user5709: I've read that some Buddhists do not believe in the literality of rebirth. As someone who is new to the study of Buddhism, this is confusing to me. My understanding, which perhaps is incorrect, is that a Buddhist seeks enlightenment in order to obtain emancipation from Samsara. Yet Samsara is a cycle of rebirth, thus if rebirth is not taken literally it seems natural to then not take Samsara literally. If this is so, then what kind of emancipation is sought after in seeking enlightenment? Isn't the goal of seeking enlightenment to eliminate rebirth? What then are other reasons for seeking enlightenment apart from the emancipation from Samsara?

user43: 
If Rebirth is not taken literally then why seek Enlightenment?

Because Enlightenment is at the top of Maslow's Pyramid. No matter what you do, no matter how satisfied you are, there is always something missing. We could almost say, sentient beings are pre-wired to want nothing less than Enlightenment.

user715: 
“The true miracle is not to walk on water. The true miracle is to walk
  peacefully on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment
  and feeling truly alive.”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh

Enlightenment is about peacefully walking here on this earth in the here and now. It isn't for the fruits of after-life though there's that angle to it. In my view it is worth the price of admission, if, in the here and now I can be less of a burden on others; and be compassionate and helpful to all around me. I view enlightenment as radical maturity and responsibility. It's not a supernormal power as much as an expertise of very human powers.
Lots of people equate enlightenment with magical powers, or perfection, or immortality, even though even the Buddha specifically made none of these a condition for arhatship. There were schisms in ancient Buddhist schools over this very point in the past.
I can't deny most accounts of the famous enlightened ones tend to emphasise that angle of better than human, but I think it is just commonplace elevation of the standard, just like most gyms tend to use a Mr. Universe kind of model for their advertising brochure. It's not a waste of time to go to the gym just because I am personally unlikely to become Mr. Universe. It's also not misleading, because with the right effort one can become so. We go to the gym to become healthy, if we can become even better, that's fantastic.
Growing less angry or sad, less lustful and grasping and more present and available to all beings is a useful way to live. If other positive attributes accumulate, that's even better.

"It's not that satori is unimportant, but it's not the part of Zen
  that needs to be stressed." 
-- Shunryu Suzuki

Apropos rebirth:
Don't believe in the Buddha or science blindly. One says rebirth exists, the other says it's not proven even though there's periodically things that appear to be evidence for it. Enter samadhi and investigate for yourself.
In any case, someone who believes in rebirth is definitely going to be more responsible about their actions towards others and the planet than someone who firmly believes in you-only-live-once. 

user-1: 
What then are other reasons for seeking enlightenment apart from the emancipation from Samsara?

In Samsara, the conditioned reality, everything exists due to causes and conditions.
Mental and physical phenomena are constantly arising and ceasing. They are ever-changing, uncontrollable and oppressive.
All conditioned phenomena follows a certain "order or recipe". I have made a drawing to illustrate this process. What can be seen here is that phenomena has 3 phases, i.e. Arising - Presence - Dissolution:
Click on photos for full size 

Even in the "presence-phase" phenomena are not stable or permanent but in a constant flux heading towards their own break up. Phenomena that exists due to causes and conditions are impermanent, meaning that they cannot be relied on. If one tries to rely on them or put trust in them, they will break up and leave one with only suffering and a void.
Nibbana is not caused or conditioned, it is unconditioned, unborn, uncaused, permanent, secure, stable. It does not rise and fall. It does not produce suffering.
Here is a description of Nibbana from the Buddha himself:

"Bhikkhus, I will teach you the taintless and the path leading to the taintless. Listen to that ...
"Bhikkhus, I will teach you the truth and the path leading to the truth ... I will teach you the far shore ... the subtle ... the very difficult to see ... the unaging ... the stable ... the undis­ integrating ... the unmanifest ... the unproliferated ... the peaceful ... the deathless ... the sublime ... the auspicious ... the secure ... the destruction of craving ... the wonderful ... the amazing ... the unailing ... the unailing state ... Nibbana ... the unafflicted ... dispassion ... purity ... freedom ... the unadhesive ... the island .., the shelter ... the asylum ... the
  refuge ...
-- SN 43: Asankhatasamyutta, p. 1378, Bodhi translation

The stable, the secure, the wonderful, freedom, the shelter.. I don't know about other beings, but these words/reasons seem pretty compelling to me.

user254: Let's consider Andrei's definition of Buddhism, for example (because it's a short and easy definition).

