I've got a ridiculous situation - four of AI civs share the same religion (Judaism) thanks to the Babylonians zealously spreading it all over the continent, and they're close to a religious war against me because I'm not one of them.

The ridiculous part is that Hammurabi is my immediate neighbour, its turn 150+ and he still hasn't sent a single missionary to my city to give me a chance! Man, I crave for Judaism!

Now, I've never used Theocracy, was a Hinduist all the time (and also discovered Confucianism and Christianity), and had Open Borders with Hammurabi for 100+ turns - what could possible defer him from converting one of my cities? He actually did send a missionary to me once, it strolled around my land and returned home!! Why, Mr. Hammurabi, why?! He's building missionaries like a fanatic and sending them anywhere across the world except to me. What could be the cause of such selectivity?

Or, better, does anyone know a way of luring foreign missionaries into your land? What are the mechanics of AI choosing whom to spread its religion to?

Exact same thing happened in a recent game - the whole continent was taoist and it refused to autospread to me.

It went on so long I got an 'Apostolic patented infidels!!1! war' declared on me.

I think the AI checks where it has the best chance of spreading the religion. Since it seems as if your cities already have 2 or 3 religions in them, the chance of the missionary succeeding is fairly low.
I think it also affects autospread along trade routes. Autospread never seems to happen in cities that already have 1-2 religions.

My capital has only one religion (it is its holy city, though) as I had tried to found another one in it. I should try my luck with new cities - perhaps it would auto/missonary spead Judaism to them before my native Hinduism gets there. I would have to skip building the shrine, though, as it spreads the religion by itself.

Still I wonder whether religious civics or having a state religion affects the chances of AI trying to spread its religion to me.

Quick answer would be to NOT have a state religion. This will encourage him to send in the missionaries. This will also increase relations...

It might be best to go back to Pagenism and drop your state religion, if you're worried about diplomacy.

Alternativaly, you could attack him and steal a city with Judaism :D

Judaism will never auto-spread to a Hindu city.

Why? Is this hard-coded?

Religions cannot spread naturally (which means: along trade routes) to cities that already have one or more religions.

And in my games, the AI usually doesn't use missionaries on foreign cities that already have one either. If you still have open borders with him, I'd found a new city close to him and hope his religion gets there first, either way.

Hammurabi did send missionaries to cities with Buddism and Hinduism (alas, not mine). That's how two of my rivals got converted.

^^BTW , Hammy doesn't have the AP? I strongly suspect that he's preparing to drag the world against you in a AP war......

Too late, I'm Bismark the Industrious! And I've got both marble and stone, btw :hammer: So AP is mine, and the rest of the wonders so far, too.

At the moment I've managed to create a couple of cities which luckily have trade routes with Babylon. I'll try my luck with autospreading Judaism there.

You can go to war for a few turns capture a city with Judaism and convert to it.

Wait, I thought you didn't need to have a religion in your city to convert to it?

I've converted to another religion once when it wasn't in any of my cities.

Now, I've never used Theocracy, was a Hinduist all the time (and also discovered Confucianism and Christianity)

You just answered your own question there.

It's "Hindu" not "Hinduist". Sorry, just a pet peeve.

Anyways, you've built the Apostolic Palace, correct? So, spam missionaries. Have your top production city Alt-Missionaries. Put all of 'em on Automated, and let them spread the word of the Covenant/Torah/Talmud!