Yes. It's not like it's a secret. My sister just teaches our nephew (4) when he sees things like barney, santa, easter bunny, etc the truth about them when he sees them; there's a guy in the barney costume, santa's not real, just a man in a suit, and so on.
__________________ The question: "What would you do if you were totally sold out for Jesus?"
Jesus' answer:
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ... He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."
A spring of hot water can heal, a spring of cold water can refresh, but a pool of lukewarm water causes sickness.
Are you sold out for Jesus, or just a Christian?
yes,olny secondary to Christ. Just teach them that they r not real
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[09:40 AM] Seattle Rain : my smilies bounce faster than your footballs
Ya know you're bored when playing video games, when you start humming the music to the game you're palying.-me i do this most fo teh time
I know of a couple of families that have never introduced Sanata or Easter Bunny, ect. ANd I can really understand their reasoning, they say they didn't want to have their kids believing some figure was real and then when they got of the right age tell them the truth. They didn't want their kids to doubt and question the existence of God. I can see why they would believe that, but I think all those characters are just something fun and innocent to see your kids get all excited when they see them.
__________________ That every longlast dream, led me to where you are. Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars, pointing me on my way into your loving arms. This much I know is true, that God blessed the broken road that lead me straight to you.
"You certainly don't want to go walking through a field of disoriented, agitated and wet honey bees."
-Richard Duplain, vice president of the New Brunswick Beekeepers Association
Voted "no." In thinking about this question, I had to separate Christ and the Santa Claus, Easter Bunny figures and look at what defines each. It seems in our culture the two are so closely used in ads and stores that they are to be naturally thought of as simply "part of the holidays."
Christ is about loving our neighbors. This does not apply merely to the "Jones family" two streets over, but also to people living in other states and countries. If the Earth is God's House, we must all eat out of the same kitchen.
Santa Claus and other figures, (i.e. Cupid) serve the sole purpose of selling and pushing products. Capitalistic corporations have successfully positioned themselves between us and our children.
Never mind the issue of racism concerning Santa Claus. (Ever seen one without white skin?) The deeper issue is where do the products come from? Who makes them? How do we get them so cheap at Target, Walmart, etc.?
The irony I see here is that we justify Santa Claus by stating it is "innocent" fun for children, yet, many children and families are forced into slavery to produce the products used to give to "our" children. (Aren't we ALL God's Children?)
This is not to say if a Christian family teaches their children about Santa Claus they are "bad" Christians. It just seems many people don't have the time to find out where the products come from. They just want to give their children the best possible Christmas they know how. Who wouldn't want happy children? It just seems that as Christians, we have a responsibility to all children, and not just the ones in our traditional families.
This is an issue I am struggling with, and based off the info I currently have, I must vote "no."
A great book to read on this is "Christmas Unwrapped: Consumerism, Christ, and Culture"
Neverstop, you are a very interesting person. Have you heard of Fair Trade? Anyways, I have seen many black Santas and different "cultural" santas. But generally he is white, because he originated as white man.
I think it's not just these Christmas but all products, do you know where the new shoes were made? where the food you're eating came from?, etc. It's good to research all these things, and to be wise in all decisions, and to ask for this wisdom from God. We also need to take care of the earth, and consuming less, and recycling and reusing certainly does help.
But as far as kids knowing these things, I don't think it's really bad, as long as it's like a fable, not reality for them. I've never had a kid, so I don't know, but for my Sparkies, I kinda chose to avoid it because I don't know how their parents raise them, and to rather stick to Christ's birth or his death and resurrection, which is after all the reason we should celebrate .
Neverstop, you are a very interesting person. Have you heard of Fair Trade? Anyways, I have seen many black Santas and different "cultural" santas. But generally he is white, because he originated as white man.
I think it's not just these Christmas but all products, do you know where the new shoes were made? where the food you're eating came from?, etc. It's good to research all these things, and to be wise in all decisions, and to ask for this wisdom from God. We also need to take care of the earth, and consuming less, and recycling and reusing certainly does help.
But as far as kids knowing these things, I don't think it's really bad, as long as it's like a fable, not reality for them. I've never had a kid, so I don't know, but for my Sparkies, I kinda chose to avoid it because I don't know how their parents raise them, and to rather stick to Christ's birth or his death and resurrection, which is after all the reason we should celebrate .
