Santa metaphor

[_Called2Serve]

Isn't Santa real?

What better way to teach a kid that some of the things they will learn are simply myths. Kids see that everyone believes something, they believe too and then when old enough or mature enough the parents point out that some things are simply mythical.

No harm, no foul. I don't think to many kids come back angry with their parents for sharing a harmless myth which is used to help them develop skills which they will need in life.

[_Quasimodo]

Isn't Santa real?

No harm, no foul. I don't think to many kids come back angry with their parents for sharing a harmless myth which is used to help them develop skills which they will need in life.

Hi Called,

I don't think it's harmful, either. I just find the idea of promoting a belief that parents know is not true and then taking it back kind of strange.

I'm all for celebrating any holiday (any excuse for a party). I think that the Santa myth might serve as a metaphor for religion in general.

[_Called2Serve]

Isn't Santa real?

No harm, no foul. I don't think to many kids come back angry with their parents for sharing a harmless myth which is used to help them develop skills which they will need in life.

Hi Called,

I don't think it's harmful, either. I just find the idea of promoting a belief that parents know is not true and then taking it back kind of strange.

I'm all for celebrating any holiday (any excuse for a party). I think that the Santa myth might serve as a metaphor for religion in general.

Santa does give gifts and Jesus gives the greatest gift of all, so there is some relationship with the myth and with Jesus. It just would be silly to believe that on Christmas day Jesus comes and delivers that XBox360 to a family.

[_Quasimodo]

Santa does give gifts and Jesus gives the greatest gift of all, so there is some relationship with the myth and with Jesus. It just would be silly to believe that on Christmas day Jesus comes and delivers that XBox360 to a family.

:). Still, more silly than a virgin birth, loaves and fishes, water into wine? All things children are taught and believe even though empirical evidence is to the contrary.

One believes what one is taught as a child by loving parents.

[_Buffalo]

Christmas could be just as much fun for a kid without Santa. That is my untested theory.

I never believed in Santa, and I loved Christmas. Not that I have anything against Santa per se.

[_Quasimodo]

Not that I have anything against Santa per se.

I hope not! Otherwise, it's coal in the stocking for you (oh ye of little faith).

[_Called2Serve]

Santa does give gifts and Jesus gives the greatest gift of all, so there is some relationship with the myth and with Jesus. It just would be silly to believe that on Christmas day Jesus comes and delivers that XBox360 to a family.

:). Still, more silly than a virgin birth, loaves and fishes, water into wine? All things children are taught and believe even though empirical evidence is to the contrary.

One believes what one is taught as a child by loving parents.

Jesus delivering a gaming system sounds silly to me because of what Jesus represents. A virgin birth, loaves and fishes, water into wine does not sound silly to me because of what I believe, difficult to understand but not silly or stupid. Just because I don't understand it, does not mean that it didn't happen.

[_Quasimodo]

Jesus delivering a gaming system sounds silly to me because of what Jesus represents. A virgin birth, loaves and fishes, water into wine does not sound silly to me because of what I believe, difficult to understand but not silly or stupid. Just because I don't understand it, does not mean that it didn't happen.

I don't mean to call anyone's beliefs silly, you understand. I'm just pointing out that a person's beliefs usually come from what they were taught when they were young. Often by parents that were taught in the same way and so on. All by people who feel they are passing along the wisdom of THIER parents.

People need to decide for themselves what is true and what is not. That's why the Santa story appeals to me as a metaphor.

[_Called2Serve]

If I received a dollar for every time I hear my beliefs are silly or stupid, I just might pay an extra 10% in Tithing.

[_Quasimodo]

If I received a dollar for every time I hear my beliefs are silly or stupid, I just might pay an extra 10% in Tithing.

No reflection on your beliefs, Called, but an EXTRA ten percent might boarder on the silly :).