As I stated before, Hoseah Ballou, one of the founders of American Universalism, argued that everyone is saved. No one ends up in Hell. I like that sentiment, but I had a problem with it violating free will. Basically, I could conceive of a situation in which someone might be "stubborn" enough that they would refuse communion with God even if offered directly by the Almighty Himself. (I'm using anthropomorphic language here; I personally do not envision God as a person standing in front of us holding His hand out.) It seemed to me in that case that free will made universal salvation impossible.
But I've been thinking about this. It is my argument that the "Fall" was inevitable because of free will. If we have choice, then sooner or later it is inevitable that we will choose to "go against God" (whatever that means in our respective faiths). A&E coulda been in the Garden for a millenia without eating from the tree but sooner or later, if there is free will, they would eat. So it would seem highly unfair of God to punish them or us with an eternity of suffering for one moments "disobedience." And indeed, I don't believe that God would do that.
But back to the Universal Salvation thing. If there is free will, then some people will deny God. But they won't deny God forever. If there is choice, sooner or later, those who "hold out" will change their minds, and they will be reconciled with God. I kinda picture God patiently waiting, as long as it takes. (Reminds me of the parable of the shepherd and the lost sheep.) Sooner or later all will be reconciled. It's kinda the flip side of the Fall.