christ-on-a-stick

As I see it, based on the commonly understood definition of "religion" (1-3 on The Other Michael's list) - the two (rationalism and religion) are for all practical purposes mutually exclusive.

The problem with the #4 definition is that nobody really uses that way except, IMO, euphemistically; if someone says "football is my religion", we understand what they mean, but noone really compares that passion with the role that religion (as commonly defined) plays in society.

In other words, although many people approach sports as a "religion" by the 4th definition, there's a reason that the Founding Fathers (for example) didn't find it necessary to put the following in the Constitution - "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of sports, nor prohibit the free excercise thereof".