Is Santa Claus a fraud?

[Cristo Rei]

I just voted, even though I answered with a comparison in my earlier post. I think , for me ,it was more about what it real and what is not real. There was a real St Nicholas, but Santa and all that is conveyed is not real.
I have never really gelled with Santa, but my wonderful memories of Christmas are of family, warmth, provision of wonderful treats that we didn’t get the rest of the year ( so we appreciated it all so much more )
Snow ( well we often had a white Christmas , the weather has changed somewhat since ) we were warm with people we loved )
However Santa is a made up person, but then the world is made up of so many fantasy things these days.
I did think your list of comparisons earlier was really interesting and thought provoking.
When the thread was started I did think to myself ‘ are we really debating if Santa is a fraud, he is not real, so of course he is ……..

Hi. It ended up being an unintended trick question. The way i worded it should mean that you either think his real or think his a fraud.
So iv been having a bit of a laugh telling people that they still believe Santa is real
But it wasn't what i was really trying to ask and has caused some confusion...
Perhaps the question should of been "Should Christians play along with the Santa tradition". I think thats how many people took it
Anyway, thanks for sharing

 

[TLHKAJ]

I believe that people use Santa as an excuse to not believe in God.
But I do not believe that finding out that Santa is not a real person causes a person to then conclude that God is not a real God. For God himself sends his testimony out to the whole world, convicting and convincing all that the gospel is real.

Regardless, God in His Word instructs parents to bring up a child in the way he should go. He also says we shouldn't lie and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire. So why persist in feeding children lies?? Do you (or other parents) tell your children not to lie? What's the difference if they lie to you if you've purposefully told them lies? I'm just trying to find the logic in this. It seems hypocritical and inconsistent.

 

[Cristo Rei]

Regardless, God in His Word instructs parents in the way he should go. He also says we shouldn't lie and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire. So why persist in feeding children lies?? Do you (or other parents) tell your children not to lie? What's the difference if they lie to you if you've purposefully told them lies? I'm just trying to find the logic in this. It seems hypocritical and inconsistent.

Yep there is this whole line of argument that is strong... Lying... Do as i say, not as i do... It is hypocritical indeed

And what does Christ say about people who lead children astray...

 

[TLHKAJ]

Yep there is this whole line of argument that is strong... Lying... Do as i say, not as i do... It is hypocritical indeed

And what does Christ say about people who lead children astray...

Yes, exactly. That "millstone" verse came to my mind as well. God is very serious about the value placed on children/childhood.
I went back and edited my post bc I totally left out part of what I was trying to say ......rough day, and I should be sleeping.

 

[ScottA]

To the people that think no one walks away from God because of Santa
@ScottA @Ferris Bueller @Ezra
Take a look at a discussion that is happening now on an atheist thread titled "God, santa and the tooth fairy"

God, Santa, and The Tooth Fairy

I was an atheist on this forum... I know these guys... They always compare God to things like Santa, easter bunny, unicorns, tooth fairies, Pegasus, ghosts, big foot and other such mythical concepts

The fact is that Santa does turn some kids away from God.
Im not saying all kids and i don't know how many. I just know that some do

You seriously believe that people actually hate God because they blame an imaginary, jolly, gift-giving Father from above? It's just an excuse. You uncovered a lie alright--and that's it. There's your lie right there!

Or are you just looking back at the darkness? Just here trolling? Do you not know that God hates those who hate Him, and cannot be deceived, but loves little children, and knows the hearts of all men? You are playing with fire..


PS, that's some [telling] signature you got:

If you can't see society being programmed, then you have been perfectly programmed
No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude
It is easier to fool a man than to convince him he is being fooled
The further people stray from the truth the more they will hate those who speak it​

 

[Rita]

Regardless, God in His Word instructs parents to bring up a child in the way he should go. He also says we shouldn't lie and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire. So why persist in feeding children lies?? Do you (or other parents) tell your children not to lie? What's the difference if they lie to you if you've purposefully told them lies? I'm just trying to find the logic in this. It seems hypocritical and inconsistent.

