Jesus is better than Santa

[Matthitjah]

Jesus is ultimately better because He is real and alive.

Santa isn't real?????????

[EricH]

Jesus is ultimately better because He is real and alive.

Santa isn't real?????????

Ho Ho Ho

[jsca777]

Jesus needs to be the focus of Christmas instead of Santa Claus, who is a man-made god-like character. I once observed a conversation between several co-workers who were angry at their pastor because they felt he was "Spoiling the fun of Christmas" by speaking against raising kids to believe in Santa. There are people in my high school graduation class who still sincerely believe in Santa Claus.

The pastor was defeintely doing the right thing. Telling kids to believe in Santa, the easter bunny or the tooth fairy is decieving them. We serve a God of truth. There is no deception in Christ. When you lie to kids, you don't do them any good. It is not spoiling nothing for them to tell them the truth that ther eis no such thin as some guy in a red suit who lives at the north pole. No-one can repesct someone who lies to them.

[vern w]

Jesus needs to be the focus of Christmas instead of Santa Claus, who is a man-made god-like character. I once observed a conversation between several co-workers who were angry at their pastor because they felt he was "Spoiling the fun of Christmas" by speaking against raising kids to believe in Santa. There are people in my high school graduation class who still sincerely believe in Santa Claus.

The pastor was defeintely doing the right thing. Telling kids to believe in Santa, the easter bunny or the tooth fairy is decieving them. We serve a God of truth. There is no deception in Christ. When you lie to kids, you don't do them any good. It is not spoiling nothing for them to tell them the truth that ther eis no such thin as some guy in a red suit who lives at the north pole. No-one can repesct someone who lies to them.

I had a bunch of sleigh bells wired together and hung in the rafters above the kids rooms that had a string that came down into a closet at the end of the hallway where mommy and I, daddy, could watch and listen on Christmas eve.

We taught our children to question their own senses with those sleigh bells -

We taught our children to question what christmas was really about, always steering them back to Christ in spite of worldly distractions -

We taught our children they could tell us anything they thought or percieved with those sleigh bells up in the rafters on Christmas eve and we taught them that they could trust God with those things too -

We taught the older ones each in turn how to bring the joy of belief if for only a moment into the ears and eyes and heart of their younger siblings as each took turn pulling on the string to ring those sleigh bells over the years, and we taught them how to teach that belief is more real than what one hears or sees and that belief in God sometimes requires not hearing and not seeing -

Those kids rooms are gone from us now as are the rafters but we all remember the sleigh bells and the lessons and I think they ring true in some ways still in the living houses of God that God is growing our children into, and their children into, and their grandparents into.

[artsylady]

I changed my mind on the Santa issue 2 years ago after having heard a call-in radio talk show. I used to believe (and even debate here!) that belief in Santa was harmless etc.

The show ran the day before Christmas. The premise of the radio show (secular) was to have people call in to talk about how they kept the belief in Santa going in order to keep their kids believing in Santa. Many were calling in to say things like putting footprints of reindeer on the lawn and that kind of thing.

The show was supposed to be lighthearted and fun and it was, for the most part. However, there were a few callers, from unbelievers I assume, that got me wondering how harmless this belief is. One was the sister of a guy, now in his 30's who had very young children and was debating whether or not to pass down the belief because he had been very traumatized when he realized Santa didn't exist. Another woman called in to say that she too was very hurt and upset to find out santa was not real. She sounded kind of strange, kind of hollow or something and went on to say that she did go on to teach her daughter about santa. ?? Another parent who called in wondering whether or not she should tell her son that santa did not exist because he was in 8th grade and would be entering high school the following year!!!! She figured she would have to come right out and tell her son because he was not falling for any of her hints.

I actually ended up calling in, after few calls like this to tell the host my surprise about kids being traumatized and asking whether or not there were any psychological studies of the sort. The host had no idea. I told her that because of the callers I was wondering if this teaching may in fact be harmful to some kids and went on to say that in my many debates with atheists, they always in the end start comparing the belief in God to a belief in Santa. She said "no way, really"? And I said 'Yes, always!!! It's a guarantee!"

So, in my own situation I don't think I was traumatized when I found out santa didn't exist, i do remember being very disappointed. I remember the exact moment when I asked my mother and she told me the truth. I think most people WILL remember the moment they learned santa didn't exist, signifying it as an fairly major life moment.

In conclusion, I guess I just have to ask, why lie to kids to see joy on their face when eventually they will learn the truth and be let down - in one form or another. ??

I think in particular of a former foster child I had, now 8, who had no real dad figure and loves Santa with everything in him. He is a very sensitive child and his mom (who also is fairly absent) and grandma continue to foster the belief in santa, but I fear for the day when this particular child learns the truth.

[vern w]

You are right about mis-handling the topic.

My eldest was most traumatized when we finally convinced her that dinosaurs were extinct.

[georgedrw81]

In some countries they have substituted the name santa with the name Baby Jesus.

[Deepblue]

Jesus is ultimately better because He is real and alive.

Santa isn't real?????????

Ho Ho Ho

I had an itching suspicion you were Santa. I was good this year, I promise.

[Joshua-777]

[traveller]

Years ago I thought it okay to play along with the Santa idea. I don't anymore.

The reason is because Santa is so different from most childhood fantasies. Santa is one upon whom the children base their dreams, their hopes. Christmas has been made to be a time of year for reflections, and stories of miracles, and times of change for the good. It is a time that parents build up for the children, to bring joy and excitement. All this wonderment, this magical time, this surreal environment is revolving around a fictional character that does no wrong, fulfills dreams, is a user of great magic, and completly loves children. Certainly I'm not speaking of the many families of believers who place Christ first and foremost in their childrens lives. But children are subjected to books, movies, songs, plays, downtown Santas and traditional stories from their very first Christmas. All this is to give them one night and one day filled with anticipation and joy.

Of course the children learn to expect certain things from Santa, and to place faith in his appearance, and to hope. Once they learn the truth, that it was a fabrication of commercialism, where even the parents participated, their childlike hopes, trust and dreams are crushed. I wonder if a blow like this can condition their developing brains to guard against such future hurt and instill even a slight degree of skepticism for future hopes and dreams and faith building fertile ground?

Childlike faith is a powerful thing. It should be nurtured in the truth and not tarnished with fabrications that can cause even an ounce of unbelief.

My opinion.