Is there anything you can do to help AI to spread it's religion than open borders? does relations affect how fast they spread their religion?

Religion seems to spread very nicely within AI's borders but never to player from my opinion or it's just me. Anyway, this is just one thing what I have noticed recently on Monarch where diplomatic and relations are on bigger role than before ie there is only one religion on continent and you arent influenced by it even you open borders with everyone and in spite of that you miss the relation points from religion. Anyone have similiar feelings?

Religion seems to spread very nicely within AI's borders but never to player

Do you already have a religion in your cities? If so, that's why the AI's ones aren't spreading to you. Missionaries are the only way to spread a religion to a city that already has one.

You have a good point yes if you mean unactive too I have to check that next time maybe if there is possibilites for other religions.

Couple game recently has gone bad because AI won't spread it's religion and soon you are against all AI with same religion on your continent and you are without same religion and you can say goodbye to your game. I think there is still some issues regarding that I think AI should spread it's religion more early. Mid and later I see more missionaries than earlier.