I Was Harassed by Christians at Barnes and Noble
Why I no longer shop at Barnes and Noble.
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In 2013, I decided to take a stroll through my local Barnes and Noble. It was shortly after the holidays and I had some leftover Christmas money to spend.
I browsed the various aisles of the bookstore. I prefer to read nonfiction and I found myself attracted to the philosophy section. I discovered a book that caught my eye. I don’t remember the title of the book. I only remember that it was the glittering gold and purple book jacket that drew me in.
I stood in the aisle skimming through the book for a few minutes when I heard the distinct camera shutter of an iPhone. I looked up to find a group of about 10 people circling me. I don’t know how long they had been standing there. The group was comprised of adults, teenagers, and children.
A boy, about 12 years of age with red hair and glasses, stepped forward and handed me a pamphlet.
“Here, you need to read this instead of that book,” he said. The pamphlet he handed me contained the 10 Commandments.
Without asking for my consent, the other people in the group took photos of me on their smartphones.
“If you continue to read books like that, you will go to hell!” One of the adults sneered. The group quickly disbursed and I heard them laughing as they walked away.
It took me a few minutes to register what had just happened.
I placed the philosophy book back on the shelf and left. I feared that the Christian group would have continued harassing me if I stayed in the store.
The group of people I encountered must have been members of a local church. I am guessing that they intentionally roam around Barnes and Noble, hover near the philosophy aisle, and pounce on people who read books that they deem evil. They intentionally used the young boy to give out the pamphlet because what adult is going to refuse a gift from a child?
I know that this one, brief experience at Barnes and Noble does not represent the entirety of Christianity. However, reflecting on this incident nearly a decade later, anger boils in my stomach.
What right is it of theirs to tell me what books I can and cannot read?
Is what they did even legal?
Why were they taking photos of me?
I don’t go around harassing people reading the Christian books at Barnes and Noble.
