Identity Problems

One thing I find interesting at this point is, why does one feel legitimized to harm others to impose his belief system, be it religious or atheist?

Let's take it down a notch and just talk about aggression. Why do people get defensive at first and often aggressive when presented with differing ideas? What are they threatened by?

In my opinion it's depends on what we choose to identify with. Think about it....if I ask you: Who are you?...what will you answer?

- I'm a man...a woman....I'm strong....tall....beautiful.... (identification with the body)

- I'm a (insert nationality)....(identification with geographical location, cultural group)

- I'm Christian....atheist....Buddhist....communist...(identification with belief system/ ideology)

- I'm a doctor...a teacher....(identification with occupation)

The problem with these (restrictive) identifications is that they are very limiting and exclusive. Another problem is that once you completely identify with one of these items, questioning the item becomes a personal attack. It will feel as if the very foundations of your being are being questioned. A dissolution of such an identification then would equal a dissolution of one's ego, which will perceived as dying. The ego will fight against this at any cost, even the most extreme measures will seem legit.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem. Do not identify with anything that is limiting you.

Who are you?

You are not your body. If you were to become quadriplegic, you would still be you.

You are not your thoughts. If you change religion, political view, ideology...you will still be you.

You are not your occupation. If you change job, you will still be you.

You are not your ego. Once the ego has been relegated to the backbench, consciousness is still there. You are still there, although not in the way you may think now.

Peel off these identification traps one by one. What is left? 

Nothing (bad) will happen if you allow yourself to change your mind, or just accept that somebody else can be right too.