Kill in the name of God

The hippies were not consciously trying to change the world. They were rebelling and trying to change their own environment, thereby creating an effect that went well beyond their own boundaries.
It reflected itself in liberated sexual attitudes, the women's movement , a more open mind towards crosscultural elements . When these guys joined the establishment , which most did, that phaze in their lives played on and brought in subtle effects in which the establishment was run. A flower child started the Body Shop chain and brought in attitudes in business which were quite enlightening. Again everything did not change overnight , nor has it completely changed, but if you have noticed , the pace of change has dramatically accelerated and is growing exponentially.
The religious impulse that you mentioned , does have some biological basis. This is the subject of considerable research. Read Gopi Krishna on the subject.But even this biological basis is centered in the mind.
Again the distinction must be made between spirituality and religion , where religion is somewhat manmade and political and spirituality is not. It is this spirituality which can easily be the common goal . There are no controversies here.