My father passed away a few months ago. My 12 year old son took it hard. He has refused to go to religion classes ever since, stating that he doesn't believe in God any more. (God would never let this happen.) After trying numerous times to explain that God exists and that Grandpa went to visit Him and Grandma in heaven, I brouht him to talk to the Parish Priest. I has hoped this would help, but after I brought him home from the meeting, he told me that it had been just a waste of his and my time. Finally, I got him to confide in me what the real 
underlying problem is. "If he had been lied to about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Easter Bunny .. then how could he believe me when I say that God really exists." He says that parents "scam" their kids into acting good by offering then Christmas gifts while playing Santa Claus and now he believes that parents "scam" their kids into acting good by making up God. (He had once hinted last year that he knew Santa didn't exist, so we didn't pursue the topic, we figured he and his friends would just find the truth on their own .. like we did when we were kids ... but after my Dad's death was the first time he came right out to make a statement about lying about Santa and about God.) Has this happened to anyone else and if so, how did you handle the situation about "lying about Santa" while trying to convince him that you aren't lying when it comes to God actually existing?
I had at first told him that he would have to attend religion classes uilhe was 18 years old (while living in our home) and then at that time, he would have enough information and life's experiences to make up his own mind about his beliefs ... but I find it difficult to deal with the "lying accusations" that I was tempted to "shock" him into his beliefs by going to the extreme of "taking God away from him" by not taking him to Church with the family or letting him share in any Christian Holidays or celebrations ... including any church functions ......But now I just don't know what to do. I suppose I could just force him to go to religion and hope he makes his own choices (like I had planned to do) but he thinks I lied and I don't like being called a liar (even though all aprents do when it comes to Santa and the rest of them). Any advise or comfort would be greatly appreciated this morning. Thank you for letting me vent and God Bless.
underlying problem is. "If he had been lied to about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Easter Bunny .. then how could he believe me when I say that God really exists." He says that parents "scam" their kids into acting good by offering then Christmas gifts while playing Santa Claus and now he believes that parents "scam" their kids into acting good by making up God. (He had once hinted last year that he knew Santa didn't exist, so we didn't pursue the topic, we figured he and his friends would just find the truth on their own .. like we did when we were kids ... but after my Dad's death was the first time he came right out to make a statement about lying about Santa and about God.) Has this happened to anyone else and if so, how did you handle the situation about "lying about Santa" while trying to convince him that you aren't lying when it comes to God actually existing? I had at first told him that he would have to attend religion classes uilhe was 18 years old (while living in our home) and then at that time, he would have enough information and life's experiences to make up his own mind about his beliefs ... but I find it difficult to deal with the "lying accusations" that I was tempted to "shock" him into his beliefs by going to the extreme of "taking God away from him" by not taking him to Church with the family or letting him share in any Christian Holidays or celebrations ... including any church functions ......But now I just don't know what to do. I suppose I could just force him to go to religion and hope he makes his own choices (like I had planned to do) but he thinks I lied and I don't like being called a liar (even though all aprents do when it comes to Santa and the rest of them). Any advise or comfort would be greatly appreciated this morning. Thank you for letting me vent and God Bless.
