What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[abaris]

Everything was passed down from word of mouth.

But that's part of the problem, don't you think? Btw, I have the same opinion about the bible. Campfire tales making the rounds on the trade routes. But you know how it goes with word of mouth. One person says this and the other says that and in the end the story looks completely different than the ones originally told.

And kudos for not assuming the bible to be written in stone right from the start.