What does the cryptic crossword clue "Possible explosive bad mood stops Jack learning about religion (9)" mean?

The definition is "Possible explosive". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). SALT (synonym="sailor, jack") + PET (synonym="bad mood") + RE (synonym="religious education, or “learning about religion”") = SALTPETRE; definition: "Possible explosive" The answer is SALTPETRE.

Possible explosive bad mood stops Jack learning about religion (9)

Guardian Cryptic #29083 | 14 Down | 2023-05-30 flower

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