I kind of fell into two camps because I had young children already when I came to faith, so I had already ‘played along ‘ with the whole Santa thing, then I was caught in between two worlds with my two children. I eventually had four children, but handled things differently with the younger two. However I also had a non believing husband which kind of added a whole mix into the equation….
However another debate could be about the tree …..but that is perhaps for another thread !! Lol

 

[Rita]

@Cristo Rei , it won’t let me quote your post but I actually want to thank you for starting this thread. I always endeavour to get my head around Christmas, pre Christian times and memories and post Christian times. Somehow many of the responses have added into the mix of my reflections and prayers about it this year.
Something clicked into place this morning, a prospective I had missed. ( too personal to explain ) and I am still adapting to this other prospective. However it’s really helped focussed in a new way.
So the Lord has used it in my journey, thank you x

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Here's the thing. Once little children grow up and discover that Santa is pure fantasy, will they not say to themselves "Our parents lied to us"? Which means that it would then be difficult for Christian parents (at least) to talk about the truth of the birth of Christ and what it really means. We never gave our children any notion that Santa was real or that he would bring them presents.

No.
I didn't.
I understood they went along with the tradition in the interest of us kids.
It was fun and I know they did it out of love for us kids.
Kids who don't feel loved by their parents are the ones that are going to resent them giving them gifts at Christmas.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Then the next question is, “What else did they lie to us about?”

A kid who doesn't like his parents and doesn't trust them is going to be the one who says that.
I eventually could tell that the whole Santa thing was just my mom and dad buying stuff and putting it out under the tree. The love they showed us far, far exceeded any possible thought that they hated us and just wanted to lie to us. I can't even believe kids would turn on their parents that way.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

They don't understand that people have different experiences and won't dare consider the fact that Santa helped in turning some kids away from God and will do so even more in the future

If you understood that God shows all people the gospel really is true you wouldn't be making this argument.
When someone rejects the gospel they know it's real and if they reject it they reject it because they want to, not because they don't know if it's really true or not, like Santa and the Easter Bunny. That may be an excuse they use, but they know the gospel is true and they reject it in favor of whatever sin or sins they prefer to live in.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Regardless, God in His Word instructs parents to bring up a child in the way he should go. He also says we shouldn't lie and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire. So why persist in feeding children lies?? Do you (or other parents) tell your children not to lie? What's the difference if they lie to you if you've purposefully told them lies? I'm just trying to find the logic in this. It seems hypocritical and inconsistent.

It's just playful 'lying'.
My mom and dad never actually told me about Santa. It's just what they did. They gave us presents under the tree every year and we thought it was Santa bringing them (although even very young kids with half a brain know the story is suspect, lol). It was playful fun and we knew it. But I get it why a person would turn on their parents if there's other baggage in the family to deal with. I understand that.

My wife comes from a terrible, godless family and it's no surprise that she considers the whole thing as her parents lying to her. The Santa 'lie' didn't do that. Her relationship with her parents did that! And besides, as I'm showing, this can't have any bearing on whether or not a person accepts the story of Jesus because God himself shows everybody he calls that the story is for real. There is no, "I wonder if the story of Jesus is fake, too, like Santa and the Easter Bunny?"

 

[Ferris Bueller]

I understand how if a person's parents never had playful fun with them that they would resent them perpetrating a lie about Santa wiggling down the chimney and giving them presents every year. My mom and dad were always playful with us, and we got it. We knew it was playful fun.

 

[amigo de christo]

Regardless, God in His Word instructs parents to bring up a child in the way he should go. He also says we shouldn't lie and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire. So why persist in feeding children lies?? Do you (or other parents) tell your children not to lie? What's the difference if they lie to you if you've purposefully told them lies? I'm just trying to find the logic in this. It seems hypocritical and inconsistent.

We ought never to heed fables . Fables like santa , easter bunny , tooth fairy and scores of other things .
Satan never comes out to make evil appear is though its really evil . He is real good and making it seem harmless , fun and etc .
Think about all the harry potter movies . We all know God hates witchcraft . Yet satan tones it down and makes it seem
cute and harmless . Some would be suprised at how many kids were actually influenced to delve into the dark arts
after growing up on shows like that . And just cause every child dont , dont mean its okay to let them watch that stuff either .
We must get far more serious on things that GOD has called evil . AS i know my dear sister already KNOWS THIS .
We should love the things of GOD and abstain from ALL appearance of evil .

