I'm a Christian and my husband is an athiest. He has certainly opened my eyes to the persecution that atheists face, including microagressions or subtle demonizing of his identity by usually very kind, well-meaning people. I think a lot of people don't realize how condescending they are being to his stance as an atheist, and I'd personally like to write, as a Christian, more about ways Christians can be aware of how they come across.

Thinking of a line from Father Richard Rohr here: "invariably, when revolutionaries get into positions of power, they do the same thing that has been done before." Meaning, many people who are oppressed become the opporessors. Christians, as Bebe has pointed out here, have sadly done this, and I humbly admit I've been guilty and want to change. We all, no matter what our beliefs or the size and level of persecutions our groups experience, have a lot of work to do in our own hearts to ensure we are not becoming that which we fight against ourselves.

And, similar to what Bebe has commented below, I am also saddened by your experience, and appreciate you bringing this to light here.