What did religions do with the first people who discovered stuff? :x

The movie Agora is very well covering this subject, worth a watch.

I've also noticed very intelligent people going spiritually "mad".

And spiritual people with a fine sense for reality nonetheless.

A lot of variations under the sun, but I guess you seek for a denominator?

Edit: I'm a bit confused about what 'intelligence' and 'spiritual' means. Drifting in the bulk of different possible meanings makes taking a stance about it difficult.