Archive Home Page A good example of the metaphysical connection between spirituality (religion) and astronomy can be seen in Black Holes.
Black holes were a part of the human inner landscape long long before theoretical astrophysics conceived of them. The term "black hole" I suspect comes from the Black Hole of Calcutta where about 85 people suffocated in the confines of a very small room where they were being held prisoner. (Turns out there's a post office there now). The event while historically small has long since been mythologized and the term is well know in our western culture.
But the inner concept of black holes goes all the way back to the very roots of our western religious beliefs. The "endless pit" is one of the two primary descriptions of hell (eternal fire being the other). The term " the fall" is used in many places in religious doctrines, with of course "The Fall" referring to Lucifers fall from God's grace way back in the beginning.
Psychiatry and Psychology have well documented the descriptions of this inner experience. This inner spiraling unescapable fall into neverending crushing death and despair. An experience that provokes enormous fear.
Then along comes theoretical astrophysics and guess what? It's describing the same thing. And geez, even light can't escape!
Lastly it's always seemed interesting to me that one of the world's foremost authorities on black holes and cosmology, is a man almost trapped in inner space.
Welcome to the "Inner Reaches of Outer Space".