GDR writes:
The ascension accounts really just say that Jesus "ascended" into God's presence.
Not really:
Acts 1:6-11
quote:
After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 Men of Galilee, they said, why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!
Who are the two robed men in your view?
This sounds more like Jesus bodily rising upwards than just vanishing - No?
And here are various images of Jesus ascension
Link
I can't find anywhere that agrees with your interpretation of Jesus just vanishing. As far as I can tell you just invented that. Do you have a link or other source that comes to that same interpretation?
GDR writes:
They may have borrowed some of the language used..
But the ascension stories relating to Heracles and Romulus predate Christ and Augustus dies in 14AD so his probably does too. So I'm still lost as to the distinction you are making about the different ascension stories. If anything it seems that Christianity borrowed the idea of ascension from the Greeks and Romans.
Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.