it also involves studying ideas that don't jive with your own and that you have to keep an open mind and respect the fact that not everyone in the whole world believes in the same thing.

or who studied theology for associated disciplines. And I agree. "The Bible, properly read, is the most potent source of atheism ever conceived." --Isaac Asimov. This, to say nothing of studying comparative religions and the recurring themes, redundancy in archetypes, obviously manmade texts that report them. The list of those who started out as theologians or historians and ended up as atheists is long and telling.

in the case of Christianity, have often not read the Bible. Interesting that the recruiters ask you to "just believe" first, and then maybe read the book later. Seems backwards.