Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

Does Jesus Love Osama?
Friday, February 2, 2007

The AP: A sign saying "Jesus Loves Osama" outside some churches in Australia drew criticism from the prime minister and religious leaders on Thursday, though they conceded it was probably true according to Christian beliefs.

One sign outside the Central Baptist Church in downtown Sydney also had a smaller footnote saying "Jesus said: `Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."' Several other churches in the city had similar signs urging prayers for Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda terrorist leader, according to local media.

A photograph of the sign was published in The Daily Telegraph newspaper on Thursday, prompting debate about whether it was a suitable message.

Prime Minister John Howard said something else would have been better.

Labels: Christianity

Posted by B Feiler at 8:44 AM
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1 Comments:

John Stoner said...: If the critics of the "Jesus Loves Osama" signs actually did concede that this is probably true according to Christian beliefs, that's the clincher. End of argument, right? Or, don't Christian beliefs really matter to Christians?
Well, some of us have been noticing that for some centuries, what was central for Jesus has been marginalized at best and anathematized at worst by Christendom--I speak of his teaching, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." It really is time for Christians to embrace what Jesus embraced, or quite dragging his name around in their violence and hate compromised wake. When Jesus said he came not to bring peace but a sword, he meant that his teachigs were going to present truths which pierce the soul and divide those who accept his truths from those who do not. That's a division which can always be crossed in either direction, but it is a very meaningful division.; February 4, 2007 9:53:00 PM EST