Final answer:
Oracle bones from the Shang dynasty shared elements with some modern practices aimed at divining the future through their reliance on supernatural beliefs, but are different from current scientific methods that demand empirical validation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of oracle bones was primarily the same in the Shang dynasty as some methods used today to see the future because they involve divine or supernatural elements. Much like some modern-day practices seeking insight into the future, oracle bones were used in divination ceremonies where the kings, who were also high priests, acted as intermediaries between the subjects and the spirit world. The oracle bones were inscribed with key political and spiritual questions, and their use signifies the central role of religion and ritual in society. In contrast, the use of oracle bones was different from scientific methods employed today because they lacked systematic empirical testing and were tethered to spiritual beliefs and the interpretation of omens, rather than testable hypotheses and evidence-based conclusions.