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Indeed, the lost would rather be annihilated because their suffering would be over.

D. A. Carson speaks a hard but necessary truth:

Despite the sincerity of their motives, one wonders more than a little to what extent the growing popularity of various forms of annihilationism and conditional immortality are a reflection of this age of pluralism. It is getting harder and harder to be faithful to the "hard lines" of Scripture. And in this way, evangelicalism itself may contribute to the gagging of God by silencing the severity of his warnings and by minimizing the awfulness of the punishment that justly awaits those untouched by his redeeming grace.

Robert A. Peterson is professor of systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He is the author of Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment (P&R) and, with Edward Fudge, Two Views of Hell: A Biblical & Theological Dialogue (IVP).

Be sure to read the related stories to this article, "Rightly Dividing the Hell Debate | Key Advocates and Writings" and "Coming to Terms | Key Phrases in the Hell Debate."

The Evangelical Alliance's press release about its report is available on the organization's Web site.

Media coverage of The Nature of Hell includes:

Is there a Hell? Yes, experts say, and it's awful—The Age (Apr. 3, 2000)

So Hell is a real place after all. Thank heavens for that.—The Independent (Apr. 3, 2000)

Children 'should be told of hell' | Liberals twitch as evangelicals turn to fire and brimstone—The Guardian (Apr. 15, 2000)

Unless Jesus Says Otherwise, Hell Exists, Asserts Evangelical Report | British group acknowledges differences on annihilationism, but says doctrine of hell must be preached again.—Christianity Today (Apr. 18, 2000)

Hell Is There and "Occupied" | The UK's Evangelical Alliance reaffirms the reality of hell in a report to be published next week.—Religion News Service/Beliefnet

British evangelicals emphasize Hell—Evangelical Press/B.C. Christian News (May 2000)

Hell is back in business | Trends come and go, so don't be surprised when you hear the latest: Hades is hot, angels are not.—Salon.com (June 12, 2000

Read Robert A. Peterson's meditation on "Christ Our Kinsman-Redeemer."

Previous Christianity Today articles on hell include:

'Hell Took a Body, and Discovered God' | One of the oldest and best Easter sermons, now 1,600 years old, is still preached today. (April 24, 2000)

Unless Jesus Says Otherwise, Hell Exists, Asserts Evangelical Report | British group acknowledges differences on Annihilationism, but says doctrine of hell must be preached again. (April 18, 2000)

Is Hell Forever? | Annihilationists anticipate one ultimate destiny for the wicked, an undifferentiated nonexistence. (Oct. 5, 1998)

Can We Be Good Without Hell? | (June 16, 1997)

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October 23 2000, Vol. 44, No. 12