They're letting the kids believe the whole Santa Clause concept. When is it appropriate for someone to be told he doesn't exist? Should I as a soon to be 26-year old next week continue to believe in him? That would make me idolizing another concept of God, would it not? A 5-year-old does not have the same development as a 26-year-old, but if no one tells that 5-year-old the truth the next 21 years, then sure enough he or she will be 26 still believing the same things.
Pastor tells kids waiting in Santa Clause like that Santa isn't real
- Thread starter chootchooot
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So, it would be acceptable for me to think Santa will come down into a chimney that's not on my house? If I have a kid, and I teach him not to believe in Santa.. There's no harm in that. I'm raising him as to I see fit, just like any other parent would. But if my kid one days tells another kid Santa isn't real, who's at fault? You'd have me telling my kid gently the true meaning of Christmas, and you'd have the other parent telling the other kid the child version. Would my kid be at fault for telling the classmate? Is it the other parent at fault for not telling that kid? Would it be my fault for wanting to teach my child about Christ? These situations happen.
The kids don't really believe in Santa whenever they are 6-8 years old. They ain't that dumb and I don't think they will be believing in him for very long anyways. And they know, deep down inside, that he ain't nothing but a fairy tale
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Not the right way to do it
as for those who seem to think it is cruel NOT to teach kids to believe in Santa... that's just weird.
I was never taught to believe in him to begin with, so it wasn't a matter of making me disappointed by telling me he wasn't real (I always knew), ... and I still loved Christmas. ...and I still got an orange from the man dressed as "Santa" at the mall
as for those who seem to think it is cruel NOT to teach kids to believe in Santa... that's just weird.
I was never taught to believe in him to begin with, so it wasn't a matter of making me disappointed by telling me he wasn't real (I always knew), ... and I still loved Christmas. ...and I still got an orange from the man dressed as "Santa" at the mall
I have a root beer flavored beer in my fridge. Was gonna drink it on my birthday, but forgot so gonna drink it on New Years..lol.. My nephew says it tastes just like rootbeer.
By the typos it must have been Budwiser lol!
Naw I dont like getting myself in a mess.. especially if I dont know what to say to calm the parties down lol!
careful with the beer bro, youll get yourself stoned. You wouldnt believe how much controversy came at me for talking bout that.. I ended up being called a Bavarian beer drinking demon LOL not even to mention the rest. (Tho my state isnt even close to Bavaria btw.)
lol!Naw I dont like getting myself in a mess.. especially if I dont know what to say to calm the parties down lol!
careful with the beer bro, youll get yourself stoned. You wouldnt believe how much controversy came at me for talking bout that.. I ended up being called a Bavarian beer drinking demon LOL not even to mention the rest. (Tho my state isnt even close to Bavaria btw.)
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Having a child believe in Santa is completely healthy. It shows that child is using gifts that many people lose as they get older. They dream and know anything is possible, that nothing in the world like a child who dreams uses their creativity to live out their dreams. Many children want to become doctors, lawyers and even the president because they let nothing get in the way of it. Children who grow up without being able to express their dreams or even something simple as believing in Santa grow up doubting themselves and have some serious problems. They grow out of believing in Santa soon enough why should we dictate if and when this happens and when you do it messes up their dreams and creativity and what a kid hears when you say he doesn't exist is that what they do and say is not important. Should we teach the next generation this? I don't want to.....
I think your statement is entirely debatable.
We shouldn't normally lie to our children, but we also shouldn't prevent them from having normal, harmless, childhood fun.
But, how exactly we should go about this precarious balance... that is subject open to a lot of fair debate.
I think the real issue here is what the PASTOR did in the video.
He clearly handled this poorly, regardless of his intentions.
Parent's should be able to raise their own children, and make their own decisions about how to do that.
Personally, I think if a Christian DID have strong convictions that Santa should be "outed" to all the children...
the proper behavior would be to talk to the PARENTS... not their kids.
We shouldn't normally lie to our children, but we also shouldn't prevent them from having normal, harmless, childhood fun.
But, how exactly we should go about this precarious balance... that is subject open to a lot of fair debate.
I think the real issue here is what the PASTOR did in the video.
He clearly handled this poorly, regardless of his intentions.
Parent's should be able to raise their own children, and make their own decisions about how to do that.
Personally, I think if a Christian DID have strong convictions that Santa should be "outed" to all the children...
the proper behavior would be to talk to the PARENTS... not their kids.
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I follow you but Santa isn't the only way to dream or live out some fantasy in life.. if it were true and we stick to just Santa.. please indulge me in how kids from remote parts or underdeveloped countries keep hope alive in their kids? Some do have wonderful testimonials.. none of which say believing in Santa got them thru it
that's not just directed at you .. for anyone who claims life without him damages children.
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That must explain why the Church of Scientology is so wealthy! As you say, wild imaginations yield future go-getters who can become doctors, lawyers, and presidents. There is some truth to what you’re saying though. Many renowned musicians, artists, and writers achieved their work by using substances that induce such creativity in the mind (we call them illegal drugs today). Nevertheless, I would counter that we don’t need lies (if a parent does this) or drugs to help us achieve heights or have creativity.
I’m really curious on what information you base your opinion that children who were not brought up believing in Santa will grow up doubting themselves and have serious problems. I mean, that’s a really incredible claim if you think about it. A child can express his or her own dreams regardless of believing or even pretending to believe in Santa Claus.
That's a great question you asked: Why should we dictate when/if a child believes in Santa when they will eventually grow out of it? Having this same exact conversation of Santa with 3 atheists friends of mine while we were bowling. I was surprised to hear how many of them link their initial distrust in faith (they were all raised Christian) with the lie of Santa Claus. I asked, "So if your parents told you it's all pretend, but that Jesus really was a mortal man who came to earth to atone for our sins so we could make it back to God, would you still be a Christian." One of my friends answered, "No, I think I still would have left even if they told me the truth and that Santa was pretend, but it would give them more credibility. An adult Christian thinks it's ridiculous that a man they have never seen does a bunch of impossible and supernatural acts yet they think we are cynical and stupid because we [atheists] think it's ridiculous that they worship a being they have never seen who did all these supernatural things."
I guess what I came away from that conversation is that it's best to never give our children a reason to doubt us. Even if we think Santa is such a trivial thing, it could have an effect on people that cause them to harden their heart towards Christ. I think that's why telling them the truth about Santa but still pretend he's coming to town is the most well-rounded solution to all this. Children get to utilize their creativity by pretending Santa is coming, but we aren't doing it at the expense of losing credibility/bearing false witness.