I doubt that comes under the category of religious study.
The origins of "religious" beliefs (explanations of the world around us) seem fairly evident, notable for the relative commonality of the various creation stories. How we get from there and how religion becomes related to power is really interesting.
I don't have any heroes, but even when I know what will happen, I always find myself rooting for Arius and later for the Emperor Julian.
Most interesting books. The Unauthorized Version--Robin Lane Fox------God against the Gods--Jonathan Kirsch.