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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. 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.
'''Annihilationism''' is a theological viewpoint which denies the concept of [[eternal damnation]] (that the wicked suffer eternally in [[Hell]] after death).
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.
There are two variants on the viewpoint:
*The predominant view is that there is no real place called Hell: the wicked simply are annihilated and cease to exist after death. (This differs from atheistic teaching about no life after death, in that the righteous would go to [[Heaven]].)
*An alternate viewpoint is that the wicked will be punished in Hell for only a time, after which they would cease to exist. (A variant on this 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.)
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]]). However, with the decline of [[Biblical inerrancy]] in most mainline denominations it has become prevalent there. But within evangelical, fundamentalist, and Pentecostal/charismatic groups (along with Catholic and Orthodox ones) it is still considered to be [[heretical]].
==References==
==References==