Knowledge of self? In this world?

This discussion on fences has broader ramifications. In a world where fences keep us apart from one another, and from other ideas, how much do we turn inwards and develop our sense of self? The reason I bring it up is simple: I want to ask a question of anyone who may stumble across this post. These "fences" exist everywhere, in all our interactions and relationships, and it isn't limited to the material world. Most tellingly, it is appallingly clear that much more mental energy is spent on our material world than on knowledge of self. A great example is religion.

How much of religion do we actually understand? By and large, most people understand and abide by the "brand" of whatever religion they claim to follow (the Message, Jesus, Mohammed, the Bible, Koran, Talmud, etc.). Think about this seriously: can most people really lay claim to having really thought through the implications of what it means to accept that there is a god? Further, that the scriptures are being read and interpreted in as many ways as there are fractious groups doing the reading should be telling of something. But what?

I'm going to try to explore this topic further: the distinction between the inner and outer worlds of our existence, and the extent to which the noise from one tends to drown out the other. Consumption, after all, could be described as a balm for an ill that isn't fully understood. What would a world look like in which people felt supremely confident and self-assured? Would it be so easy in such a world to lay fences?