The most frustrating thing to me is that even if she'd accepted that you're a nonbeliever she still might not have interpreted it as you performing a kind act simply because you wanted to, but because god sent someone to her to assist her. It's like what was stated in one of the above comments: nonbelievers seem to automatically be labeled as assholes or bad people; people that wouldn't know right from wrong so it's hard for believers to comprehend that someone would do something good for goodness' sake.

This reminds me of so many debates I had online in the early 1980s (yes, there was an "online" even before the internet).
Christianity=moral, everything else (especially atheism)=immoral. The idea of doing the right thing because it's the right thing is alien to them. They believe the only reason to do the right thing is because an invisible, supernatural being will punish them if they don't. That's not moral behavior: that's just fear of getting caught.

So in my experience there is always this expectation that us nonreligious folk are assholes. I commend you for keeping your cool. Personally I like to respond by giving them a very sincere look and saying "Thank you. I appreciate your concern for my well being." Because when they say that they are either being sincere, in which case what's wrong with them praying for you? Or they are being snide and taking a jab at you. If the latter, that kind of sincere responce generally takes them off guard. If they follow up with "But you don't believe in God." Respond with "No, but you do. And you're willing to pray to him on my behalf. That's really heartwarming." Only catch is, you have to be sincere yourself. If they think you're being sarcastic it could just escalate things rather than defuse them.

I don’t even know you and I’m Proud of how you handled this! You did a nice thing because it was the right thing and when someone tried to label it as a “Christian” act you gently told her, essentially, that you didn’t need god to tell you to be a good person. Good for you!

Just try to remember it’s the religion. If you were Jewish or even Muslim they’d be ok with that, but a non believer is worse than anything! It’s years of conditioning. She will die believing your not good. But her ignorance doesn’t matter, it’s just annoying!

Good for you. Sanctimonious behavior is learned through the church. She was just parroting dogma. I always take the high road in casual confrontaions like that. You spoke truth to a deluded person. It's her dilemma after that.

Well, you could have engaged in a little parting shot, so to speak. Something like this.

"I haven't found God, but I didn't see YOU giving anyone your trolley."

OK, that sounds quite childish. Also, yes, the British call it a trolley.

It is troubling how zealously religious people project their prejudices on everything. They do try to make every good or moral act a religious one -- a self-aggrandizing act of bigotry.

This situation was her being very self serving. Most people like her have not actually put the effort into actually thinking about her beliefs whatsoever. Her feelings are much more important than reality. I pity her.

Arrogant, conceited bitch. So now you have met my mother!

Wow! Way to throw a kind act right back in your face. What an ungrateful person. I hope she feels guilty now.

Aaaaaand, let's not forget that we all eat babies. So good with Fava Beans and a nice Chianti. =]

Just another example of prejudice, you did the right thing and she made you out to be wrong just for being different from her

It is frustrating and of course god sends even the no believers to do his will. She will still believe that you were sent to her by god because she was so deserving.
Being a good person feels so nice, wondering what god wants must be exhausting!

But are they saying you are a good Christian? Or that your actions emulate the things a good Christian does? Maybe just a different way of interpreting it?

I never needed a god to tell me the right thing to do.

Crazy christians, so ungrateful.

If religion makes people better I wonder why some priests ended being sex offenders

HI,Just a thought,you can say merry christmas.I had a problem with this before i became an athiest.The christians nicked it from the pagans.
Google it.I say it with pride now.The tree,the pezzies,the decorations,all hijacked.
I have a disabled child and was on the site that deals wilth hes disorder in the states.All that talked about was how god would help them.I got fed up and left the site.In the UK you wouldnt come across people like what you did.

Wow. Good self control. I would have retorted that I wanted my shopping cart back and that she could get one from a "Christian."

But probably not. I'm so transmale I'm hard wired to tolerate stuff from women without complaint.

Fuck that. I would of gone and got my trolly back.