don't judge vs do judge. (John 8:15-, 12:47; Romans 14:13 vs1Corinthians 5:3, 6:2, 11-13;1Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 4:1,8)
 
The second coming will be attended by signs and miracles vs there will be no signs and miracles. (Matthew 24:29-30; Mark 13; Luke 21:10-11 vs Luke 17:20-)
 
Only those who believe in Jesus will have everlasting life vs those who don't will also have everlasting life—albeit in Hell. (John 3:16 vs Revelations 14:10,11)
 
People are saved by faith vs they are saved by works. (John 3:16; Romans 3:27; 9:32 vs Exodus 32:33; Matthew 5:48; 24:13; Mark 9:41; 10:21; Luke 10:25-37; John 8:31; Romans 1:20; 2:6; 11:21-22; 1Corinthians 9:24; 10:12; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; Philippians 2:12; 3:13; Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 12:1; James 2:17,24; 1John 2:3-4; 3:10; Revelations 2:6)
 
People must imitate Paul vs one must follow God, not men. (I Corinthians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 11:20 vs Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34; 2 Peter 2:19)
 
Jesus was crucified on the third hour vs the sixth hour. (Mark 15:25 vs John 19: 14,15)
 
Polygamy is okay vs it's not okay. (Genesis 19, 20, 21, 29 vs Matthew 19:3-9; Ephesians 5:28-31;1Corinthians 7:2,12-16;1Timothy 3:2)
 
Prophecy is good vs it's bad. (Acts 19:6; 1Corinthians 14; 1Thessalonians 5:20 vs Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:27)
 
People must follow law vs they must follow their conscience. (Romans 11:21,22; 1Timothy 1:8-10; 1John 2:3,4 vs Romans 2:15)
 
Bible apologists can respond to any of the above with claims about context, syntax, variable meanings in ancient languages, and so on. I once did that too. But really, people the world over are encouraged to, on their own, read the Bible and gather its truths and inspiration. Reading the verses cited above for what they clearly say proves the opposite, namely that the Bible is neither consistent with facts nor consistent with itself.
 
Surely the Creator would not create a book with such vulnerabilities. To make the attribution is, therefore, slanderous and blasphemous.
 
The final and ultimate test of holy book origination is to determine if it is a paragon of perfect justice, as it must be if it is a product of the Creator.