Quote Originally Posted by Gilrandir View Post
Many scientists (especially up to XX century) were ardent believers, yet it didn't preclude them from pursuing research and making discoveries and inventions. Like Tolkien was a hard core Catholic but he invented a whole alternative religious view on the world and its creation.
Religion doesn't do much damage when believers study physics, where knowledge is hazy. It is extremely damaging in fields where knowledge is more complete. As for Tolkien and his alternative world view and creation: it's Catholicism, more or less. It's not as directly allegorical as CS Lewis's Narnia, but it is based on Catholicism.