I think arguing religion with a religious person is best when your three sheets to the wind and falling off the chair.
Sober, educated, illiterate or tanked, they always win. Just when you think you've finally said the one thing that will absolutely topple everything they've always held as the absolute truth, they pull THE CARD.

"I'll pray for you".

Argument over.
But if you were totally trashed, maybe you won't remember the 4 hours you wasted attempting to undo a lifetime of expertly crafted mind-control. Ha! Just who do you think you are anyways, buddy? They've been perfecting this sham for 2000 years! Ya can read and study til the day you die, they had this shit nailed down long before they decided to go with the names Adam and Eve.
Cheers!

Best to use understand the lay of their land

I find it Extremely handy to be able to quote the Bible to annoying pushy evangelicals! Lot screwing his daughters, Abraham pimping out Sarah several times, who Abel married, etc etc etc all make conversing with these fools such fun!

Exactly! My suggestion is to read the bible. It has made many turn to atheism.

Whatever your thoughts on modern organized religion, the origin makes sense: to understand the world and give people comfort, community, and understanding. Now, I think religion fails in these on several levels, but when you look at it from that perspective, you can more easily find common ground with people. Also, it is infinitely easier to debate and even convince people when you understand what t is they believe than just dismissing it as “magic isn’t real, you’re stupid.” I think all knowledge is a good thing, especially when it allows you to better communicate. Also, while the institutions of religious belief are often corrupt, and while individuals may misunderstand or deliberately misinterpret their own religion to suit themselves, or follow hateful beliefs, in general I think we can all get behind ideas like “don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t be jealous, etc.,” a lot of people grew up in homes where it is understood that these ideals came from god/religion rather than humanist philosophy and/or practicality. Religion was the vehicle by which these dictates were enforced: “look Jeff, you’re going to hell if you don’t stop fucking everybody’s wife, okay? Jesus.” As our philosophical study has gotten richer, we’ve found secular explanations for these things that I think are better, but to many people a rejection of religion is inextricably tied or a rejection of morality. Understanding someone’s individual beliefs is the best way to start this conversation.

According to wikipedia there are an estimated 4200 religions in the world today. Here is a link to get you started. By looking at the math you have a .02 percent chance of being right no matter which one you pick. That alone should tell you religion is not worth the effort. [en.wikipedia.org]