According to Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment (2001), “mysticism” based on ancient Iranian Zoroastrianism philosophy and religion (struggle of Light vs. Darkness) was so widespread during the Scientific and Enlightenment Ages that by 1699, under pressures from French king Louis XIV, Pope Innocent XII was forced to take action so that mystics were either silenced or put under extreme censorship.

[pic source copyright Getty images @Bettman:  Zoroaster. Zor-Aster, or the Egyptian sacred Bull. Engraving, 1776.]