Bill - I studied moral philosophy, and concepts of belief/ideology
as a major part of my Humanities degree back in the early 1980s..

What I think might be a difference between us,
is that when I was a student, we were taught not to just take an individual
or institution's arguments in isolation, at face value, on neutral terms;
but to actively analyse the core bias and motives of the people communicating them..

Then address the people behind their smokescreens, with clear focus..

Such was the trend in British higher education I experienced in that era,
which is to a large extent still ingrained in my character & intelligence now...