I like Qohelet because there is no doctrine whatsoever.
Qohelet is not a doctrinal book. While humans need true wisdom, there is no push for one kind of theology. Even with God-talk in the book, there is no traditional theology either. There is a deep critical reflection on humanity in a seemingly nonsensible world. People can read this book from nothing, without presuppositions about the ideal life or theology.
No wisdom or knowledge, wealth, pleasure, achievements, or social status can give true happiness to one. Life is wind, and the same fate is for the wise and fool. People come and go away, not possessing anything after they die. They will be forgotten by those who come after them.
Eccl 2:24 suggests that it is better to live simply than otherwise: "There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their toil." Also, in 3:12-13: "I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil."
People can live, honoring seasons in their lives (Eccl 3:1-8). "There is a time to be born and a time to die" (Eccl 3:2). It is so simple that humans are just like animals. They are from the dust and return to dust (Eccl 3:20).
I appreciate Qoholet's candid observation of humanity as in Eccl 3:18-22. Here we see the lowly humans compared to animals, which is nothing wrong.
3.18 I said to myself with regard to humans that God is testing them to show that they are but animals. 19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place, all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them? (NRSV Updated Edition).
