Their ideas were obligate heresies to earlier religious sects. A closer look at history will tell us that science finds powerful models - explicatory, predictive and manipulative power. It is likely that these models do subtend to the truth. Atomic bombs are about power, not the truth.
Theism encompasses ethics as a major arena.
The conflict that has put religion in opposition to science is that religious believers often bring with them dictates and predicates that they consider inviolate. These constitute key foundation stones for their creed. Their demolition could bring the whole edifice tumbling down. However, challenge a cornerstone belief and you are seen to threaten its survival. So, heresy must be exorcised before it does any damage.