My Santa Claus Challenge

[AV1611VET]

Should Sunday school teachers teach there is no Santa Claus?

 

[Smidlee]

Sunday school teachers should try to encourage adults they shouldn't push Santa Claus on their children. Treat SC as you would with Mickey Mouse , SpongeBob, Thomas the train ,etc. One reason is so they won't confuse SC with God (like Richard Dawkins) when they get older.

P.S SC has nothing to do with God nor science.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Should Sunday school teachers teach there is no Santa Claus?

Not sure why this is in physical & life science.

As I understand it, religious teachers inculcate their students with the tenets of their religion. I guess there are three options:

The existence of Santa is a tenet of the religion. In which case, I expect his existence would be taught.
The nonexistence of Santa is a tenet of the religion. In which case, I expect they would teach that there is no Santa Claus.
Santa is not really important to the religion. In which case, I really don't know to expect.

As for what I, essentialsaltes, would order if I were king of the religious teachers... I guess I would ignore Santa, but if the children ask about him, they can be gently told that he is 'just a story' -- a symbol to encourage good behavior and the greater fellowship of humankind.

 

[AV1611VET]

Sunday school teachers should try to encourage adults they shouldn't push Santa Claus on their children.

I was referring to the lower classes -- like 1st & 2nd graders.

Specifically bus kids.

Are you suggesting we pay their parents a visit (or call) to encourage them they shouldn't push Santa Claus on their children?

Treat SC as you would with Mickey Mouse , SpongeBob, Thomas the train ,etc.

I respectfully disagree.

Santa Claus is more than a cartoon.

One reason is so they won't confuse SC with God (like Richard Dawkins) when they get older.

I confuse Mr. Dawkins with someone else.

But that's just me.

P.S SC has nothing to do with God nor science.

Have you ever done a side-by-side comparison?

Santa Claus is a perfect example of diabolical mimicry.

Santa Claus: Ho, ho, ho!

Jesus Christ: Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD:

(Note also the reference to "land of the north"?)

 

[AV1611VET]

As for what I, essentialsaltes, would order if I were king of the religious teachers... I guess I would ignore Santa, but if the children ask about him, they can be gently told that he is 'just a story' -- a symbol to encourage good behavior and the greater fellowship of humankind.

I believe in Santa Claus.

But not in the conventional way.

I take the whole of reality into consideration.

And in that vein, Santa Claus is exposed for who he really is.

 

[Smidlee]

I was referring to the lower classes -- like 1st & 2nd graders.

Specifically bus kids.

Are you suggesting we pay their parents a visit (or call) to encourage them they shouldn't push Santa Claus on their children?

)

I guess your church doesn't have an adult Sunday school class.

 

[AV1611VET]

I guess your church doesn't have an adult Sunday school class.

Okay, Smidlee.

If you don't want to answer my challenge, that's fine.

That's why I called it a "challenge."

 

[crjmurray]

Okay, Smidlee.

If you don't want to answer my challenge, that's fine.

That's why I called it a "challenge."

Pleasant as always. Hey where have you been?

 

[AV1611VET]

Pleasant as always. Hey where have you been?

Thanks!

On "administrative leave."

 

[HitchSlap]

Should Sunday school teachers teach there is no Santa Claus?

Of course. It's their job to tell children warm fuzzy fables about nonexistent beings that care for them.

 

[crjmurray]

Thanks!

On "administrative leave."

Only temporary, huh?

 

[AV1611VET]

Of course.

What actually surprised me, was that I asked this very same question on another site and, to my surprise, every secularist [that I can remember] said YES, while most Christians [that I can remember] said NO.

I can't buy an answer on this site.

 

[AV1611VET]

Only temporary, huh?

For now.

 

[morse86]

Sunday school (and school infact) isn't biblical, church is.

 

[AV1611VET]

Sunday school (and school infact) isn't biblical, church is.

We consider it a part of church though.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

[quatona]

Should Sunday school teachers teach there is no Santa Claus?

Sunday School can take a hike.

 

[Kylie]

Should Sunday school teachers teach there is no Santa Claus?

Maybe we should leave that to all the Christmas School teachers.

Should Sunday School teachers teach that there is no solution to a^n+b^n=c^n where a, b, and c are whole numbers and n is greater than two?

 

[Architeuthus]

Should Sunday school teachers teach there is no Santa Claus?

There is no "Santa Claus," but St. Nicholas (of whom Santa Claus is a corruption) was a real, historical person. He's in heaven right now, in fact.

Whether he actually comes down each December to hand out gifts is another story, of course.

 

[Architeuthus]

Should Sunday School teachers teach that there is no solution to a^n+b^n=c^n where a, b, and c are whole numbers and n is greater than two?

Should Sunday School teachers teach that the Axiom of Choice is true?

 

[Ada Lovelace]

We were taught about the historical Saint Nicholas both at school and in my Sunday School classes. I remember reading a children's book about him before I could even read by myself. It was fun learning about Santa Claus throughout the ages and in different countries. We celebrated different cultural traditions. I guess I should ask my parents in the morning about this because it's possible they have memories of me that I don't, but I can't remember ever believing in Santa Claus as the jolly man who climbed down the chimney to deliver toys and rode around the world with Rudolph as real. I saw him the way I did the animated movies about real people, like Anastasia. It didn't make it less magical to me somehow. And we still left out a plate of cookies and milk for the sake of tradition. Or for my parents to snack on as they put everything together, haha.

https://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/home/