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'''Annihilationism''' is the view that the wicked do not suffer eternally in Hell, but rather are annihilated and cease to exist after death.

'''Annihilationism''' is the view that the wicked do not suffer eternally in Hell, but rather are annihilated and cease to exist after death.  Some will allow for the existence of Hell but not in terms of [[eternal damnation]]; any punishment would be for a temporary time after which they would cease to exist.

The teaching is frequently held by groups which oppose traditional [[Christianity]] and are traditionally considered cults (such as [[Seventh-Day Adventist]]s,<ref>http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html</ref> [[Mormon]]s, and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]), but with the decline of [[Biblical inerrancy]] in most mainline denominations it has become prevalent there.<ref>A variant would teach that Hell is reserved only for the "most wicked", not specifically defined by liberal theologians but generally accepted to refer to historical figures considered evil, such as Hitler.</ref>  As expected, the teaching is regarded as [[heretical]] by most Christians, both within Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant groups.

The teaching is frequently held by groups which oppose traditional [[Christianity]] and are traditionally considered cults (such as [[Seventh-Day Adventist]]s,<ref>http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html</ref> [[Mormon]]s, and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]), but with the decline of [[Biblical inerrancy]] in most mainline denominations it has become prevalent there.<ref>A variant would teach that Hell is reserved only for the "most wicked", not specifically defined by liberal theologians but generally accepted to refer to historical figures considered evil, such as Hitler.</ref>  As expected, the teaching is regarded as [[heretical]] by most Christians, both within Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant groups.