Fear of the unknown is actually the fear of self.  If it is true that all of humanity is connected in God, as a result of flowing from God, then we are all a creation resulting from the same creative flow and Source.  As we accept that we all emit from the same Source, we can embrace that we are made of the same substance.  Once we see this truth, we realize that we meet no stranger, but are only ever meeting ourselves.
 
Nothing in life, no person on earth, is to be feared, only understood.  Fear of any unknown is only fear of a part of ourselves we have been afraid to discover or have refused ourselves permission to know; so my fear of you is only my fear of the part of myself I do not know.  As I know me and love me, I can know you and love you.
 
This brief lifetime is only preparation for eternity, and a fearful heart leaves an infinite conscience undeveloped.  Our fear of another person ultimately limits our willingness and ability to love them.  When we fear one another, we utilize the tactics of flattery and act in patronization, which only keep us from real knowing.  Uncensored fear eventually morphs into hate.  We feel as if we hate the person, or race, or culture when what we are really feeling is fear.  And, living with our fear daily only serves as a catalyst for the growth of hate.  The only way to walk out of fear and hatred, and into love, is by embracing the unknown... and beginning the process of knowing and loving all of God's creation, beginning with ourselves.