640 AD? Really? I'd've sworn it was around a lot longer than that. I take that part of my statement back. My bad.
I don't know that salad bar religion is necessarily bad. I think having everyone buy into all the same belief patterns is inherently more dangerous. One people, one thought, one way of living. Sounds rather robotic and Nazi to me. I think the Salad Bar theory allows for people to pick a belief system that works best for them. In fact, if you were to read Christopher Moore's "Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal," you'd see that, even though it's a comic farce, he proposes that Christ's development of Christianity revolves around a Salad Bar method chosen from other existing religions including Buddhism among others.
All I think is important is that you believe in God and celebrate him somehow. Doesn't matter how and I truly do not think God cares either. Ironically enough, I know so many people who go to church on a regular basis but somehow think that's all it takes. The other six days of the week are their's to do with as they please and, consequently, they often times come off as some of the most Godless people around. Religion should not be reserved for one day a week.