7 oldest books of different religions

Some of the oldest and most ancient texts to exist in the world are the moral teachings, lessons and wisdom that was shared by different scholars, sages and saints. In fact, many religious books, which are looked up to by disciples and followers, are the oldest texts known to mankind! The Diamond Sutra for example, an ancient Buddhist text, was proved to be the oldest written and printed manuscript in the world.
From the Rigveda to ‘The Analects’, here we list the 7 most ancient texts of different religions.

Starting with what is considered to be the oldest religion in the world, Hinduism. The RigVeda are believed to be the most ancient text in Hinduism and are dated to approximately 1500–1200 BCE. The composition of the RigVeda represents one of the oldest sacred scriptures in Hinduism. Consisting of hymns and praises, the RigVeda is about the praises of various Hindu gods and goddesses and forms the foundational basis for Vedic literature.
The Rigveda is believed to be the testament to the spiritual and philosophical teachings of ancient Hindu civilization.

While there are many versions of the Bible, it is said that the Codex Vaticanus or ‘The Latin Bible’ is the oldest in the world. A collection of sacred texts respected by Judaism and Christianity, the Bible and its teachings stand strong for people even today.
The Old Testament, shared with Judaism, contains writings dating back to 1200–165 BCE, including Genesis, Exodus and Psalms. The New Testament, exclusive to Christianity, is evidence to the Gospels and apostolic letters, narrating the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Quran, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad between 610 and 632 CE, stands as the primary and the oldest scripture in Islam. While many manuscripts of the Quran exist, in 2015, a manuscript was found in Birmingham which is now said to be the oldest known Quran text. Muslims all around the world believe the Quran to be the literal word of God and it has chapters or ‘Surahs’ that talk and educate about theological, legal and moral aspects of life.

A book attributed to a Tao sage Laozi and estimated to date between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, the ‘Tao Te Ching’ is known to be the foundational text of Taoism. The Tao Te Ching is said to have about 5000 Chinese characters and 81 chapters or sections. The book aims to teach people about philosophical wisdom on living in harmony with the Tao, an underlying force governing the universe.
The Tao Te Ching depicts the Tao as the ultimate source of everything, unseen but not distant. People, with desires and free will, can disrupt the natural balance by acting ‘unnaturally’ and the text guides them towards a return to one's natural state, in harmony with the Tao.

The Tripitaka, or Pali Canon, is the principal Buddhist scripture, believed to have been compiled in the 1st century BCE. Divided into 3 main parts, the Vinaya Pitaka, the Sutta Pitaka and the Abhidhamma Pitaka.

The Vinaya Pitaka is about monastic rules, the Sutta Pitaka is one the discourses, and Abhidhamma Pitaka is the philosophical analysis. Together, these three form the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, and lead humans towards the path to enlightenment and ethical living.

The Zend-Avesta, the holy book of the Zoroastrians is said to date back to the 6th–7th century BCE. The Zend-Avesta serves as the foundational scripture in Zoroastrianism and is attributed to Zoroaster or Zarathustra himself. The book consists of hymns, rituals and philosophical discussions.
The Avesta is divided into different parts, the primary being the Yasna. The Yasna, meaning ‘worship’ in Zoroastrianism, is the main liturgical text named after the ceremony it's recited in. The central part of Yasna, the Gathas, is the oldest and holiest section, attributed to Zoroaster himself. The Yasna consists of ancient prayers and hymns honouring Ahura Mazda, Yazatas, Fravashi, Fire, Water and Earth.

(Image: Wikipedia)

Compiled by the early disciples of Confucius in the 5th–4th century BCE, ‘The Analects’ are a representation and compilation of Confucius’s teachings. Focused on ethics, morality and how to live in social harmony, ‘The Analects’ provide guidance and wisdom on virtuous living and have been influential in shaping Confucian thought and societal values throughout Chinese history.
According to many philosophers, the texts present in ‘The Analects’ are present today because of the safekeeping of the various discussions Confucius had with his disciples.

(Image: Wikipedia)