Does conflict come from fear?

Fear is definitely one cause of conflict. The concept of
the "other" (that which is not the self, that which is different) is something that has
fascinated historians and philosophers throughout the postmodern era. We fear those
things that are different from us because we don't understand them. This can be said of
cultures, religions, races or any group identity of people. We feels safe inside our
comfort zone and we fear the possibility that the other will try to change us in some
way to make us more like themselves. Instead of risking that possibility, it is often
human nature to destroy that which is different before it has a chance to "infect" us in
some way with its otherness. For this reason, one of the best means of mitigating
conflict is through the fostering of understanding, the seeking of consensus or, at the
very least, a common cause. If we can understand that what makes us different also makes
us the same, we have a better chance of getting along with one another. Take religion as
an example. All major religions share a similar tenet - the idea of doing no harm to one
another. This is a starting point for common cause. If we were to focus on that instead
of on the name of the deity or the path to everlasting life, then we would find that
Islam, Christiaity, Judaism, Wicca and other major religions all share a similar set of
moral values. By starting from this point, we can reach a better understanding and
acceptance of the fact that, just because there are different pasths, no oje is better
than the other. This is the first step to resolving religious conflicts. This same
example can be applied to cultures, races, and countries as
well.