Today we are continuing the discussion of the myth of Christian persecution in this country by looking at one of the most infamous martyr stories in recent history. Evangelical Christianity took the opportunity to run with the story of a teenage girl, with her whole life ahead of her, brutally murdered for refusing to deny her faith in God. The story shocked the world, and was weaponized and used at every turn as supposed proof of the growing danger that Christians are in because of their faith. What happened, though, when it turned out to be just that—a story? Did those who were using the story to strike fear in their congregations (and grow their bank accounts) recant and apologize for getting it wrong? Of course they didn’t.

Content warning: gun violence, death

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