I suppose it could be a chicken and egg situation, I think that some people facing difficulties in life look for answers in religion, and there are more than enough people in the religious communities offering all the answers and it is not just Islam, there are plenty of radicalized people in every religion. As far as the west goes and the consumerism, I tend to agree you and can not help but feel that we in the west are in effect worshiping a proverbial golden bull called the all mighty dollar.