Annihilationism

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I would go for “Annihilationism” rather than “damnation” which if my understanding is correct simply means we rot away, which we know to be true.

It is also scriptural as well for we read, “We came from dust and to dust we will return.” And also “In the grave, the dead "know nothing," neither pleasure nor pain, and there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”

I think the concept of Hell came from the pagan custom of human sacrifice. One place it was carried out was in the valley of Hell just outside Jerusalem, so I think annihilation describes our final outcome better than damnation and we see the process of annihilation at the crematorium every day.

This is just a personal view and by the same token a Christian believes they are born of the spirit which doesn’t happen with the atheist and it is our spiritual soul that has eternal life not our body but this doesn’t concern atheists so don't worry about it.


Scriptural Texts Cited to Defend Annihilationism
• Genesis 3:19 We came from dust and to dust we will return.
• Psalms 146:4 Our thoughts/plans perish and spirit departs upon death.
• Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins is the one who will die.
• Ecclesiastes 9:5 Ecclesiastes 9:10 In the grave, the dead "know nothing," neither pleasure nor pain, and there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
• Jeremiah 19:5 Jeremiah 32:35 Burning one's offspring in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (which is where concept of Gehenna or Hell comes from) is NOT a commandment of God nor did it even enter His Mind.
• Matthew 10:28 Both body and soul are destroyed in hell. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
• John 3:16 People who don't believe in Jesus shall perish and not receive eternal life.
• 2Thessalonians 1:9 Everlasting destruction is having been destroyed and having no way to undo that.
• Revelation 21:8 The wicked will suffer a second death, the death of the soul.

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Care for the Widow and Fatherless

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Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted (pure) from the world. (James 1:27)


And the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. (Deuteronomy 14:29)


Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. (Psalms 82:3)


Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:17)


Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge: (Deuteronomy 24:17)


Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: (Proverbs 23:10)


Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. (Exodus 22:22)


And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. (Zechariah 7:10)


Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. (Jeremiah 22:3)


Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. (Job 29:12-13)

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