Using tarpaulin to stop soil absorbing to rain, trying to prevent foundation damage
The slope has to go the other direction

The slope must be away from your house for some reasonable distance.  Otherwise tarpaulins will do nothing at all.  

If the slope is away from the house, then yes, the tarps will help a lot.  

Water flows downhill. If you think otherwise, that might explain why they are calling you a nutter ;) Every building code requires you take that into account when grading around your home, and you are required to grade so water naturally wants to back away from your house as it seeks the lowest level.  

So have at least the first six feet slope away from your house.  If this creates a "low spot" or impoundment where water would pool, then you need to re-grade to give water an ultimate outlet.   

This outlet can be underground; if you have somewhere on your property low enough, you can install a French or Buckeye drain to carry water from the would-be 'pound to the low outlet.  Don't spare the geotextile; you want to keep silt out of it.