Kat,
By "materialism" yes, in a sense I do me the aquisition of things... and making said aquisition the ultimate end, goal or measue of "success."

But I also mean it in a more subtle way. When I said religion has become materialistic, I mean far too literal, hung up on the supposed attributes and powers of the central figure or figures... rather than actually taking to heart what was taught and the self-examination and changes it calls one to make.

For example, the idea that Jesus supposedly did all these nifty things like walk on water, make dead people come back to life and then himself get back up three days after he died has become more important that the principles of the Sermon on the Mount. IMO, Jesus wasn't sent and didn't come here to show off nifty supernateral powers... the whole real purpose of His mission can be summed up in the Sermon on the Mount... and the INWARD transformation it calls people to. Spiritual growth is WORK.. and requires SACRIFICE. It requires dillegence and humility. Salvation is not an event, it's a never ending process of learning and effort.
But smoe people don't want that. They want a water-walking "super-Jesus" to come solve all their problems for them and make sure their name is on the list to get into Heaven. They want a "one prayer and I'm SAVED" solution.. in much the same way they want "one-stop shopping" at Wal-Mart.

Sear,
In that sense religion CAN be superstition. But that's not real religion. That's sort of been my point all along. That's a mockery and an aping of religion.
And it's a big, easy target. And I think cynics such as yourself love to take cheap potshots at that big, easy target, and simply ignore the rest.

Your claims to have the market cornered on rational thought ring as hollow with me as the fundamentalist's claims to have the market cornered on God's grace and salvation. IMO, it's just different sides of the same coin.. that being a supposed superiority over others.. and the right to call them such things as "loony."

There is PLENTY of reason and "evidence" for a rational, sober-thinkng person to conclude the God does indeed exist. Hence, many rational, highly-intelligent and intellectually prudent people believe in God, and have good reason for doing so. We just don't belive in a big "old man in the sky," so to speak...

And if you're not willing to at least admit that, than you are, IMO, just as self-deluded as the religious fanatics you so vehmently argue against.