Symbols and emblems were everywhere. Buildings and pictures were designed to be read like books. Everything stood for something else; if you had the right dictionary, you could read Nature itself. It was hardly surprising to find philosophers using the symbolism of their time to interpret knowledge that came from a mysterious source.
I don't want to slam somebody else's religion. I mean as a Catholic, we're basically cannibals: We eat Jesus every Sunday, you know? So who am I to say your religion is creepy?