One of the principal differences between common versions of "Western" and "Eastern" religious traditions is a competing conception of selfhood; the former celebrates its significance, while the latter casts it as a grievous illusion.

For Christians, especially Roman Catholics, a dominant philosophy titled "personalism" has taken root. You are an irreducible person. Rather than just a collision of meaningless atoms, you are a dignified person. Moreover, rather than just a monistic wasteland characterized as the Supreme Identity, you are an utter singularity.

Peter Kreeft analyzes "personalism" here, exploring its relationship to Thomistic philosophy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwWI4PkLpkY

Give selves a chance!

this video is too long to watch , i could not bring myself to watch such a long video on spirituality

however this whole thing with personalism vs impersonalism is silly at best

both the theories are incomplete and whacked out of proportions in many areas ,

the truth is way way way beyond anything

lets not try describe it in our monkey terms and lets leave the truth about selfhood in the domain of experience rather than theories

edit : it really causes a headache if you think about it for years like i've done , its just too much to delve into these matters