> Selkirk had grave concerns about the seaworthiness of their vessel, and wanted to make the necessary repairs before going any farther. He declared that he would rather stay on Juan Fernández than continue in a dangerously leaky ship. Stradling took him up on the offer and landed Selkirk on the island with a musket, a hatchet, a knife, a cooking pot, a Bible, bedding and some clothes. Selkirk immediately regretted his rashness, but Stradling refused to let him back on board.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk

For all we know, Selkirk was chucked off the ship for being a thief, the ship later sank, and Selkirk made up the story to not reveal he was a thief.

No, much more is known than what is casually assumed in this sentence. Unfortunately the sentence turns out to be just "for all londons_explore knows" but surely not "for all it is known from the survived texts."

And what is known is written in the very Wikipedia article which thewarpaint linked and which "londons_explore" obviously didn't read:

"Cinque Ports did indeed later founder off the coast of what is now Colombia. Stradling and some of his crew survived the loss of their ship but were forced to surrender to the Spanish. The survivors were taken to Lima, Peru, where they endured a harsh imprisonment.[16]"

Wikipedia also cites the source, the article from 1713:

Steele, Richard (3 December 1713). "Alexander Selkirk, an Account of His Living Alone Above Four Years in a Desolate Island". The Englishman. 1 (26): 168–173.

Also the link to the online readable form of the article, as it was printed in 1714, more than 300 years ago:

https://books.google.at/books?id=IY2UnI4L6g8C&pg=PA168

Says at least some of the crew survived and Selkirk gave a deposition in the resulting lawsuit between the ships owners and the captain.

William Dampier (who Selkirk served with some years before being marooned)[1] had himself been marooned in the Nicobar Islands:

Later that year, by agreement, Dampier and two shipmates were marooned on one of the Nicobar Islands.[2]

I believe this was mostly about disagreements at sea with commanders. Many empty islands had been stocked with animals such as goats and rabbits in case of shipwreck, and would have ships call at them a few times a year for water and resupply.

It does seem an odd thing to modern thinking though.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk

[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dampier

He had one book with him: The Bible.

If you were allowed one book on a deserted island what book would you bring and why?

I’m taking the ESV Study Bible. Massive book with loads of commentary. Regardless of one’s beliefs it would be a phenomenal thing to concur.

I have a decent outdoor skillset but there are many skills which I'm only aware exist, but I have never done myself (like smoking meat). I would want the advice of the manual, even if I could eventually figure it out.

Somewhat true today as well, as firelighting tools are all consumables. Some may light thousands of fires, but still would fail to eventually.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, of course.

Well, Jesus says “I am the way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father (YHWH or God) but by me.” (John 14:6) So, he is essentially denying that there are other gods other than YHWH and that He is the only path to YHWH.

Christianity is quite unique because it is not a faith based on one’s own good works. So I find it extremely interesting in that regard.

I also think it’s extremely important to be skeptical of all “religion”. Religion is process oriented behavior while I believe faith is not. Church is often confused as a building where people listen to a boring sermon and sing a lame song. The Bible says church is anywhere there are two people who have faith in Jesus as their savior.

Also, there is no way I can convince you of any of this. That’s not the point. I would highly recommend reading the ESV Study Bible’s Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and learning more for yourself. Not necessarily to be saved but so that you can be edified on this perspective. I would love to talk more about it!

Perhaps a helpful example for showing this is the conspiracy theory concerning Bielefeld in Germany[0]. Is non-belief in Bielefeld any less subject to questioning than belief in it?

Anyway, keep looking for answers, and I wish you a good day too.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bielefeld_Conspiracy

A god is usually thought of a some deity but the meaning is much deeper than that: a god is something one worships. Many people worship money as god, their job or company as god, drugs or sex as god.

But like I said, the Bible makes it very clear that there is only one God (according to the Bible).

While the bible is interesting and insightful, it isn't focused on the question of how to be happy living an isolated life.

I'm not sure there good books on that. Maybe Sara Maitland's book "how to be alone". maybe.