Last month a third grade teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Duncan, Oklahoma took it upon herself to distribute Bibles in her public, taxpayer-funded classroom in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. One student – a non-Christian child with atheist parents – felt uncomfortable at the over Christian display and pressured to ‘conform’ to the religious display. Not long thereafter a complaint followed that forced the school to obey the law.

It now appears that the “good Christians” of Duncan, Oklahoma have formed a lynch mob of sorts as they’ve coordinated efforts to harass the family (including the school age child) for forcing the school to treat people of differing belief systems equally.

Koni at Atheist Analysis had an opportunity to interview the mother in question and the interview revealed a few disgusting details about the religious community in Duncan:

Koni: Did the possibility of retaliation [from Christians] cross your mind? Lea: Not once. Koni: I suppose you didn’t really have time to consider that possibility. At what point did you begin to fear for the safety of your child and yourself? Lea: I began to fear for mine and my sons safety when I read “run her out of town” and “snitches end up in ditches.” I have the comments in an email, but I’d have to go through hundreds of comments to find them. I feared for my son when the parents all had their kids carry their bibles to school one day, to prove a point. Kids are mean. I couldn’t let my son face that kind of ridicule for not having a bible. Koni: “Snitches end up in ditches?” That is certainly unnerving. I can’t imagine anyone feeling safe with people openly making death threats, like that. Do you have plans to move out of the community? Lea: Yes. My house is for sale.

Though Lea was able to successfully stop the school from using taxpayer money to endorse one specific religion (an endorsement that made her child feel uncomfortable and excluded), the Christian community banded together to harass and intimidate the family – including the child (which seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back for Lea).

What kind of religious tenet endorses harassing and bullying a child for having differing beliefs? What kind of Christian community issues not-so-subtle death threats against non-believers? It’s no wonder Christianity is hemorrhaging members.

[H/T Friendly Atheist]

Peacock Panache readers:

Tim Peacock is the Managing Editor and founder of Peacock Panache and has worked as a civil rights advocate for over twenty years. During that time he’s worn several hats including leading on campus LGBTQ advocacy in the University of Missouri campus system, interning with the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and volunteering at advocacy organizations. You can learn more about him at his personal website.

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