Annihilationism, Nirvana and Atheism.

[KingsGambit]

Annihilationism isn't just a nice passing into nothingness. Annihilationists generally hold that it is a painful process, probably with literal fire and burning, and that people suffer in proportion to what their deeds were on Earth.

[Kelp(p)]

I'm not sure any Buddhist would say Nirvana is exactly like complete annihilation. It's a lot more subtle than that.

And no, I don't think any of the damned would be getting what they want under annihlationism. Most atheists I've seen would be happy if there was an afterlife, so they'll go out very disappointed or kicking themselves that they didn't believe. I tend to think that those of the, "If there was a god, I'd spit in his eye," variety will also come to realize the reasons why God is just and good. They'd go out sad, too.

[37818]

If the lost are ultimately annihilated then one view of the Buddhist's Nirvana will be for the Buddhist, and the view of the Atheist will be ultimately true, where there being a God not believed as a reality didn't change anything expected. After annihilation, one isn't going to know anything. Nothing at all.