Question on Osama and blasphemy

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cemiller

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I have a friend that says it’s ok to celebrate the death of Osama. I disagreed with that, and said we should pray for him, as Jesus prayed for those that persecuted him, and that it’s never good to celebrate in the death of a person, especially those who’s sould could be in real danger. In the course of the descussion she said that, “The fist time he killed in the name of God (Allah) he committed blasphemy, which an unforgivable sin” My question is, exactly what is the unforgivable sin of blasphemy? I know it mentions it in the bible, but I’m not sure what the context is. Is she right about this, and if so, doesn’t that mean that we would be able to say with certainty that he is in Hell, which I believe is a sin it’s self for Judging a persons soul, and I also believe that the Church says can’t be done.
 
You are certainly right to want to pray for Osama bin Laden, we have no way of knowing if a soul is condemned to Hell. Pray for all enemies and those souls in Purgatory.
 
Theses links will give you more on blasphemy:
Recommended Reading on the Unpardonable Sin:
Is there a sin that will not be forgiven even with repentance?
Is there a damnable sin?
Have I committed the Unforgivable Sin?
What happens to me if I die before confessing a mortal sin?

And, an answer posted on here by Peggy Frye, Catholic Answers Apologist, states in part:
“All sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”. Mark 3:29

All sins are forgivable with repentance. The “unforgivable sin” (Matthew 12:31-32) of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a sin committed by one who knowingly and willingly rejects the grace of conversion in this life. If one dies in this self-imposed state of unrepentance, he cannot be saved.

“Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, then, is the sin committed by the person who claims to have a “right” to persist in evil—in any sin at all—and who thus rejects Redemption. One closes oneself up in sin, thus making impossible one’s conversion, and consequently the remission of sins, which one considers not essential or not important for one’s life. This is a state of spiritual ruin, because blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not allow one to escape from one’s self-imposed imprisonment and open oneself to the divine sources of the purification of consciences and of the remission of sins.”
 
Somehow, gloating over the death of an enemy doesn’t seem Christian like. I think that justice had to be done and somebody had to do it but why celebrate it…?! It’s not a perfect world. I think that people look like idiots when they celebrate over this. It’s just the sad end to an even sader situation.

The dicotomy between Muslins, Jews and Christians will never be reconciled unless God himself comes down to earth and forces it. Leave it to us and we will just keep killing each other.
 
People are celebrating because it’s a great victory for the world, not because they’re gloating. It’s not so much his death but what it represents. A great evil in the world has been defeated and good won in the end as it always will. This man wanted to destroy America, our morals and values, our way of life, and our people. He got a shot in on 9/11 but in the end, America held strong and defeated him. I think knowing that he can’t hurt anyone anymore and all the innocent lives that were no doubt saved is a just cause for celebration. Did people not celebrate when Hitler died and his evil came to an end?

Of course no one can say for sure if his soul is in hell but considering all the evil he brought about in the world, well, it’s not good. I don’t believe it’s a sin to simply see the obvious. It’s not judging, it’s just the truth of the matter. He will have to answer to God for his many, many crimes against humanity and the one thing you can count on is that there will be justice.
 
Thanks everyone 🙂 stormchasegirl, this person was pretty specified about celebrating Osama’s death itself. I could agree with you that it’s definitely a victory for America, and a great justice was served, but she was pretty much just happy that he got killed…
 
I can not agree with you stormchasergirl. I am not unhappy that he is gone, nor am I necessarily happy. The death of anyone is not a cause for celebration. The evil’s that this man perpetuated are terrible but we should not judge any person, that is left to God. I also do not see this as any sort of great victory. The threat of terrorism and this man’s organization have not ended. There already is a new leader and Osama was most likely only a figurehead at this point. We are no safer now then we were before and while I agree this man needed to face justice, violence will only beget more violence.
 
Yeah, but…

“He who lives by the sward… dies by the sward”

It says that somewhere in the Bible, doesn’t it…???
 
Yes, you are correct.

“He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.” But this has nothing to do with this issue. The fact that someone chose to live the life they lived, one of violence, is a completely different matter to whether we should feel happiness at someone else’s death, especially when that death is simply symbolic and will most likely not lead to the outcome they hope. Peace can never be obtained through violence, no matter what you may think. It can delay things, but never get rid of them.
 
BRZ said:
Yes, you are correct.

“He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.” But this has nothing to do with this issue. The fact that someone chose to live the life they lived, one of violence, is a completely different matter to whether we should feel happiness at someone else’s death, especially when that death is simply symbolic and will most likely not lead to the outcome they hope. Peace can never be obtained through violence, no matter what you may think. It can delay things, but never get rid of them.
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Exactly. Justice was served. Osama paid for what he did with his own life. While justice is good, it’s not ok to party because someone got shot and killed. I don’t feel bad that he got his due punishment, but neither am I going to go in the streets and dance around because I’m so happy.
 
cemiller said:
Exactly. Justice was served. Osama paid for what he did with his own life. While justice is good, it’s not ok to party because someone got shot and killed. I don’t feel bad that he got his due punishment, but neither am I going to go in the streets and dance around because I’m so happy.
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I’m with you on that.

Sometimes I think that people just want a excuse too party.
 
Maso said:
Yeah, but…

“He who lives by the sward… dies by the sward”

It says that somewhere in the Bible, doesn’t it…???
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Sward…? Nah, just joking. 😃 😉

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
 
It is sometimes necessary that a criminal or terrorist be killed. Church teaching allows for this possibility.

The death of Osama is nothing to celebrate - we must never celebrate an untimely death, no matter how much it may be deserved. However, we may take a somber and grim satisfaction in his death - he will never again be able to undertake a plan to kill innocent people.

Seal Team 6 had a grim duty to perform, and with great personal risk. They did their duty with distinction. We honor their courage and celebrate the fact that none of them died in this highly dangerous mission (in which one helicopter crashed), but we must not celebrate the death of even one criminal.

After 9/11, the world saw how many Muslims celebrated the deaths of innocents. Christians must not even celebrate the deaths of the guilty.

We are not them.
 
When Sadaam Hussein was captured, there was the same type of jubilation and celebration accross the US. When he was executed some time later, while getting wall to wall news coverage, his execution did not launch the same celebratory atmosphere in the US. Americans were given the distiction of reacting first to his capture and then to his death. Since 0BL was captured and killed, Americans were not given this distinction. Since I am an American, I give my fellow Americans the benefit of the doubt that they are celebrating the capture of OBL and the end of his reign as al queda leader. I will not judge those who openly celebrate his death as I have no idea as to the personal losses they may have suffered due to OBL. Its not suprising that much of the celebrations shown on the news were taking place in NYC and DC. Everyone who works in NYC knows someone directly or indirectly who was killed on 9/11. I personally knew 2 and one of those lost his sister as well. We should pray for those who are celebrating OBLs death so that they can move on without whatever bitterness they still carry.
 
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