 

[Ferris Bueller]

treats that we didn’t get the rest of the year ( so we appreciated it all so much more )

Yep. Green olives, black olives, sweet pickles, cottage cheese, and, (don't tell anyone, lol) a little watered down cup of Port wine.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Satan never comes out to make evil appear is though its really evil . He is real good and making it seem harmless , fun and etc .

I agree, but in the case of Santa, that really is harmless fun.
What evil does Santa lead people into?
I've already addressed the issue of Santa making it so people don't believe in Jesus (that's a falsehood), so what evil is it that growing up with the Santa myth leads a person into?

Christmas, and the birth of Christ, was never a part of God's festival seasons, so the argument can't be made that it steals the show from God. God was never in Christmas for that to be an issue. It's an entirely man made holiday. And that's what it is to me to this day. People should stop straining to get God out their Christmas celebration (I feel sorry for pastors who have to strain for sermons at this time of year.) God was never in it. Just enjoy it for what it is.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

What you call an excuse is actually their valid explanations and testimonies.

Ultimately, that's impossible because God shows everyone he calls that the gospel really is true. Ultimately, the gospel gets rejected by people from a position of knowing that it's true (because God showed them its true), and so none are with excuse. Santa and the Easter Bunny are just convenient excuses for people to reject Christ and choose to dwell in their sin instead.

 

[Cristo Rei]

You seriously believe that people actually hate God because they blame an imaginary, jolly, gift-giving Father from above? It's just an excuse. You uncovered a lie alright--and that's it. There's your lie right there!

Or are you just looking back at the darkness? Just here trolling? Do you not know that God hates those who hate Him, and cannot be deceived, but loves little children, and knows the hearts of all men? You are playing with fire..


PS, that's some [telling] signature you got:

If you can't see society being programmed, then you have been perfectly programmed
No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude
It is easier to fool a man than to convince him he is being fooled
The further people stray from the truth the more they will hate those who speak it​

Did you even look at the link... Nooo... Yet you resorted to slander and lies
I said some kids are drawn away from God because they were tricked by Santa and your delusional if you think that isn't true cos i just presented a whole forum full of them talking about it. U just have your head in the sand

 

[Cristo Rei]

@Cristo Rei , it won’t let me quote your post but I actually want to thank you for starting this thread. I always endeavour to get my head around Christmas, pre Christian times and memories and post Christian times. Somehow many of the responses have added into the mix of my reflections and prayers about it this year.
Something clicked into place this morning, a prospective I had missed. ( too personal to explain ) and I am still adapting to this other prospective. However it’s really helped focussed in a new way.
So the Lord has used it in my journey, thank you x

Ye but other stupid idiots calling me liar, grinch and such is getting to my nerves... Bloody morons... I get banned for less than that so im over this stupid thread full of people worshiping stupid false idols and slandering me for staying with God... Screw them... Stupid bloody numpties lying to their kids and trying to call me a liar but what did i lie about... The dumb idiot couldn't even convey that...

Fact - People who promote Santa, bring false idols to children and lie to them

And no delusional ungodly liar can change that fact. Over it. Back to bed

 

[Cristo Rei]

@Ferris Bueller @ScottA

You lie to children, deliver false idols to them and slander others that stay true to God. You are evil to the core

 

[charity]

Ive been itching to get this off my hairy chest. Now its time

Santa Claus a fraud

I don't like Santa Claus at all... His like a false idol in my book.

The 25th of December is the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus... Santa Claus is nothing but a distraction. Taking the glory away from Christ

And why do we lie to kids about Santa... We teach them not to lie than we lie to them... Such hypocrites. Doesn't set a good example... Why do we need Santa claus, why not teach the kids to give gifs instead of expecting something from this false idol

Santa clause is a fraud... Invented by Coke to promote their product i believe. Maybe someone else can give us a bit more of a history lesson on him, the false idol

From very young i thought Santa was a fool... One Christmas morning i woke up to find a new bicycle under the tree... But it was a girls bike. I was sceptical from that day on

I wonder how Christians used to celebrate Christmas, pre Santa... Most likely by focusing more on Christ. We should go back to that i think

So then, what do you think... Is Santa a fraud?

Hello @Cristo Rei,

I can appreciate your feelings regarding this horrible lie.

Thank you for expressing it.

Chris