Yeah, have a co-worker who is borderline tea party mentality, though discussions have made progress over time. The difference is, he is willing to think about things (and I am sure to compliment him on that), whereas other people who just live in a world of blind obedience offer nothing but frustration in conversation. I've found that hitting them on the topic of morality is most successful, and speak to misogyny in the Bible to reach women.

True story. While talking with two women friends one day, one black, one white, I shared a funny story about an old co-worker of mine who happened to be a lesbian. Well, no sooner had I mentioned she was a lesbian than my black friend said, "The Bible says one man goes with one woman."

Now, I had a choice in how to respond, and I chose calmness and human appeal over ranting about religious harm. So I said, "You know, the Bible says many things that we came to see as wrong and no longer follow. It was used to justify slavery, and even describes certain matters in the care and punishment of slaves. But we saw this was wrong, fought a war over it, and passed laws outlawing it. The Bible is also the basis of discrimination against women, noting how women should be silent and subordinate to men. But we saw this too was wrong, and passed laws that gave and protected rights for women."

At that moment, my black friend became silent, because she had no awareness of these aspects of the Bible. My white friend moved in and said, "Yes, but the Bible was written for people who lived a long time ago," which I let go because she had already made the point that it is archaic without thinking about it.

In order to persuade people, you really need to connect with them. Just telling them they hold ignorant beliefs closes minds and opportunities change minds.