The belief becoming the self Is there a terminology or specific topic that explains the behaviour or phenomenon expressed in the following quote?


  The greatest anomaly of belief is that it is so powerful it takes over
  the identity of a man. People of belief  believe so strongly that they
  become the belief. They are the belief. So  anything or anyone that
  questions their belief is taken as a personal  attack on themselves
  and their person. Belief is so powerful and deeply set in delusion
  that even if presented with verifiable proof and facts to the
  contrary; the believer reacts with emotional outburst ranging from
  anger to rage to violence even murder. In the case of phylogenetic
  group or culture insanity it leads to war and genocide.
If I have understood things right, I think it is some form of 'Cognitive dissonance'

According to wikipedia,"cognitive dissonance is the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values"

I remember experiencing the feel in one of the Ayn Rand books. As kids, our basic belief would be that our parents love us the most. Their love is the purest form of unconditional love. No matter what you do, they will always love and be for you for what you are. Suddenly , one day you wake up to the fact that the belief you have is entirely foolish. Your parents love you not for 'what you are' but just because 'who you are - their child'. You question yourself if your parents(as persons) would love you the same way if you had not been their kid. Because the answer to the question is a simple no. I cried at the very thought. Our mind tries to defend the previous comforting belief and disprove the new bitter realization and then helplessly experience outbursts.

This is more seen in case of religious beliefs as said in the quote. Your deep rooted beliefs are shattered and the mind can't smoothly accept the new version - Cognitive Dissonance, as they term it.