Catholic Word of the Day: ANNIHILATION, 12-06-10

CatholicReference.net ^ | 12-06-10 | Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary

[Salvation]

Featured Term (selected at random):

ANNIHILATION

The act of wiping out the existence of something. According to the Christian faith, as God has freely created the whole universe, he is also free to annihilate any or all of it through withdrawing of his preserving influence and so allow it to relapse into nothingness. However, revelation teaches that, in point of fact, God has no intention of annihilating what he made. Even the material universe, it is believed, will not be put out of existence but will only be drastically changed.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

Wondering if this refers to earthquakes, hailstorms, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, etc.?

Or does it refer to people who deny God? Will those who deny God exists, the saints exist, etc. be annihilated?

[snowrip]

To annihilate liberalism, you would first have to end stupidity, cowardice, and uselessness.

[NordP]

...and self-centeredness ;-)

[NordP]

...wait, there’s more: victim mentality, the ease of becoming a pawn, class warfare, the race card, and .....

[Salvation]

....and...the welfare check each month.
Teach them to fish. Don’t give them a fish.

[Salvation]

Catholic Word of the Day – links will be provided later by another FReeper.

 

Book of Daniel	Josiah	Eternal Life
Naturalism	House of God	Right to Life Movement
Case of Conscience	Dominations	Self-love
The Knights Templars	Clerestory	Hosea
State of Perfection	Tables of the Law	Imprimi Potest
Passive Recollection	Simony	Sinful Joy
Immaculate Conception	Inter Ea	Stole
Disparity of Worship	Apostolicity	Relator
Autocephali	Annihilation

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[Alex Murphy]

Or does it refer to people who deny God? Will those who deny God exists, the saints exist, etc. be annihilated?

I have no doubt that the author was referring to the heretical belief known as "soul annihilation". It teaches that the soul does not survive death, and therefore does not experience Hell (and depending on the teacher, it may not experience Heaven, either). Jehovah's Witnesses are IMO probably the best known adherents of soul annihilation.

Related threads:
Theologian Jim Cronfel Addresses Systematic Annihilationism in His New Book "Eternal Christianity"
Pope says hell and damnation are real and eternal
HELL: Eternal Torment or Complete Annihilation?

[circlecity]

There is also the offbeat doctrine of some denominations called “annihilationism” which holds there is no fiery hell, rather, the reprobate are just annihilated. Like going to sleep and never waking up.

[Salvation]

I almost posted that thread because it was a Catholic Word of the Day previously.

[Salvation]

I think you are talking about “annihilationsim” which is a very strange belief in no hell......so I would construe then......no heaven either.

[the invisib1e hand]

Wondering if this refers to earthquakes, hailstorms, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, etc.? Or does it refer to people who deny God? Will those who deny God exists, the saints exist, etc. be annihilated?

An nihil ate suggests "to make nothing out of something." I don't think natural disasters do anything but obey the law of conservation of energy and matter and, so, they don't turn something into nothing (they only change its form).

And people who deny God wind up in eternal torment -- it would probably be better for them if they were made nothing.