I think they're rather asserting that the scientific method is built upon materialist axioms, whereas religions are almost definitionally come with non-material

I think they're rather asserting that the scientific method is built upon materialist axioms, whereas religions are almost definitionally come with non-materialist axioms as foundational. It may seem self-evident that purely materialist axioms are more useful as a basis for starting the discussion, but depending on the end goal, starting the discussion more easily may not be advantageous in reaching the end goal. It's possible that restricting ourselves to purely materialist axioms is a case of looking for our keys under the light post because it's dark in the alley where we dropped them.