Santa... why do so many Christians lie to their children about Santa?

[2PhiloVoid]

Well, good for you! Saint Nick, who was real, is NOT the same person as Santa.

Exactly! But, the legend of Santa Claus is derived at least partially, if not mainly, from the historical person of "St. Nick," along with an amalgamation of 'other' selected, European motifs. The point being, if there had been no St. Nick, there likely wouldn't be a Santa Claus legend.

As a Christian, I specifically did not teach my son that Santa existed because I did not want my son to experience the same disappointment that I and my sister felt as children, nor to encounter the same negative emotions that tend to get pulled in when kids also begin to wonder about more substantial metaphysical considerations, such as the Existence of God.

So, not all Christians make the mistake of pawning off the legend of Santa to their kids. But, this doesn't mean we can't still celebrate Christmas and even hang Santa ornaments on the tree, or whatnot, as tokens of "St. Nick."

 

[Galatea]

I find it a specious argument to say that believing in Santa Claus as a child may cause a person to become an atheist. Christianity is not that weak.

I am wondering where these hordes of people traumatized by believing in Santa Claus are. I have never personally met anyone traumatized by finding out that Santa was not real, or the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy.

 

[Dkh587]

It baffles me that people condone lying to children...

 

[cre8id]

Thanks for the responses. Please note that I never said that ALL Christians lie to their children about Santa, but a lot do.
I think most parents just want their children to be happy and get caught up in tradition... nothing overtly sinister or anything like that. They just put tradition and "family peace" above the truth.

 

[Kiterius]

Thanks for the responses. Please note that I never said that ALL Christians lie to their children about Santa, but a lot do.
I think most parents just want their children to be happy and get caught up in tradition... nothing overtly sinister or anything like that. They just put tradition and "family peace" above the truth.

Santa is a real guy. I've met him. He was a good friend of my late father's. They used to go fishing every summer. When they were kids they went to separate schools together.

 

[cre8id]

I find it a specious argument to say that believing in Santa Claus as a child may cause a person to become an atheist. Christianity is not that weak.

I am wondering where these hordes of people traumatized by believing in Santa Claus are. I have never personally met anyone traumatized by finding out that Santa was not real, or the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy.

Well, there ARE a LOT of atheists and agnostics out there... and many Christian teens and young adults leave the faith for some reason.... perhaps not what we are discussing here, but for some reason.

I can't answer for others... I could only relate my own personal experience. For some reason I seem to have thought about things a little deeper than most kids and teens.

 

[Galatea]

Well, there ARE a LOT of atheists and agnostics out there... and many Christian teens and young adults leave the faith for some reason.... perhaps not what we are discussing here, but for some reason.

I can't answer for others... I could only relate my own personal experience. For some reason I seem to have thought about things a little deeper than most kids and teens.

So, in your personal experience, you became an atheist because you found out Santa Claus was not real, and therefore God was not real? It's a stretch.

 

[cre8id]

So, in your personal experience, you became an atheist because you found out Santa Claus was not real, and therefore God was not real? It's a stretch.

If you actually read what I wrote, that was only part of the formula for me becoming an atheist.
Why are you sooooo intent on calling me a liar?

 

[Galatea]

If you actually read what I wrote, that was only part of the formula for me becoming an atheist.
Why are you sooooo intent on calling me a liar?

I was not aware I was calling you a liar. I think some people are under the impression that telling children about the existence of mythical characters and creatures will endanger the children's belief in God. I think it is specious, but not that the people who believe the premise are lying. The premise is specious, not the people.

I believed in all sorts of things as a child, magic was real to me. I was so caught up in magic, I tried casting spells and REALLY believed they would work. All of this did not make me question a belief in God. Other things did, but not the nonexistence of magic. I did read your initial post last night, but did not retain memory of your whole journey into atheism or agnosticism. Since the thread is about Santa Claus, I concluded that must be your main sticking point.

 

[CrystalDragon]

Exactly! But, the legend of Santa Claus is derived at least partially, if not mainly, from the historical person of "St. Nick," along with an amalgamation of 'other' selected, European motifs. The point being, if there had been no St. Nick, there likely wouldn't be a Santa Claus legend.

As a Christian, I specifically did not teach my son that Santa existed because I did not want my son to experience the same disappointment that I and my sister felt as children, nor to encounter the same negative emotions that tend to get pulled in when kids also begin to wonder about more substantial metaphysical considerations, such as the Existence of God.

So, not all Christians make the mistake of pawning off the legend of Santa to their kids. But, this doesn't mean we can't still celebrate Christmas and even hang Santa ornaments on the tree, or whatnot, as tokens of "St. Nick."

When I believed in Santa, I just always assumed that Santa Claus was the same person as St. Nicholas, like in Up on the Housetop—"down through the chimney with good Saint Nick." I think I assumed that his name was Saint Nicholas and then he changed his name to Santa Claus later. Which in a way was kind of the case.