Buddhists believe that human experiences originate in the mind, training which through cultivation of ethics, meditation, and wisdom leads to nirvana (the release from suffering) or enlightenment -- the insight into the true nature of things.

experiences originate in the mind
I think that, if you believe that experiences originate in the mind, then you might prefer Buddhism to other religions (which, tend to suggest that God is the creator; alternatively, atheistic views which suggest there is no creator): and then, if you are attracted to Buddhism for any reason, you might then align with or adopt Buddhist goals (e.g. for enlightenment).
cultivation of ethics
Similarly you might admire Buddhism's system of ethics (e.g. "don't kill", "don't steal", and "don't lie", etc.); and, you might prefer or choose those precepts instead of other religions' (whose most important commandments include for example "Thou shalt have no other gods before me").
nirvana (the release from suffering)
If (or assuming that) you are aware of suffering (or 'anxiety') in this life, isn't it true that "the release from suffering" is obviously (or self-evidently) desirable, in this life? You may not need to believe in rebirth, in order to want release from suffering (perhaps you do need to believe in suffering, though).
enlightenment (the insight into the true nature of things)
I'm not sure what this ('enlightenment' and 'insight') means, but I understand it to mean "having insight, can now help others to release themselves from suffering." Again, I think that wanting that probably only requires a belief in suffering and some compassion for others (i.e. you can want that for your sake and for other's sake regardless of whether and how you understand the word "rebirth").

In summary it's not necessarily only emancipation from samsara (i.e. the cycle of rebirth): it could be emancipation from dukkha; and also emancipation from the various kleshas, and fetters, and so on.
Whether or not they understand "rebirth", someone might feel a desire for refuge in this life.

user5825: I am a Rinzai Zen Monk with a decade-long monastic background so my answer will be relevant within our school's framework.
From a Zen POV being 'reborn' exists only within Reality.
Reality is purely this one moment here and now.
With each breath, with each action we are reborn. The choices we make are fresh and new. The Enlightened being will make those choices in accordance with what they experience.
Because they are living in the here and now they are also making these choices without any reference to the past or the future because these are purely abstract concepts since neither of them is here and now.
The Enlightened person is literally reborn with each and every experience (in Japanese Zen terms these are known as 'Nen' - ie. the time it takes to register each experience). An Enlightenment experience is when you fully experience this for the first time: when a drop of water falling on your head or the call of a crow suddenly awaken you to this new awareness
There are other types of rebirth of course. Such as the delusional rebirths, when one succumbs to any of the poisons (Ignorance, Anger, Greed) and is reborn in 'hell'.
Buddhism is a very wide philosophy with a wide application of the same basic terms and concepts. What i have just said is not really valid for a Theravada Buddhist. It would be explained, understood and practiced differently by someone of a Pure land Path (JoDo ShinShu for instance) even though they are part of the Mahayana.

5709: <p>I've read that some Buddhists do not believe in the literality of rebirth. As someone who is new to the study of Buddhism, this is confusing to me. My understanding, which perhaps is incorrect, is that a Buddhist seeks enlightenment in order to obtain emancipation from Samsara. Yet Samsara is a cycle of rebirth, thus if rebirth is not taken literally it seems natural to then not take Samsara literally. If this is so, then what kind of emancipation is sought after in seeking enlightenment? Isn't the goal of seeking enlightenment to eliminate rebirth? What then are other reasons for seeking enlightenment apart from the emancipation from Samsara?</p>
 43: <blockquote>
  <p>If Rebirth is not taken literally then why seek Enlightenment?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Because Enlightenment is at the top of Maslow's Pyramid. No matter what you do, no matter how satisfied you are, there is always something missing. We could almost say, sentient beings are pre-wired to want nothing less than Enlightenment.</p>
 715: <blockquote>
  <p>“The true miracle is not to walk on water. The true miracle is to walk
  peacefully on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment
  and feeling truly alive.”</p>
  
