Assumption and Death

[kkollwitz]

“The church does not teach that Mary “died” and then was assumed into heaven.” Yes…it’s too bad we in the West don’t describe it more often as the Dormition.

 

[fred_conty]

I posted this on the Ask an Apologist forum, but the response I got didn’t actually answer the question . So I’m reposting it here, so I might get an actual answer:

I’ve been wondering how to reconcile the idea that human death is a punishment for original sin with the observation that everything that is alive eventually dies. I know that if God wanted to grant humanity with eternal life and stay on earth, he could easily do that, but wouldn’t that eventually overpopulate the earth if no one died? Also, aren’t we supposed to want to be with God, and not stay on earth?

I’ve come up with a tentative solution, which makes sense to me at least, that would explain this. In their unfallen state, humans might have simply chosen to die and then be assumed into heaven. My evidence for this is Mary, who died and assumed into heaven, since she actually was in an unfallen state. Scripture also points to the idea of assumption, since Enoch and Elijah were taken body and soul by God (though obviously, since they were born with original sin, they couldn’t go directly to heaven).

So I’d like to know, is this solution acceptable doctrinally, and if not, what is the Church’s solution?

The common teaching of the church is that if Adam had not sinned, at the end of his stay on earth, he would not have died, but would have been brought into heaven.

 

[dmar198]

The common teaching of the church is that if Adam had not sinned, at the end of his stay on earth, he would not have died, but would have been brought into heaven.

I’ve never heard that opinion, do you know of any theologians who mentioned something like that?

 

[fred_conty]

I’ve never heard that opinion, do you know of any theologians who mentioned something like that?

It is taught that Adam was given the preternatural gifts. These consist of freedom from death and suffering. Therefore he would live forever. So when his time was up to live on this earth, then he would be summoned to heaven without dying on earth first.

That is the natural conclusion from being free from death.

Well then it might be thought…we would be overwhelmed with too many people on this earth if none died and none were called home to heaven. But the providence of God would have provided for this in one way or another. But the teaching remains that we would never die.

My source is Ott, The Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. He gives his sources as councils and scriptures.

May the God of hope fill you with every joy.