Final answer:
The use of non-empirical techniques to engage with spiritual forces and beings is a common element across various cultures, often encompassed under the term 'magic'. While materialistic views rely on empirical evidence and dismiss the supernatural, anthropological perspectives consider the prevalence of magical practices as indicative of a universal human experience and belief in something beyond the material world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of supernatural or non-empirical techniques used to manipulate spiritual beings and forces for specific aims is a complex one, involving beliefs in supernatural forces and beings that interact with the natural world in ways that transcend empirical observation. In many cultures, magic and its practice — whether through prayer, ritual, the use of sacred objects, or spells — serve as conduits for engaging these forces. Mana, sometimes referred to as a form of sacred energy, can be an example of this non-empirical force that adheres to objects or individuals and is manipulated for religious or spiritual purposes. Anthropologists and religious scholars alike examine how these beliefs and practices reflect the universal human experience of faith and the search for understanding beyond the material world.
When it comes to religious experiences and the testimony of individuals who have felt the presence of a supernatural being, there is significant debate on whether these experiences justify the ontological reality of such entities. The acceptance of supernatural explanations is often founded on faith rather than empirical proof, and as such, does not conform to materialistic interpretations of the world, which rely solely on what can be empirically verified. Nonetheless, the collective reports of these experiences across different cultures and times can be seen as a strong testimony to the human belief in a spiritual realm, if not conclusive evidence of its existence.