[eagsalazar2]

I think there is a more holistic POV here that resolves the tension you are worried about which is simply to accept that the beliefs people openly espouse are not what they actually believe, there is outward cognitive dissonance but inwardly people are making sense of the world in a fairly rational way that is consistent with their own goals and needs, not with objective/mathematically consistent reality. It only seems like irrational denial of facts because you incorrectly assume (a) you understand their needs and goals and (b) what they say they believe is about a position being objectively true or false and not a model of reality that works for them. If you want to "change people's minds" what you need to do is understand their needs and goals, how the most brutal version of "the truth" does or doesn't support those needs, and then "convince people" by creating coherent world views that are both "true" and allow them psychological coherence and safety (aka, +empathy and diplomacy).