Project a gentle touch within religious group (8)
I believe the answer is:
catapult
'project' is the definition.
(project using a catapult)
'a gentle touch within religious group' is the wordplay.
'gentle touch' becomes 'tap' (I've seen this in another clue).
'within' indicates putting letters inside.
'religious group' becomes 'cult' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'tap'='atap'
'atap' going inside 'cult' is 'CATAPULT'.
(Other definitions for catapult that I've seen before include "Throwing device or sling" , "Device with elastic for hurling small stones" , "Weapon for hurling stones" , "fling" , "Ballista" .)