Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) occupies a key position in the history of Western esotericism as a major representative of eighteenth-century theosophy ... [W]hile Swedenborg's theosophy involves intermediaries, correspondences, and access to the higher worlds, it lacks the mythical and dramatic elements of earlier and contemporary theosophy, such as the fall, reintegration, transmutation, and rebirth. Instead, Swedenborg offers a relatively sober, matter-of-fact mesocosm full of spirits, which may be the souls of the dead, where knowledge may be gained, scripture expounded, and new theological ideas developed. In this respect, Swedenborg's esotericism was heavily influenced by Enlightenment science, rationalism, and Protestant pietism. His assimilation of these secularizing influences also identifies him as a key figure in the development of modern esotericism.
Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, The Western Esoteric Traditions: A Historical Introduction (2008)
