One doesn't have to study Buddhism with "seriousness" in order to be considered a proper Buddhist. Buddhism differentiates between the Sangha - the monastic com

One doesn't have to study Buddhism with "seriousness" in order to be considered a proper Buddhist. Buddhism differentiates between the Sangha - the monastic community that requires real devotion and study, and Upasaka - "laymen" Buddhists who are required to take 5 not-very-demanding vows, and do very little otherwise. In fact traditionally the "serious" study of Buddhism - including the practice of meditation, which today is available to everybody - is reserved to the Sangha only, while the laymen are there simply to support the Sangha by giving alms. The "Californian kind of Buddhist" of today probably knows more about Buddhism than the average layman Buddhist did 1000 years ago. It should also be remembered that part of Buddhism's historic success is exactly due to it's flexibility and lack of dogma. There is no school of Buddhisms that has monopoly on what it means to be Buddhist: it has evolved differently in every place it appeared in, and the practices of the Buddhist community have changed drastically throughout time.