Fictional characters vs Jesus

[Rikki_renee]

So, my daughter is only 7 months old, but I have mixed feelings on whether I want to introduce Santa, etc. I'm nervous that if i tell her about santa, then tell her santa isnt real, then she might questiono whether Jesus is real. i know it has a lot to do with how you raise your children on how the will handle such things....but i'm at a crossroads here, any suggestions?

 

[MessianicMommy]

This was addressed recently in this thread: http://www.christianforums.com/t7632060/

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

I would be honest,Santa's a man at the mall or on TV.He's made up,because some people lie to there kids to make them happy or because it's a tradition.Also would do that with other fictional characters.But don't be surprised if your kid listens, ask to see Santa.It's different if your family tells your child he's real.I would just not say anything,until they ask.

 

[K9_Trainer]

If you don't want to do the whole santa thing, that's up to you, but I think you can play along with the tradition just for fun while still being honest about Santa being fictional. It'll be like playing pretend.

 

[SiyoNqoba]

^I agree. My husband and I don't have biological children yet (we foster), but he has a large and young extended family. They are very good at playing pretend with Santa. It's all a big game, and even the littlest children know that.

 

[appleofhiseye]

We never did the Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc. thing. However, we may have upset some other families, because my children were the ones to disillusion their classmates at school. So lesson learned for us is not to tell, but let others learn from their families, whoops.

 

[JRSut1000]

We wont be doing any of the above either, there's no point in lying to my kids and making a big deal about fictional characters. I'd rather make a big deal about Bible characters than characters that have their roots in varied religious backgrounds (which include paganism). I wont go into the debate, but to keep it simple - we wont be exalting these things but rather things pertaining to truth.

 

[Leggomyegolas]

I do remember, as a child, having a hard time taking Jesus and sunday school seriously after finding out that Santa wasn't real. They do have a lot in common--you never see them, but they know if you've been good or bad, they'll give you good things if you ask, although Jesus is choosier about that last one.

 

[akmom]

I never understood why a parent would want to take away credit for a child's gift and give it to a nonexistent character. Instead of teaching kids to appreciate their gifts and thank the person who gave it to them, we tell them that someone they don't even know magically distributes them en masse. What the heck?

My parents didn't do that, and I don't do it with my kids. What gets me is how every adult on the planet will argue when my kids mention there's no Santa. They insist ruthlessly, looking at me as if they are somehow "helping" me - as if I want my child to believe in Santa, but I'm just not persuasive enough on my own, hahaha!

It's so bad at school that I almost wish I did lie about Santa. Every staff and student is on a mission to defend his existence. I don't get how it's wrong to teach students about Christ - which most teachers truly believe - but it's acceptable to teach students about Santa, which none of them actually believe!

 

[Leggomyegolas]

It's so bad at school that I almost wish I did lie about Santa. Every staff and student is on a mission to defend his existence. I don't get how it's wrong to teach students about Christ - which most teachers truly believe - but it's acceptable to teach students about Santa, which none of them actually believe!

Sums up our public school system pretty well, wouldn't you say?

 

[akmom]

I'm actually pretty happy with the public schools in my area. It's just that stupid Santa thing!

 

[justD]

If you don't want to do the whole santa thing, that's up to you, but I think you can play along with the tradition just for fun while still being honest about Santa being fictional. It'll be like playing pretend.

+1

I don't think it needs to be taken too seriously. You can have a lot of fun with your kids and Santa dn the easter bunny etc., but throughout give little hints that it's just pretend.