In 1950, the Catholic Church declared the Assumption of Mary—the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was bodily taken up into Heaven following her death—to be an official dogma. The declaration was met with both support and criticism from within the Church, and the debate surrounding the Assumption of Mary continues to this day. Here, we’ll explore some of the arguments made against the Assumption of Mary dogma.
Argument #1: The Bible Nowhere Mentions the Assumption of Mary
One of the primary arguments made against the Assumption of Mary is that there is no mention of it in the Bible. Christians who hold this view argue that, since the Bible is considered to be God’s inerrant word, anything not mentioned in Scripture cannot be considered an official doctrine of the faith.
Argument #2: There’s No Tradition of the Assumption Prior to the Fifth Century
Another argument made against the Assumption of Mary is that there is no record of such a belief prior to the fifth century. This view holds that, since the Assumption is not mentioned in any early Christian writings, it cannot be considered an official doctrine.
Argument #3: Jesus Wouldn’t be our only Intercessor
In addition, Mary’s assumption destroys the idea of Jesus being our only intercessor with God. After all, if she is in heaven with Him, then she can petition on our behalf just as easily as Jesus can. This line of thinking goes against centuries of Catholic teaching which state that Jesus is our one true mediator.
Conclusion:
The debate surrounding the Assumption of Mary continues to this day, nearly 70 years after the Catholic Church first declared it to be an official dogma. We have given just a few valid arguments against the Assumption of Mary Dogma. Ultimately, this dogma cannot be justified from a Biblical perspective.
