>>Christianity is a literal and competitive religion. It has strict methods, competes for others to participate, and relegates those that do not — that is the corruption of man. It is Christ, his parables, his life and his death we are to contemplate on, not worship the church. I often contemplate the life of Christ as one on the noble eightfold path.
Not true at all. Christianity is a life long devotion, the same as zazen monks. Christianity, in fact, tells us to dwell upon Christ in every way, but the church is his bride. I am Protestant so perhaps I’m a bit different in my beliefs. Church starts with reading the Bible and devoting oneself to Christ.
>>Salvation and Enlightenment are the same to me. Salvation deals with the here and now and this life. Enlightenment deals with complete cycle of lives we live and the final transcendence of our entire being to God’s end.
And therein lies our difference: Hebrews 9:27, 28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Or, it means this is all the life you get ~ then you die and are resurrected ~ but what are those souls doing popping up in John's Revelation BEFORE THEIR TIME?
One of the risks of doing too casual a reading of Scriptures is you scarf up a high point like 'die once' and build a massive theological position on that item whether or not it's consistent with all you think it is.
You can do exactly the same thing in Hinduism or Buddhism and come up with equally inconsistent positions on all sorts of other things.
Could be all of these beliefs are more properly mediated through an analysis in light of discoveries in quantum mechanics. Certainly God speaks to us in all those languages.