@odiousness,
Alan Watts a philosopher in the 60s discussed this topic at length even though he was brought up catholic and continued to be an ordained priest of the church, he loved zen buddhism.
Anyway. A few of his lectures were on the idea that Jesus's words have lost their underline meaning. He explains that gods consciousness is everyones consciousness but unaware that they themselves are god. He goes on to say the church has muddled this idea by leaning towards political control over the minds of those who havent realized this experience. As a way to keep them in line until they do.
His ideas further branch out into ideas that god destroyed itself to create the universe and all consciousness are fragments of the original mind. The purpose is to realize this and when you do the reality shifts from self importance to all encompassing acceptance.
His lectures have a time where he is attempting to unite the raw christian perspective with the clear thought of zen. Always having to wade through the garbage of how the church ruined the original concept in favor of control.