[JackMorgan]

I'm not sure the cause and effect are accurate here. It's very likely more the other way: that folks curious about the world and how it works did that research in spite of religion which often attempted to suppress new findings that countered church doctrine or beliefs. Or even suppress findings that happened to be different from earlier mental models.

To be fair, other scientists sometimes do this to. However most begrudgingly accept new findings if they hold up to the scientific method.