Yeah, sure I can get the idea of irreligious. After all, I grew up in an irreligious family, took it for granted, and was entirely irreligious myself for about the first 1/3 of my life. I'm still not all that "religious" (in the sense of specific beliefs, doctrines, labels, etc), but I am spiritually minded, meaning, I find spiritual reasons there behind all the religions, rather than feeling I must belong exclusively to one of them.

"Do you actually think I reckon all Christians knock on doors?"

No. (smile) Not for a moment did I think that. But you said it, thereby advancing the stereotype. It's a way of talking...like mentioning "tinfoil hats" or "little green men" or "conspiracy theory". It sets a certain tone. It denotes an attitude.

Jack is not my "mate". ;-) In fact, we have often butted heads and disagreed about stuff in the past, we seem to really annoy each other at times for some reason, but I do happen to agree with the point he's making in this particular thread. That doesn't make me his mate...just means I agree with him on this occasion.

"Knowing grins are difficult when nobody can see you."

Yup. ;-) That's why a keyboard isn't all that good a communicator.

I don't think Jack is pushing "his creed" here. I haven't heard him trying to convert anyone or "save" them. I think he's simply objecting to the same few people rising like jack-in-the-boxes (no intended reference to Jts) every time the words "God" or "religion" or "spirituality" are mentioned just so they can ridicule it...and trotting out the usual extreme stereotypes in order to do so.

Yeah, sure, I get that you are saying a lot of the stuff you say with a bemused smile. So am I. ;-) Alas, the typeface just doesn't show it.