Question(s) for the Religious

[Chas]

1. If someone is making up a religion, then you're going to have information to go on for it. The example he put forth is pretty shallow, but I'm sure he wasn't out to formulate an entirely new religion just for the sake of his point. What if this made up religion was Mormonism, for argument's sake. What criteria would you use to distinguish its falsehoods from claims of true divinity?

The only criteria available to me. What they tell me/show me.
Mormonism is a good one, because like I've said already, and I think you agreed, Mormonism feigns Christianity until you dig deeper.
I test, research, study, compare, criticise etc until I can be satisfied something is true. So far I haven't found a challenger to my current belief, not for the want of trying. Before, for more than 45 years, I was an atheist with the same goal. My enquiry led me here.
My sources wouldn't be your sources. The people I grilled and the influences around me will not be the same as yours.
All we can do is honestly reflect our understanding.

And you feign critical thinking until we dig deeper. You believe something without objective evidence. You seem to believe something that 'feels good' or 'sounds good'.
I am not claiming that I know why you believe, but just point out the lack of evidence, therefore the lack of critical thinking.