Kirk Cameron under fire for his take on Hell: Is it heresy?

By Easton Martin | Febraury 9, 2026

Kirk Cameron, the actor and evangelist known for his staunchly conservative Christian stances, recently found himself at the center of a theological firestorm. During a podcast appearance in late 2025, Cameron admitted that he leans toward the view of annihilationism regarding the final fate of the wicked. This admission sparked an immediate backlash from traditionalists who hold firmly to the doctrine of Eternal Conscious Torment.

To understand why this position is controversial yet arguably not heretical, one must examine what annihilationism actually entails, its biblical roots, and where it fits within the broader history of the church.​Annihilationism, often referred to as conditional immortality, is the theological view that human beings are not inherently immortal. Instead, immortality is a gift granted by God only to those who are saved through Jesus Christ. Under this view, those who reject God are eventually destroyed in Hell. They do not suffer forever in a state of conscious torment. Rather, they cease to exist entirely.

This event is often identified as the “second death.” Theologically, this position asserts that when the Bible speaks of eternal punishment, it refers to a punishment that is eternal in consequence, meaning irreversible destruction, rather than eternal in duration, meaning a never-ending conscious experience.​

Proponents of this view, including Cameron, point to specific biblical language to support their perspective. Scripture frequently employs words like “die,” “perish,” “destroy,” “consume,” and “burn up” to describe the fate of the wicked. Jesus warns in Matthew 10:28 to fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Furthermore, the Bible seems to suggest that immortality is not a natural property of the human soul but a specific gift from God. Romans 6:23 states that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:16 adds that God alone possesses immortality. Old Testament prophets often described the wicked as chaff that is burned up or smoke that vanishes, imagery that implies total disintegration rather than a perpetual existence in fire.​

Despite the intense reaction from some sectors of the church, holding to annihilationism does not make Kirk Cameron a heretic. While the view is certainly a minority position, it is generally recognized as a valid evangelical option. Heresy typically refers to a denial of core doctrines such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ, or salvation by grace. The nature of Hell is generally considered a secondary doctrine. Respected theologians such as John Stott and F.F. Bruce have held to forms of annihilationism without being labeled heretics. Church history also demonstrates that while Eternal Conscious Torment became the dominant view, conditional immortality has roots going back to early church fathers like Arnobius and possibly Irenaeus, who spoke of the wicked only existing as long as God wills.​However, the traditional view remains the majority position for significant reasons.

Most theologians agree that an eternal Hell makes the best sense of the full scope of biblical data. The strongest argument for the traditional view is often found in the parallelism of Scripture. In Matthew 25:46, Jesus says the wicked will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. Traditionalists argue that if “eternal” means unending life for the saved, it must logically mean unending punishment for the lost. Additionally, passages in Revelation describe the smoke of their torment rising forever and ever and state that they will have no rest day or night. This language strongly suggests a conscious experience rather than simple non-existence. Many theologians also argue that sin against an infinite God requires an infinite penalty. Since finite creatures cannot pay an infinite debt through intensity of suffering alone, the duration of that suffering must be infinite.

​Ultimately, Kirk Cameron has adopted a view that challenges tradition but seeks to take biblical language about death and destruction literally. While the traditional view of Eternal Conscious Torment remains the standard for most denominations, annihilationism is a biblically defensible position held by faithful Christians throughout history. Cameron may be facing criticism, but he is standing on theological ground that many respected leaders have occupied for centuries.