So, is there a primer?

[MH1]

4. I would start with wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

I don't consider myself on a 'path'. I consider myself quasi-Buddhist/Christian, so not exactly 'Buddhist' in the formal sense. More that I see a high value in the philosophy, and occasionally delve into the writings of various well-known thinkers and teachers.

Before going into paths, the beauty of Buddhism (to me) is that it can be summed up in 12 simple concepts: The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. It is what the various paths/traditions/schools do with these that differentiate them, I think. But just by reading and contemplating on these 12 points, you may find that the world and your way of approaching it will make more sense.

(I've seen better (more elegant) expressions of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path than is in wikipedia, but that is a nice genericized version, and fine for a starting point. As with anything else, Wikipedia is only for starting. You never know who might have vandalized something the second before your browser called the page.)