  <p>― Thích Nhất Hạnh</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Enlightenment is about peacefully walking here on this earth in the here and now. It isn't for the fruits of after-life though there's that angle to it. In my view it is worth the price of admission, if, in the here and now I can be less of a burden on others; and be compassionate and helpful to all around me. I view enlightenment as radical maturity and responsibility. It's not a supernormal power as much as an expertise of very human powers.</p>

<p>Lots of people equate enlightenment with magical powers, or perfection, or immortality, even though even the Buddha specifically made none of these a condition for arhatship. There were schisms in ancient Buddhist schools over this very point in the past.</p>

<p>I can't deny most accounts of the famous enlightened ones tend to emphasise that angle of better than human, but I think it is just commonplace elevation of the standard, just like most gyms tend to use a Mr. Universe kind of model for their advertising brochure. It's not a waste of time to go to the gym just because I am personally unlikely to become Mr. Universe. It's also not misleading, because with the right effort one can become so. We go to the gym to become healthy, if we can become even better, that's fantastic.</p>

<p>Growing less angry or sad, less lustful and grasping and more present and available to all beings is a useful way to live. If other positive attributes accumulate, that's even better.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"It's not that satori is unimportant, but it's not the part of Zen
  that needs to be stressed." </p>
  
  <p>-- Shunryu Suzuki</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Apropos rebirth:</h2>

<p>Don't believe in the Buddha or science blindly. One says rebirth exists, the other says <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/01/05/259886077/searching-for-science-behind-reincarnation" rel="nofollow">it's not proven even though there's periodically things that appear to be evidence for it</a>. Enter <em>samadhi</em> and investigate for yourself.</p>

<p>In any case, someone who believes in rebirth is definitely going to be more responsible about their actions towards others and the planet than someone who firmly believes in you-only-live-once. </p>
 -1: <blockquote>
  <p>What then are other reasons for seeking enlightenment apart from the emancipation from Samsara?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In Samsara, the conditioned reality, everything exists due to causes and conditions.</p>

<p>Mental and physical phenomena are constantly arising and ceasing. They are ever-changing, uncontrollable and oppressive.</p>

<p>All conditioned phenomena follows a certain "order or recipe". I have made a drawing to illustrate this process. What can be seen here is that phenomena has 3 phases, i.e. <em>Arising - Presence - Dissolution</em>:</p>

<p><em><sub>Click on photos for full size</sub></em>  </p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/C1wXg.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/C1wXgm.jpg" alt="image 1"></a></p>

<p>Even in the "<em>presence-phase</em>" phenomena are not stable or permanent but in a constant flux heading towards their own break up. Phenomena that exists due to causes and conditions are impermanent, meaning that they cannot be relied on. If one tries to rely on them or put trust in them, they will break up and leave one with only suffering and a void.</p>

<p>Nibbana is not caused or conditioned, it is <em>unconditioned, unborn, uncaused, permanent, secure, stable</em>. It does not rise and fall. It does not produce suffering.</p>

<p>Here is a description of Nibbana from the Buddha himself:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Bhikkhus, I will teach you the taintless and the path leading to the taintless. Listen to that ...</p>
  
  <p>"Bhikkhus, I will teach you the truth and the path leading to the truth ... I will teach you the far shore ... the subtle ... the very difficult to see ... the unaging ... the stable ... the undis­ integrating ... the unmanifest ... the unproliferated ... the peaceful ... the deathless ... the sublime ... the auspicious ... the secure ... the destruction of craving ... the wonderful ... the amazing ... the unailing ... the unailing state ... Nibbana ... the unafflicted ... dispassion ... purity ... freedom ... the unadhesive ... the island .., the shelter ... the asylum ... the
  refuge ...</p>
  
