Historical research is one way. For example, looking at ancient texts and comparing them with archaeological findings. If an ancient religious text mentions a city at a certain location and archaeologists later discover the remains of a city there, it could indicate that the religious myth has a basis in truth.
It's really difficult. Often, the only evidence we have are eyewitness accounts. But eyewitnesses can be unreliable. They might misinterpret what they see or be influenced by their beliefs. For example, in a case of a supposed ghost sighting, it could be a trick of the light that the person doesn't realize at the time. Another factor is that stories can be exaggerated over time as they are passed down.
One way could be through research. Look for any promotional materials or interviews related to the '21' project. The creators might have mentioned the true story it's based on in those.
As a story passes from one generation to another, cultural values play a role. If a society values heroism, for example, the true story of a brave person might be transformed into a grand myth where the hero has superhuman abilities. Also, as the story spreads to different regions, local beliefs and superstitions can get incorporated, changing the myth further.
One example could be the story of Noah's Ark in the Judeo - Christian tradition. Geological evidence suggests that there have been large - scale floods in the past. While the exact story of a man building an ark and saving all the animals might be a mythologized version, it could be based on memories of real flood events.
Many movies are based on true stories. Here are some examples: 1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994) -adapted from Stephen King's novel of the same name, about the life of a banker in Shawshank Prison. 2 The Godfather (1972) -adapted from Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, it tells the story of an Italian family of immigrants building a criminal empire in the United States. 3 Schindler's List (1993) -adapted from Austria's Stetschke's novel of the same name, about a German businessman who won an Oscar by saving a large number of Arabs. 4 The Truth About LA (2005) -adapted from Lori Ellis 'novel of the same name, it tells the story of a Los Angeles Police Department detective investigating a murder. Forrest Gump (1994) -adapted from Robert Zemecris 'novel of the same name, it tells the story of a man with a low IQ who plays a role in various events in American history. This was only a small part of the movie. There were many other movies that were based on true stories.
Historical and archaeological research can also help. In some cases, there are findings that seem to support certain stories in religious books. For instance, some archaeological discoveries in the Middle East have been related to events described in the Bible, like the discovery of ancient cities that could be related to the stories in the Old Testament. However, it's important to note that not all aspects of religious stories can be fully verified in this way, and different people may interpret the findings differently.
Faith based stories provide a sense of identity. For example, in Christian communities, the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection gives believers a shared narrative that defines who they are. It unites them under a common set of beliefs.
There are a few ways people try to verify. One is through lie detector tests, but these are not always accurate, especially when it comes to something as strange as UFO abductions. Another is looking at physical evidence. Some abductees claim to have marks or implants on their bodies. But so far, there's no conclusive scientific evidence that these are directly related to alien abductions. So, overall, it's still very much a mystery.
They can strengthen the faith of believers. For example, 'The Passion of the Christ' made many Christians feel a deeper connection to the sacrifice of Jesus. The vivid portrayal of religious events can make the audience more aware of their religious heritage.
You can look for historical references in the show. If a season has a lot of details that match up with known historical events, like the way people were treated in a certain era in an asylum - like setting in AHS, it's likely based on true events. Also, sometimes the creators will mention in interviews if a particular season was inspired by real - life happenings.