Thanks, and yes I am aware of Fair Trade. They do some awesome things, and what I was saying in no way negates their work and efforts. I was trying to look at the bigger picture in that we could all follow Fair Trade's ethics. A few years ago I was working part time in the billing dept of a hospital and someone brought in a dark skinned baby Jesus. People had a fit and the baby Jesus was replaced with one more "appropriate." Guess they couldn't find a rainbow baby Jesus.
Back to the main topic I don't think it would ultimately matter what skin color Santa would have; I actually believe if there was a strong enough push by consumers, more stores would "adapt" to keep people shopping.
Almost 50% of products are sold at Christmas time. That is a LOT of buying power, and it does not seem Christ is the driving force. So, as a Christian, should I support that? It's tough, and I just am not sure what to do at times.
No, I don't know where all the products I buy come from. When I become aware of something I do my best not to buy those products anymore. Never buy anything from Nike, Eddie Bauer, etc. (It's amazing how hard it is sometimes not to buy Starbucks stuff 'cause the coffee does taste good! )
I have prayed about these issues, and so far have been led to buy as much stuff (that I need and actually use) from family owned businesses. There are quite a few where I live, and somehow, it just feels better giving that money to people I can actually talk with.
As far as kids knowing these things, that can be a little tricky to explain where I am coming from, but I will do my best. Of course most children cannot comprehend economics, but we as adults can. If we grow up, and learn a sham is happening, but do little to change it, we are passing that sham on and thereby share in responsibility. I don't think I could teach Santa in secondary terms to Christ because (IMO) they seem to contradict each other. Not necessarily in principle, but in real time effects.
I wonder if the whole Santa thing is just as much for adults as it is for the children? Meaning, don't parents feel awesome when they see their children all excited and happy?
Although I fail horribly, I try to celebrate Christmas/Easter every day of the year because if it weren't for those things, I wouldn't be here at all.
oh man, I keep saying Starbucks and Walmart are monsters!! eating up America I hate coffee, so I don't mind, but if you like good coffee, try local places if you find where they are getting the coffee from. Yeah I'm a science freak, but of course Jesus is first. And I'm not liberal! It bugs me when people say that all environmental scientists/scientists are liberal atheists, and hug trees and kill babies (well, that's what my bro. says, grrrrrr.). Tooo many stereotypes!!!! aaaah
C'est vrai. If it weren't for Christ none of us would be here. I like little kids to be happy, but I don't like lying. They will have teachers and friends that tell them that, so it's kind of hard to avoid, and how do you tell a kid, "Honey, I'm sorry but your teacher isn't telling the truth." It is hard, but I think if I had kids I'd either a-move to a deserted island or b-tell them that it's a story that isn't true, like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty or Pinnochio, and that the real thing that is true and important is Jesus.
I didn't know that Eddie Bauer was like that but, I guess. And don't buy SUVs!!!! (my uncle teaches environmental science and chemistry or something like that, he specializes in air pollution I think, but his family has an SUV. kinda ironic, but they at least carpool with it) OUr culture is a greedy culture, and I like stuff too, I mean nice clothes, good meals, but you know where do you draw the line with gree, with wealth becoming more important than Christ and more important than other people. ANyways, nice talking with you Neverstop. You have a lot of good things to say.
Yeah I am white, but I don't really care what color Santa is or what color people are. yeah rainbow Santa. Tellietubbies and Santa Clause merge and form the Rainbow Santa. It is kinda weird for me to go to the Bay Area with many different races, because where I live is mainly white and hispanic. But I do not like affirmative action. I know those kinda things are supposed to help minorities attain their goals, but it hurts white people so much, and especially white males. You see Hispanic and African American scholarships everywhere. But where is a white/caucasian scholarship? If they have one, they will probably be sued for discriminating. Ay.
Last edited by rubberduckie; 22nd November 2004 at 02:38 AM.
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I hate coffee, so I don't mind, but if you like good coffee, try local places if you find where they are getting the coffee from. Yeah I'm a science freak, but of course Jesus is first. And I'm not liberal! It bugs me when people say that all environmental scientists/scientists are liberal atheists, and hug trees and kill babies (well, that's what my bro. says, grrrrrr.). Tooo many stereotypes!!!! aaaah
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