.
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.
.