Santa vs. Jesus

[_Imwashingmypirate]

Am I wrong/hypocritical to tell my kids that Jesus (as recognized in the religious world) is a myth, but not do the same for santa?
.
.
.
.

Ummm yeah!!!

We know Santa is a myth, but Jesus may not be.

I personally wouldn't have any children of mine ever believing in Santa. I never did and I was fine. And, concerning Jesus, I'd let them draw their own conclusions.

Pirate.

[_Scottie]

It seems like most people play the Santa game with the full intent that at some point they will divulge the truth about Santa to them, or their children will figure it out. Can the same be said about Jesus? I don't view them as the same type of myth.

This is how I see the difference as well.

Santa is a fun thing. So is the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[_antishock8]

It is hypocritical.

I'm one of those parents that have avoided the Santa Claus myth. I think it's been a mixed bag. I, personally, missed out on the awe and joy of having a mythical Santa bring the kids presents on Christmas Eve. It is fun. It is warm. It is hearthy.

That being said, I think my kids are a bit sharper for having avoided that kind of confusion and deceit. They are now a little more clear thinking when it comes to the claims of adults and other kids. They see how other kids were duped into thinking Santa Claus was real. They making the connection between Santa and religion, because both base their claims in story telling and faith. They see the similarities.

Over all, while I mourned the loss of a tradition I feel good that the kids have a different mindset when it comes to the fantastic. I suppose we'll see how that pans out over the long-run.

[_Jersey Girl]

Santa is a fun thing. So is the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

Of course it's fun. Fantasy is fun and healthy for children. I understand there are folks here who are opposed to "Santa" because they think it's hypocritical. They are placing adult values on childhood fantasy thinking.

If a person is going to rule out Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy then why stop there? Why not rule out fiction? Dramatic play? Why not rule out poetry for it's symbolism? Rule out imaginary thinking entirely? Cancel your trips to Disneyland (the characters that greet your child there aren't real you know), totally boycott McDonalds (and that damn clown!), run for your life from Chuck E. Cheese (well, you should anyway, that place is a mad house made worse by that huge fake rat running around the place).

If parents would invest time learning about their child's development they would see how absurd this all is.

There are a multitude of options a parent might choose at Christmas however, how about do so based on what is true and appropriate for a child's cognitive thinking and not theirs?

Hint: A child isn't an unfinished adult.

[_Scottie]

Great post, Jersey Girl!!

My 4 year old daughter is currently going through an imaginary friend phase. Should I force her to not mention imaginary friends because they aren't real?

[_Jersey Girl]

Great post, Jersey Girl!!

My 4 year old daughter is currently going through an imaginary friend phase. Should I force her to not mention imaginary friends because they aren't real?

NO! But if you do and you don't want to be a hypocrite about it, please for the love of all that matters:

Take away her art supplies.
Take away her dress up clothes.
Take away the Disney Princesses
Ban Dora entirely!
Ariel is out the door! (a talking/singing fish)
Pooh is history. (Bears can't talk!)
Get all those hair doo-dads out of the drawer! We want her to be her authentic self!
No peel off nail polish. It's not real. Pink nails aren't real.

And by all means, no role playing allowed. We don't want her to develop relationship concepts such as the dynamics of friendship, marriage, school. Why should she get to practice such ideas?

[_Danna]

I apologize in advance, but I just HAVE to add this to the thread because I think it's hysterical. Yes, I'm a little warped. Live with it!

http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1299/santy.html

Hell's bells!

Is this a serious article?

Every time a so-called Christian child asks Santa for something, he is praying to Satan. With each request fulfilled, parents are unwittingly making a pact with the Devil. They may as well be writing in blood, "Satan please distract our children from Jesus with all these shiny toys!" But you know what? When your little boys and girls have grown up and no longer believe that Santa is real, they will find out just how real Satan is when he comes to collect their souls in exchange for all those presents! And God will turn a deaf ear to their pathetic wails of desperation. God will say, "You were more interested in that fat demon who was giving you presents than my Son who was giving you salvation, so you can all rot in Hell for all I care."

So talk to your children before it is too late! Tell them that Santa is no kindly old man; he is an evil demon. And next time your family sees some propped up gin-soaked vagrant in a Mall wearing a red suit with white furry cuffs, set a good example and witness for the other deluded people waiting in line. Loudly, rebuke him! Announce to all the children in the store "Not only is Santa a lie, he will ravage you sexually, drink your blood and drag your palpating carcasses down to Hell with him!" It is only through setting a good example that we can put the Christ back in Christmas.

I didn't want our kids believing in Santa, but I was outvoted.

[_Jersey Girl]

Hell's bells!

Is this a serious article?

No, it's a parody website poking fun at fundamentalists Christians...in this case, Baptists.

"The Devil is in your Chimney!"

Laugh, Danna. Laugh.


(You know it's good parody when you think it's real!)

[_Jersey Girl]

One of my favorite parts, though I think the whole article is hysterical:

People think that Halloween is the time of year that Satan dresses up, but this is just flat-out wrong. See? The Devil will always try to fool you! Halloween is when Satan delights in watching humans dress in ways that will ensure them entry into the Devil's realm. But it is Christmas time that the Devil saves for himself! It is then when he puts on his most devious costume! And it takes no Sherlock Holmes to see that the Devil's annual disguise is none other than Santa! He even wears his favorite color -- demon red. Even his last name, "Claus," is Olde English for "hoof-claws." Lucifer may be the wiliest of all the deceitful demons that ever drew breath of fire in Hell, but he was pretty sloppy when he decided to try to spoil our Savior's birthday with this disguise. His big devil ego got the better of him when he decided to name his Christmas Anti-Christ after himself. He just moved around the letters in the name, "Satan," into a sonogram and got "Santa." Well, this is to put Prince of Darkness on notice: We are on to you Satan! And we unmask you and heartily rebuke you! Get thee hence from our Christ's birthday party!