Annihilationism

Annihilationism is the belief that the damned, rather than going to eternal punishment in hell when they die, instead cease to exist. Basically everlasting death and destruction means literally destruction.

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“”Many annihilationists claim that the idea is an unfair punishment for finite sins of people. How can this accurately reflect God’s ultimate victory over suffering and evil, they argue, when it permanently installs a place of suffering in the final, eternal order? Likewise, how can the saved live in blissful joy knowing that some of their loved ones burn forever in hell?[1]

Annihilationist and other beliefs

Some annihilationists deny the existence of punishment in hell - they see hell as a synonym for non-existence. Others believe that hell does exist, but punishment in hell is limited in duration, and at the end of that duration the damned cease to exist. This goes with belief that god is too loving to allow eternal torture, also that infinite punishment is not just retribution for finite sins.

Annihilationism is contrasted with universalism – the belief that everyone goes to heaven – and eternal damnation – the mainstream evangelical Christian belief,[2] that the damned are consciously punished with everlasting torment in hell.

Popularity and influence

Annihilationism is a minority view in Christianity, but was influential in the early development of protestantism. Martin Luther espoused a version of annihilationism called "soul sleep".[3] Some modern denominations also accept the doctrine – for example, the ChristadelphianFile:Wikipedia's W.svgs, Seventh Day Adventist church, and the Jehovah's Witnesses.

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See also
  • Last Judgement

References
  1. Annihilationism
  2. Evangelical Alliance Commission on Truth and Unity Among Evangelicals (ACUTE). The Nature of Hell. Paternoster, London, 2000, p. 42–47
  3. Froom, ‘The Conditionalist Faith Of Our Fathers’, volume 2, p. 74 (1966)
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