The dogma of the Assumption can be problematic for Protestants, primarily because they find no explicit reference in the Bible for this event in salvation history. Added to this, they rely on Scripture as the only means of revelation from God. So, if it ain't there, it ain't so...

Let's look at a few other so-called 'assumptions' in the Bible. The earliest account of an individual being somehow taken to heaven without experiencing a physical death is Enoch. Genesis 5:24 seems to indicate that Enoch was alive and then suddenly gone (Hebrew: laqal) because of an act of God. Hebrews 11:5 lists Enoch in the 'hall of faith' and connects his level of faith with his 'assumption.' Or perhaps this has more to do with translation, as the Greek word used is  metetethe, which means “to transfer, to be carried away or removed.” 

Another more well-known (and dramatic) example is the prophet Elijah who, according to 2 Kings 2:11, was taken up (Hebrew: way ya'al) into Heaven by a whirlwind. Clearly, like Enoch, Elijah was a powerful man of faith. So much that he is one of the two personages present with Christ during His Transfiguration (cf. Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36).

In each of these cases, the 'assumption' or 'translation' or 'ascent' is a passive act on the part of Enoch and Elijah. God is the agent who assumes, translates, or makes the person ascend. This contrasts with Jesus' own ascension in which He himself ascends to the Father forty days after His resurrection.

So while Mary's assumption into Heaven, as another example of a passive act on her part, is not explicitly written in Sacred Scripture, there is certainly precedence in the Old and New Testaments of similar events. And who could deny that Mary's level of faith would not qualify her for such an equal honor of being assumed into Heaven?

As for some of the other theological questions that emerge --namely, how did Enoch and Elijah get into heaven before Christ was resurrected?  -- I'll deal with that in another blog post :)