Jon,
Being told that you are not getting your facts straight, having it explained to you why your facts are not straight, being told the criteria by which your facts have been determined not to be straight, and being told what you need to do in order to make sure your facts are straight, is not being persecuted or mocked for being a Christian.
By all means believe the Bible. By all means defend the Bible. By all means preach the Gospel. By all means stand firm in your faith. But if in the process of doing so, you are coming out with claims that are not only demonstrably false but easily shown to be demonstrably false, you have only yourself to blame if it goes down badly.
1 Peter 2:20: "But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. "