  <p>-- SN 43: Asankhatasamyutta, p. 1378, Bodhi translation</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>The stable, the secure, the wonderful, freedom, the shelter</em>.. I don't know about other beings, but these words/reasons seem pretty compelling to me.</p>
 254: <p>Let's consider <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/11077/254">Andrei's definition of Buddhism</a>, for example (because it's a short and easy definition).</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Buddhists believe that human experiences originate in the mind, training which through cultivation of ethics, meditation, and wisdom leads to nirvana (the release from suffering) or enlightenment -- the insight into the true nature of things.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>experiences originate in the mind</strong></p>

<p>I think that, if you believe that experiences originate in the mind, then you might prefer Buddhism to other religions (which, tend to suggest that God is the creator; alternatively, atheistic views which suggest there is no creator): and then, if you <em>are</em> attracted to Buddhism for any reason, you might then align with or adopt Buddhist goals (e.g. for enlightenment).</p>

<p><strong>cultivation of ethics</strong></p>

<p>Similarly you might admire Buddhism's system of ethics (e.g. "don't kill", "don't steal", and "don't lie", etc.); and, you might prefer or choose those precepts instead of other religions' (whose most important commandments include for example "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thou_shalt_have_no_other_gods_before_me" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Thou shalt have no other gods before me</a>").</p>

<p><strong>nirvana (the release from suffering)</strong></p>

<p>If (or assuming that) you are aware of suffering (or 'anxiety') in this life, isn't it true that "the release from suffering" is obviously (or self-evidently) desirable, <em>in this life</em>? You may not need to believe in rebirth, in order to want release from suffering (perhaps you <em>do</em> need to believe in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths#First_truth:_dukkha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">suffering</a>, though).</p>

<p><strong>enlightenment (the insight into the true nature of things)</strong></p>

<p>I'm not sure what this ('enlightenment' and 'insight') means, but I understand it to mean "having insight, can now help <em>others</em> to release <em>them</em>selves from suffering." Again, I think that wanting that probably only requires a belief in suffering and some compassion for others (i.e. you can want that for your sake and for other's sake regardless of whether and how you understand the word "rebirth").</p>

<hr>

<p>In summary it's not necessarily only emancipation from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra" rel="nofollow noreferrer">samsara</a> (i.e. the cycle of rebirth): it could be emancipation from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukkha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dukkha</a>; and also emancipation from the various <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleshas_(Buddhism)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">kleshas</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetter_(Buddhism)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">fetters</a>, and so on.</p>

<p>Whether or not they understand "rebirth", someone might feel a desire for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge_(Buddhism)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">refuge</a> in <em>this</em> life.</p>
 5825: <p>I am a Rinzai Zen Monk with a decade-long monastic background so my answer will be relevant within our school's framework.</p>

<p>From a Zen POV being 'reborn' exists only within Reality.
Reality is purely this one moment here and now.
With each breath, with each action we are reborn. The choices we make are fresh and new. The Enlightened being will make those choices in accordance with what they experience.
Because they are living in the here and now they are also making these choices without any reference to the past or the future because these are purely abstract concepts since neither of them is here and now.</p>

<p>The Enlightened person is literally reborn with each and every experience (in Japanese Zen terms these are known as 'Nen' - ie. the time it takes to register each experience). An Enlightenment experience is when you fully experience this for the first time: when a drop of water falling on your head or the call of a crow suddenly awaken you to this new awareness</p>

<p>There are other types of rebirth of course. Such as the delusional rebirths, when one succumbs to any of the poisons (Ignorance, Anger, Greed) and is reborn in 'hell'.</p>

<p>Buddhism is a very wide philosophy with a wide application of the same basic terms and concepts. What i have just said is not really valid for a Theravada Buddhist. It would be explained, understood and practiced differently by someone of a Pure land Path (JoDo ShinShu for instance) even though they are part of the Mahayana.</p>
