No1. There is NO!-that's- NO! everlasting torturous sadistic, satanic hell as is taught and believed by many Christians. This hell is pagan, this concept began in Egypt and carried on to the Catholic Church thence to the majority of believers in the majority of the churches.
No2. Some say that unless a person accepts Christ then it is eternal foul and exceedingly cruel punishment and this from the God of love!! NO-ONE can accept Christ one has to be drawn/dragged by the Father to recognise the Christ of the Bible, the Son of God. Well that's what my Bible says then one lives by the faith of Christ not there own pathetic faith. So if a person does not see Christ then that person has not been drawn or dragged so this person's unbelief is the fault of God the Father, but the Father has a plan to save EVERYONE that has ever lived or will ever live-WELL that's fair isn't. Regards, numbat

I really enjoyed this article, the Osama sign, and the conversation it has generated. I think you missed the opportunity to talk about one of Jesus' favourite topics though- repentance. Yes, the Love of God is extended to every single human being on Earth, whether it is reciprocated or not. And yes, Jesus would love each of us to spend eternity in heaven with God. But while you alluded to God's justice, you didn't quite drag it out. The Bible says the wages of sin is death (which can mean physical death and/or eternal "separation" from God). If we refuse to repent and accept Jesus' free forgiveness, we ourselves will have to pay for all the ways we have fallen short of God's glory. If we repent (acknowledge that what we did was wrong and turn from it) and accept Jesus' free forgiveness, then we will not ourselves have to pay for all the ways we have fallen short of God's glory. This is grace and it is extended to everybody- regardless of race, class, age, sex, etc. However it is NEVER forced and it is not ours unless we take it :).

@ *The Church of the Mystic Christ*
Oz's 1st Independent Church werein we Marry *Gays* & have Female Priests, we say:

"All Who WILL May Come."

& if we may b of assistance in producing an atmosphere conducive with "supping" with our "Living" Lord then that is our privelege.
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They stalked the beautiful young Islamic girl child to her home in Iraq, slaughtered her family, raped her then executed her in cold blood & burnt her body. (ref the writings of "Sir" Robert Fisk as can be tracked through google searchable international forums, a true Knight of the Old Order.)
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The americ_nt militants responsible were "honourabley" discharged with "Personality Disorders," and this is but the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the depravity of the *Cynagogue of Satan*
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As long as the anglo militant alliance holds itself above & beyond "The Law&Justice," the *Freedom Fighters of Islam* will make war upon U - @ least this is my understanding from 1 on 1 conversations with Islamic Priests in Indonesia.
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Osama is not a "terrorist" but rather, he is the natural response of those who Believe in "An Eye for Eye" 2 centuries of abuse & predation by the west. The kill ratio has got to be in excess of 1000:1 & accordingly, I would assume that *Osama et al* consider they have some catch up to do.
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"OH DEAR POPPETS!" ...Adam...

K£vin,

I think it might be fairer to say God was ignoring everyone else.

Coach,

Weeeeell.... I can just feel the love there -- some how I think you might be missing the irony in the situation! Follow my version of God or be dammed forever!

You know? That's not much of sales pitch. It’s the kind of thing that frightens small children.

How do we know your version is the correct one? What about the Buddists? The Muslims (there are about a billion people who would consider you delusional right there) The Protestants? The Hindus. The Roman Catholics? That guy on the corner of Burke and Elizabeth? The list of Gods just rolls on.

Actually we did a straw pole where I work and we kind of like Odin as a God (mind you, he was nearly pipped at the post by the flying Spaghetti monster). Go Odin!! Coming soon (by longship) to a sacking & pillaging near you! As a devout Odin'er I think you will be burning in hell for your non believer in my particular version of the world!

And by the way, Odin does not love Osama either.

If you follow the strict teaching of the bible, then God does indeed love Osama, as he loves all his creations. Someone made the point above that God might love them, but not their deeds. Realise this, that God will not forgive you your deeds unless you repent. This means being sorry, feeling remorse. I may be bold to say so, but I would suggest that a reasonably large proportion of the terrible people that have been listed on earlier posts, DO NOT feel sorry for what they had done. I dare say that Osama does not, and probably will not. Therefore, despite the fact that God loves him, he will not go to heaven. Doesnt mean that God does not love him though. You can love someone one, but not like them, or not condone what they do. You can love them, and hope that they will see the wrong of their ways, but you cant make them. Neither can God.

Well said, Country Gal. You've summed up admirably the position I held when I was a christian.

As the cliche goes, "hate the sin but love the sinner". I think it is probably analogous to parental love, with God being conceived as a father figure. If my children committed crimes, even murder, I would not stop loving them although I would be pained by their actions.

Although my belief in a Heavenly Father expired some time ago, the idea still has a certain attractiveness.