Theological Term of the Day

Assumption

Assumption refers to a person being taken into heaven, by God, in bodily form before death.  There are two persons who are spoken of in the biblical text as having been assumed into heaven, Enoch (Gen 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).

Assumption of Mary

The Assumption of Mary is a Roman Catholic teaching that began in the midevil time period, and was made offical church dogma by pope Pius XII in 19501in the decree Munificentissimus Deus.  It states that Mary was taken body and soul, by God, into Heaven. Catholic doctrine, apparently, does not state whether or not Mary died, but tradition holds that she died and was immediately afterward assumed into heaven both body and soul, not entering Purgatory.  Because of the lack of biblical support for this doctrine, it is generally rejected by people who are not Roman Catholic.

                                                                                                                 - carm.org