[PatrickHenry]

I don't think Asimov actually believed there was much of a chance the creationists were really likely to establish an Iranian-mullah theocracy in this country, although he mentions cases in which an organized few have come to power.

It was an ongoing theme of his. He was well aware that civilization (which he probably felt was safe in the hands of scientists) was a very thin layer of society, and very fragile. His all-time favorite story, Nightfall, involved Luddites storming an observatory.

[Sentis]

"It was an ongoing theme of his. He was well aware that civilization (which he probably felt was safe in the hands of scientists) was a very thin layer of society, and very fragile. His all-time favorite story, Nightfall, involved Luddites storming an observatory. "

Robert heinlein had the same fear. He even called the fundamentalists in his works "Revolt in 2100" is about a second American revolution against these Luddite religious fanatics. It is a very common theme and fear among Science fiction authors.