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Originally Posted by Igzy
You'd have to be quite the cynic to think that, in my opinion.
Remember, God looks on the heart. What do people in the Bible use witchcraft for? Selfish scheming, treachery, circumventing God.
Santa Claus represents selfless giving. If there is one central characteristic of God, it's that. "For God so loved he gave..."
Fantastic powers don't constitute "witchcraft." Otherwise you have to indict Superman, Captain Marvel, Paul Bunyan and Tinkerbell. Every fictional superhuman hero ever becomes a "witch" under that view. Do you really want to go there?
Don't we have better things to do?
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Every since I studied marketing I guess I have become quite a cynic.
Urgency and Scarcity are two key psychological motivators. Christmas actually gives you a bonus third motivator. Have you noticed that every year there is a toy "hot item" that is sold out and hard to get? That is not accidental, that is planned. They know that kids ask Santa for certain toys. So what happens if the toy the kid wants is sold out? No toys on Christmas?! God forbid, that would be equivalent to saying your child was naughty. Nope, you will buy them two toys to make up for your failure to get the kid the toy they asked for. But then, in two months you'll be back to buy that toy as well, because you promised it to the kid. This is why the advertising for Christmas begins so early, way before it is necessary. It is designed to make you feel irresponsible and guilty when you show up and they say "oh, that was sold out two weeks ago". What could be better, a customer that has to buy, has a deadline to buy, and now feels guilty.
Santa Claus is a brilliant marketing strategy worthy of Woolworth, Macy's, Jezebel, etc. Seducing the servants of the Lord to eat things sacrificed to idols.
What is the difference between a Catholic idolatrous parade where they carry the virgin Mary or some other idol through the streets and the Macy's day parade?