Some of the more unusual responses to a detailed survey conducted last July on behalf of the Power to Change campaign, came from a group of 25-34-year-old men in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
They were among seven groups - four in Dublin, two in Cork, as well as the one in Tullamore - who were selected from across age, gender, and economic divides and questioned about their spiritual lives as part of the Millward Brown IMS survey.
The research on the Tullamore men's attitude found them "the most difficult group to appeal to . . . cynical and do not see a place for Jesus Christ in their life right now. . . need a more flexible Jesus Christ than the one they've learned about".
Asked "who is Jesus Christ?" their replies included - "a virgin" a "man with a beard", a "swear word" and "he never did anything wrong".
Questioned as to how the Power to Change message - that Jesus is good for you - might fit into their lives, one responded "you don't want to listen to somebody throwing a Bible down your throat".
Another reacted simply "Jehovah's Witness, wacko,cult".
Still another: "I think I'd have to be at my lowest ebb, before you'd believe something like that. You'd really have to be desperate."
The research found that the men "have some beliefs, but \ anti-Church".
The group believed that "right" and "wrong" were "relatively clear, but some wrongs are simply more acceptable - who's to say it's right or wrong".
The men were described as "quite laid back and did not appear concerned about many of the issues raised in other groups".
A "snapshot" of them said they were "relatively carefree - can't get mortgage but not stressed, content to live at home/rent."
And they still "enjoy a few pints with the lads, but also yearn for long term relationships".
