from my knowledge it was the christian church who had the power to read and crafted the books..
everyday man he could not read..he was read to.. and pictures were painted on walls of church..christ's life.. etc...teaching through pictures... the enlightenment came with the renaissance and ze printing press.. enlightenment came with the industrial revolution and the paper back and free libraries.. enlightenment came with free education for all girls and boys... enlightenment came with the internet..the global brain the global village... has always been with us since the year dot... many of us do not take time out to listen to the grasses singing... or watch the waves upon the shore.. we waver between birth and death like puppets on a string...... since the year dot we have been enlightened however many of us have chosen to remain asleep... merle >  how does jesus christ fit into the scheme of things?...was he perfection of > buddha nature?.. > >From what I've read about Jesus I think he was an enlightened teacher. I >think he expressed his enlightenment and teachings in the language and terms >of Judaism, much like Buddha expressed his enlightenment and teachings n the >language and terms of Hinduism. > and if so... > he says he was the son of god >  then was he deluded? > No, because I interpret the 'Son of God' to mean he was an instantiation of Buddha Nature. In other words he was enlightened. > how come the western world has been transformed by the power of christianity > since the time it became an  accepted religion > I'm not sure what you mean by 'transformed by the power of Christianity'. I don't see that happening. I do see the Western World has been transformed by the acceptance of logic and science. >  how come atheists are not interested and accept buddhism...especially zen? > I don't know what you mean about 'not interested', but many atheists describe themselves as Buddhist because they see Buddhism as a philosophy and not a religion which worships a deity. Most Buddhists do worship Buddha as a deity, but most Westerners do not see Buddhism that way. I'd think atheists would be drawn to zen because zen is not a religion, does not recognize a deity and focuses on experience rather than belief or understanding. ...Bill! .
