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What the Hell: Annihilationism vs. Eternal Conscious Torment

What the Hell: Annihilationism vs. Eternal Conscious Torment

Last updated on: February 3, 2026 at 6:00 am by Anthony Costello

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What the Hell: Annihilationism vs. Eternal Conscious Torment 2026-02-02T18:05:22-08:00 Anthony Costello

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Recently, actor and evangelist Kirk Cameron shocked many conservative Christians when he announced his change of views on the doctrine of Hell. Many Evangelical Christians grew up with a view of Hell that is understood as conscious eternal torment, or punishment. As such, many assume that ECT just is the “traditional” view. However, there is another doctrine of Hell that has gained traction recently, yet which, according to its defenders, also has an ancient pedigree and makes even better sense of the Biblical data. That view is Annihilationism, or, as some call it, Conditional Immortality.

Rethinking Hell with Chris Date

In this interview we talk with theologian Chris Date, of Rethinking Hell ministries. Date recently appeared on Kirk Cameron’s “Hellgate” episode to defend Annihilationism. In this podcast, we discuss:

What is the history of Annihilationism as a Church doctrine?
Was it held among the Church Fathers, the Reformers?
Why is Annihilationism now making a comeback?
What is the view, and how does it make sense of the biblical data?
Can Traditionalists and Annihilationists sit together in the pews? Or is the doctrinal divide too great?
What about Annihilationism makes better sense of God’s Justice?

All of this and much more with one of the foremost defenders of Annihilationism, Chris Date.

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