Persecution is a horrible thing our world could do without, but unfortunately, it still happens. From the very beginning of the Church, Christians have been ridiculed, tortured, and even murdered. That's not to say other classes aren't also persecuted, but it is obviously natural for a persecuted class to resist persecution directed against them.
One way Christians have responded to persecution is with a number of inspirational quotes. One of my favourites, which I hope will be a guide to me if I am ever faced with such a scenario, is "you can take my head, because I have a God who can give me a new one." A less inspiring, but nevertheless appropriate example can be seen in the header image. Take a look at it and see if there's anything in there that says "and even if I find out Christianity is not true, I still won't change my mind"? The obvious answer is no, yet some atheist still took it upon themselves to hijack the meme and use it to imply Christians are gullible, and reinforce the stereotype that Christianity has no evidence.
Now, if I came across a meme like the original one made by any other religion (even an atheistic one), I wouldn't even blink. I'd think "good for you". Persecution shouldn't change your mind. I don't care if you're a Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Catholic, Mormon, Buddhist, Spiritist, atheist, if someone is trying to force you to change your mind through fear, violence, or social pressure, you resist them. The irony is, if the original meme was made by an atheist, atheists wouldn't bat an eye. Tell me, atheists, would you change your mind for ridicule, torture, or threat of death? You already get ridiculed, yet atheism is growing. If we tortured you, you might recant outwardly (after all, it's not like atheism forbids lying), but inwardly? If we threatened to kill you, even if that threat was credible, you would probably feel inwardly justified, if not explicitly so, in your beliefs.
Noticeably absent from the original image is "you can show me evidence". I don't think any Christian in their right mind would say that if the evidence strongly suggested Christianity is wrong, we would stay Christians. I know I certainly wouldn't. When Bible Brain was still on Facebook, I had to divide my ministry into two pages because my personal faith is too intellectual. I became so obsessed with the evidence for God's existence that it distracted me from actually getting to know Him. So of course if the evidence somehow suggested Christianity was false, I would apostatise. The only way I gain anything from Christianity, including compensation for the things I have already lost for it, is if it is true.
It is the absolute height of arrogance to take what is an otherwise sound stand against persecution that basically says "it won't work" and turn it into an attempt to dismiss Christianity as a fairytale, but ultimately, this is not surprising. It is the height of arrogance to reject our Creator as well. Unfortunately, such is common to our species. Though we were made in God's image, we want to be completely independent of Him, living our way instead of His. But this is not a valid option. It is called sin, and it calls for punishment.
But who takes that punishment is negotiable. Those who die as atheists will unfortunately have to face their own punishment, but God has offered another way. 2,000 years ago, Jesus came to Earth to live a completely human life, free of sin. He died, taking upon Himself the penalty for all sin, and rose on the third day. Anyone who confesses Him as Lord and believes He rose from the dead will receive eternal life. Because Jesus was persecuted, you can be forgiven. You can change God's mind about condemning you by having Christ plead your case.