Tis the season

[Cal]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

So let's look at this very strange doctrine of Santa Claus, what is the point?

While I understand your point, try to not overstate it.

Santa Claus is not a "doctrine." He's a mythical figure like Superman or Harry Potter. I do think parents can oversell him. My oldest boy believed in Santa well past ten years-old. That made me uncomfortable. His younger brother talked him out of it. I understand the parallels between Santa and God. We teach kids about this invisible, benevolent, powerful person. Then we go "just kidding!"

At the same time, I believed in Santa...then I didn't. I realized it was just a fun story and my gifts came from my mom (especially since the gift tags were in her handwriting). Santa was just some make-believe magic and that didn't bother me. And it certainly did not cause me to think "maybe God doesn't exist either." I understood the difference between Santa and God.

So to cite Santa as an indication that Christmas is evil? That's overdoing it I think. If Santa is the worst thing about Christmas we are doing fine.