And then the political realisms were brought up in the thread. Don't know the author, but I suspect that even she likely doesn't have a problem with cobbling together a political alliance with an atheist who's working against a totalitarian regime.
Once that regime is overthrown, and a governmet that operates by "consent of the governed" established, do you think this person would have any problem with that same atheist having an equal voice in setting public policy and making law?