The materialistic view was adopted as much for political reasons as any other. Particularly in Western Europe, the established churches were united in their support for feudalism and autocracy. Improvements in agricultural methods and engineering, the development of towns and ctities as centres of production for commodities that would make the lives of the peasants better, all were threats to this system. A healthier, less overworked peasantry would have the time and energy to start thinking about their lives, and demanding more say in how they lived. A new power grouping, made wealthy by new methods and intellectually independent by materialism, was formed which brough about radical changes in society and toppled the churches from their dominant position.

The study of non-material phenomena was interesting to some, but brought little in the way of new inventions and profit, so it was sidelined for many years. Now, of course, science is evolving and reaching into other areas. A sea-change is coming which might see the differences between the 'natural' and the 'supernatural' disappear in favour of a wider concept of nature.