I guess this is my first real test as a non-believer in the workplace, and I need advice.

So, last week I had to attend a surprise meeting with someone in charge of a religious charity.

I've never let religious considerations enter my thinking when dealing with an issue at work before, but this one I just can't get around.

This woman was a real true believer, it seemed, in everything except in science--including modern medicine. All the religious charities that help the poor that I've been in contact with have only talked about helping the poor, never mentioning preaching to them or forcing any sort of religion on them. But this woman was adamant that while homeless or near-homeless people were receiving help, they would be preached at.

Furthermore, she actually mentioned wanting to open a lab (yes, a LABORATORY) to look in to "combining naturopathic and allopathic medicines." The reason? Her husband had cancer some thirty years ago, and after they sought real treatment and fairy-dust treatment it went into remission, and that convinced her that they had "both" worked. I had to try really hard to not mention that she had that statement only about half right.

Toward the end of the meeting, I realized what she had wanted to meet about. A number of charities want to talk to the organization I work for to get, basically, organizational help-- lending our name for legitimacy, the use of facilities or resources, volunteers, etc-- but this woman was really only interested in one thing-- money. I thought this was especially disturbing since she actually did not know we were in an economic downturn. I seriously had to explain to her the housing crisis. She looked at me like I had two heads when I was explaining this to her, even though she should have been able to tell we were in a downturn since, you know, she nominally helps poor people, and suddenly there are a lot more.

Anyway, I got out of there fast when she started inquiring into the funding source for a project that I've taken on, that I'm very proud of and protective of. When I was walking out the door, she gave the perfunctory "God bless you!", to which I gave a half-hearted "er, you too." She watched me walk away for a long time, as though at any moment I was going to turn around and hand her a check for a few hundred thousand dollars.

Now I get to deal with this in the office. I was hoping something like this wouldn't happen.

Does anyone have any advice?

That's the only reasonable response to people like that and no, you don't owe them a detailed explanation of why not.

You were polite enough to hear her out and that's even more than you really needed to do.

I am not shy about it and most people know my position. But from time to time I get those absurd religious emails. Some I delete and others I respond to and when I respond, I reply to all.

You should be be shy about, as they are willing to voice their position, you also have the right to do exactly the same. Do have to be a prick about it? no; but certain situations may call for you to be vocal about your non theist position.

You also do not owe anyone an explanation either, unless you feel it necessary to do so.

It didn't used to be. Sure, under the changes Bush et. al. rammed through, it's now legal for a "faith based" charity to discriminate in hiring based on religious belief, but I'm not sure they can discriminate in the delivery of their services. At least not if they're organized as a 501(c)(3). I'd think that alone would be necessary and sufficient reason for turning down her request. And if you base it on something legal, then you can nicely sidestep every other issue.

which compounded my discomfort.

No agenda there, huh? Bleh. Thoroughly repulsive.

That's especially virtuous behaviour, you see.

are you saying that because you did not give this charity money that you anticipate a backlash in your office?

From the sound of it, your reason for not giving her money was based on your organization's current financial position. That has nothing to do with your feelings about her views. So why would it be a problem in your office? If someone suggests that you allowed your feelings about her views influence your decision, then you should be able to explain the financial reality to them, as well.

And how did she know about your project, anyway? Is there someone in your office that was feeding her information in order to give her potential "ammunition" to convince you to pony up cash for her project?