Were humans meant to evolve to have psychic abilities, and did "witch" hunts prevent this from happening?

The ability to speak with spirits, see the future, or communicate telepathically over long distances were all abilites that could get the person who possesses them killed by the organized religions of the past (and will STILL get them killed in some parts of the world). Could these abilities been a natural part of human evolution that was thwarted by the persecution of those who first developed these gifts?