Kakariki wrote:

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Materialism is that which can be empirically tested. There was a lot that seemed miraculous, or supernatural in this world such as earthquakes, lightning and thunder, etc; and via our senses, advancing technology and collaboration of knowledge, these things were explained. The subject becomes material once it becomes testable.

Just to back up what kakariki is saying here, I see a lot of remarks indicating that "science can't explain everything". I disagree with this perspective. More appropriately we could argue that mankind can't explain everything. Science has nothing to do with it.

Having said that, yes, it is important to remember that in earlier days many unexplainable phenomenon were rationalized with superstition and deity worship. People didn't understand that thunder was two clouds in collision -- and in fairness, how could they? Therefore it was explained as a spirit or god, etc. While there are a great many things humans will never be able to explain, that does not necessarily put it into the category of the supernatural. That's not to say it isn't potentially supernatural but therein lies the key. Potentially so. Sure, maybe the things we (as of yet) cannot explain are superntural, mystical, etc. But then again, maybe they aren't too. There's always that possibility that we simply haven't unriddled the explanation. I certainly don't want to stop people from trying -- and I'm not about to ridicule them for their efforts, whether they're right or wrong.