The Ascension is not given great attention in the church today.
Even so it remains a contentious issue, largely centred
on whether it refers to a physical or spiritual event.
It is also notable that it does not appear
in some early versions of the Gospels.
Draft versions perhaps.
The terminology displays a primitive faith
and the belief in a three part universe,
with heaven above the clouds
and hell below.
It is format that
may seem incredible
but remains in song and liturgy.
Perhaps it is a concept that needs to be revised
if Christianity is to survive the advent of enlightenment.
In practical terms, the Ascension was necessarily promoted
to set an end to the appearances of the Risen Christ,
so that the Christian world could settle down
free from the threat of new divine pronouncements,
which might challenge the ideas of developing doctrine
and thus undermine the authority of the leaders of the church.
It seems unlikely that the Ascension describes an literal event,
but it does act as closure to the time of Christ on earth
and thus release of his authority to the church.