Probably the oldest recorded religious documents we have are the books from Asian descent. They harken back to before the bible is supposed to have been written. Clouded in mystery or clouded in ignorance I don’t plan to guess. There is however one thing I will admit, and that is the fact that these books are much less threatening after they have been read than most Christian pastors seem to imply in their fire and brimstone services. In many ways, they are actually very compatible with other systems. It’s no wonder that the highest cross breeding of religions happens in the Asian cultures.
Tao Te Ching, by the near mythical Lao Tzu is a series of wisdom filled riddles, that imply that the world is guided by a central force that everything comes from and will return. Ironically, one could equate that this particular doctrine doesn’t conflict with Abrahamic doctrines much at all; excluding the fact that it says both good and bad are present in all people (Which may be debatable if this actually conflicts or not).
Dhammapada (Words of The Buddha): This one is a bit more conflictive, especially in it’s belief of reincarnation, but it proves to be a very insightful read. Despite it’s general overtones, 80% of the sayings inside of it do not conflict with Abrahamic traditions at all. Reading it with a thought of what you yourself were raised within, it makes you ponder the meanings of some of them in deeper thought.
Overall, I would suggest that anyone who questions the overall Evil that most dogmatic groups chirp should read these. I went into reading them expecting a much different understanding than I actually got from them. They proved to be worth the read and the exploration. They were far more simple and less complex than I expected them to be, but still challenged my mind to think through some of the paradoxes and logic presented within.
As I continue to ponder these, do not be surprised if I write further on these books in my further explorations into world philosophies.