And my reaction whenI found out Santa wasn't real: "Oh, okay."

 

[cre8id]

My daughter (age 8) asked me this year if Santa is real, I told her no. I don't think you should lie to your children. She never really asked until now anyways.

I did tell her though, part of what makes a fictional story fun, is imagining it. Thinking about the characters, the setting, what they look like, how they act etc... You see, you can still take part in a fictional story, in fact, doing so is the purpose of fiction I think.

Since my daughter loves reading fiction, she understood right away.

For what it's worth, I liked your response.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I find it a specious argument to say that believing in Santa Claus as a child may cause a person to become an atheist. Christianity is not that weak.

I am wondering where these hordes of people traumatized by believing in Santa Claus are. I have never personally met anyone traumatized by finding out that Santa was not real, or the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy.

On some level, you're right. But, for the average or below average "religious" person, which my sister and I were when we were children, there is little knowledge that Christianity has any kind of apologetic material, let alone any strength. I remember the day my 8 year old sister found out there was no Santa---the next question that fell from her lips after about 60 seconds of severe crying was, "Is there a god?"

On some level, the notions are in people's minds (children's minds, really) where one thing can lead to another, and the outcome will probably be rather on the negative side for belief. Of course, this isn't to say it's automatic. If someone has, say, a PhD apologist as a father or mother, then so much the better. In my case, may family while a child was but one or two steps from ignorance and agnosticism. No Santa could have very well meant, at a low level of ignorance, no god as well.

Just sayin' sister, Galatea!

2PhiloVoid

 

[cre8id]

I was not aware I was calling you a liar. I think some people are under the impression that telling children about the existence of mythical characters and creatures will endanger the children's belief in God. I think it is specious, but not that the people who believe the premise are lying. The premise is specious, not the people.

I believed in all sorts of things as a child, magic was real to me. I was so caught up in magic, I tried casting spells and REALLY believed they would work. All of this did not make me question a belief in God. Other things did, but not the nonexistence of magic. I did read your initial post last night, but did not retain memory of your whole journey into atheism or agnosticism. Since the thread is about Santa Claus, I concluded that must be your main sticking point.

Sorry if I misjudged your intentions, I sincerly apologize.

I used to post on another Chistian forum where the people were not always very civil... I guess I have become slightly suspicious sometimes. Again, sorry.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

When I believed in Santa, I just always assumed that Santa Claus was the same person as St. Nicholas, like in Up on the Housetop—"down through the chimney with good Saint Nick." I think I assumed that his name was Saint Nicholas and then he changed his name to Santa Claus later. Which in a way was kind of the case.

And my reaction whenI found out Santa wasn't real: "Oh, okay."

But, St. Nick was real. And as a kid, I was very ignorant, and I had no idea that Santa Claus had some basis in some ol' saint from the 4th century. I just thought he was a 'magical' guy that all of the grown-ups claimed was going to stuff my stocking on Christmas. Sounded really good at the time!

 

[Galatea]

Sorry if I misjudged your intentions, I sincerly apologize.

I apologize, sincerely. I've been in a grumpy mood and taking it out on your thread.

I see nothing wrong with teaching children to believe in mythical creatures, but I ought not to be so rude. It is not something to fall out about, for certain. Either way doesn't really matter when it comes to Christianity.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Mine are grown now. From the time they were old enough to talk, I told them we play a game at Christmas. We pretend Santa Claus visits on Christmas Eve and leaves presents. Similarly, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy were portrayed as make-believe games. They were old enough and intelligent enough to understand that concept. I never robbed them of the game. They had fun. They wrote letters to Santa, visited him at the mall, told him what they wanted, the whole bit. They simply knew all along that it was a game, and never thought it was real.

"And what did Santa Claus bring you for Christmas?" They'd just smile and answer.

One word of caution I gave them, though. I instructed them never to argue with other children about it, because some parents did tell their children it was real. I don't like that, but it isn't my decision to make for their children.

 

[CrystalDragon]

But, St. Nick was real. And as a kid, I was very ignorant, and I had no idea that Santa Claus had some basis in some ol' saint from the 4th century. I just thought he was a 'magical' guy that all of the grown-ups claimed was going to stuff my stocking on Christmas. Sounded really good at the time!

I know St. Nick was real, and I knew it then. I'm saying that I had assumed back then that St. Nick and Santa were literally as much the same person as you are now vs. 10-year-old you.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I know St. Nick was real, and I knew it then. I'm saying that I had assumed that St. Nick and Santa were as much the same person as you are now vs. 10-year-old you.

Then you had a great epistemological advantage over me at the same age.

 

[CrystalDragon]

Then you had a great epistemological advantage over me at the same age.

What can I say, I read a lot. (still do)

 

[2PhiloVoid]

What can I say, I read a lot. (still do)

That's always a good thing for children. As for my family, the notion that "reading is fundamental" was no notion any of us had. We didn't read. Well............................I take that back. I had a lot of comic books.