Is it wrong to lie to our children about Santa?

Question

I think it is wrong to give false hope to our kids. Even the Bible says that lying is wrong, so why do people lie to their kids about St. Nick?

What would you do to your minister after you spend your life abiding by all of these rules because he promised to get you into heaven, then you die and ther is none?

That is how a child feels when they find out; betrayed, lost, they loose faith in their own parents and community.

We really need to stop this. What do you think?

Answer 1

I think you had a rough childhood.

Answer 2

Kids will believe in things even if you don't tell them anything. They learn things from stories, friends, or other sources. If your child comes home and believes in fairies do you ruin that fantasy? Even if you do they may still not believe you. I think a childs imagination is a wonderful thing. I think it can be an important building block as far as creativity is concerned. There is so much time for truths why waste such an innocent time of real imagination?
In other words, no there is nothing wrong with Santa, The Easter Bunny, The Toothfairy, and whatever else. I'd rather have been given these lies then to have been with out them. Because some of the most exciting times in my childhood life was with these imaginary beings

Answer 3

The Bible states that we should "always" speak truth, and I think that's especially important when dealing with our children.

I think that parents do their children tremendous disservice when the confuse the truth of God's word with the fairy tales associated with Christmas and other holidays. Essentially, they have the effect of turning God into a cartoon character: When children realize there really is no Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Easter Rabbit, etc., their faith in God also takes a hit. After all, you're talking about an invisible Being who is all-powerful and who performs miracles, and it's difficult for children to make a distinction when they're all lumped together. Add in the theory of evolution, and it is tremendously confusing to children.

The fact is that the traditions surrounding these holidays have their origins in pagan, anti-Christian, teachings, and were incorpoated by the Roman Catholic Church and empire, as it assimilated pagan populations for the purpose of expanding its power base so that they could coexist without politically divisive conflict. These traditions were continued by many of the "Protestant" churches who broke from the Catholic Church. However, they were rejected by many others who stuck more closely to the Bible and to the practices of the early Christians. It's only been fairly recently that these "holidays" have been widely celebrated among professed Christians.

If the fact that something is "fun" is the ultimate determinant of whether it should be acceptable to a Christian, then adultery, drug abuse, drunkenness, and gluttony should all be equally condoned. Sadly, it appears that they have been - especially in connection with these "holidays" which are, in fact, anything but "holy", from a scriptural standpoint.

You can have fun with your children and give them presents and socialize with family, etc, etc., WITHOUT lying to your children. It's okay for children (and parents) to use their imaginations, so long as they know the difference between what's true and what's imaginary. When someone is out of touch with reality, they are "psychotic". Why would a loving parent want to induce a psychotic state in their child, and in the process undermine belief in something REAL that can guide and protect them through all of life's most difficult challenges.

It's no wonder that children AND their parents are confused as to the biggest issues in life: Why are we here? Why does God allow wickedness? What happens when we die? Is there a real hope for the future? The answers to ALL of these questions are in the Bible. Faith in its trustworthiness has been undermined by effectively turning it, in the minds of many, into nothing more than a book of fantasy and fables.

No, Virginia, there is NO Santa Clause, but there IS a GOD, and knowing the truth about HIM is a thousand times more interesting and exciting and beneficial - and even "fun" - than all of the silly fantasies and traditions men can conjure up.

Answer 4

Let me ask you this, do you let your children play with toys, read them fairy tales, let them watch cartoons with talking animals.
Has the "tooth fairy" ever left them money for their tooth? I bet you have. Did your child get upset when they learned that a duck can't talk, that Barney is a person in a dinasour suit. Were they betrayed because of that. No!!!! No child I know felt betrayed, lost or lost faith in their parents and community when they found out there is no Santa. Did you feel that way? I have heard children tell adults " shush Jim doesn't know santa isn't real"
with a smile on their face. It's a tradition that goes on in every country of the world. It has gone on for many many years. I don't think that a childs short lived belief in santa in any way takes away from the hope that they will find in Jesus Christ when He becomes the Lord of their life. When we are children we think as children but when we grow up we should think as adults. Your comparison is like judging apples in an orange judging contest. Letting a child temporairly believe in Santa
is like letting them termporairly believe in Barney. It is Not a lie, it is just a fantasy. If you bring them up right and teach them correctly they will have fun as a child with Santa, and have good memories of his "visits" . Later when it is time they will accept Jesus Christ and know the truth and it will set them free.. Yes virginia there is a Santa Claus (have you read that ). God Bless Ya

Answer 5

Kids need some magic and make believe when they are young(especially in today's world, so much harsh reality and sadness), so no, I see nothing wrong with the Santa myth. But when a child is older, over 5 years of age and they pointedly ask you "Is Santa real?" then you tell them the truth, because they are now really differentiating right from wrong. But you also have to make sure that they respect the wishes of other parents, not to reveal this to their children if they don't want them to know.

Answer 6

Santa represents the Spirit of Giving. My sons believed
in Santa for several short years and they've never felt
betrayed or lost their faith. We taught them Santa just
represented the Spirit of Giving and they then were
happy to share in the "giving part" in the following years.
Some people see everything as evil, and others see
it with a different light and think it's just a fun thing with
no harm whatsoever. Depends on how parents handle
it.

Answer 7

i'm suspicious you have greater suitable have confidence themes than only Santa. little ones have self belief a rather good variety of issues that are thoroughly illogical. Its part of being a toddler. Letting pass of your fantasies or a minimum of recognizing the version between fable and actuality is a factor of growing to be up. a number of my fondest formative years innovations midsection around Christmas and the anticipation of Santa. i think of i became 6 or 7 while i eventually admitted I new there became no longer a Santa, yet i do no longer bear in mind feeling betray. extremely I bear in mind feeling boastful that I now knew between the person "secrets and techniques". (i became specific there have been plenty greater. BTW why do women human beings often pass to the bathing room in communities? I nevertheless have not figured that one out.) on the different hand, I additionally don't think there is any injury in being thoroughly straightforward approximately difficulty. needless to say, many cultures do no longer rejoice Christmas or have Santa, and maximum of those youngsters do precisely high quality.

Answer 8

oh, apparently youve never been a child before. shame on you for taking away the spirit and the fun of this holliday. do you too take away the toothfairy? easterbunny? why is god so much better you can neither prove gods existance anymore then the easterbunnies? you dont deserve to have a child if you do not know how to be one yourself.

btw, saint nick was a real person. though the man in the red suit known as santa may not be. let children have their fun while they can, they are only a child once in their life.

there is no "betrayal" or "loss of faith" in parents for this. i never experienced it anyway. i grew up, i learned facts on why santa couldnt exist, i knew it was something that parents did for children to make christmas even more exciting. plus who didnt like leaving cookies and milk for santa!

Answer 9

Im nearly fifty and I still believe in santa he real becuase he is magic if you take magic out of a childs life what is there left just little adults with nothing to dream about.. preachers have bein lying about the existance of god for generations and he dosnt bring presents there is about as much proof that santa exists as there is god.

Answer 10

You don't have to lie about Saint Nicholas. He was a very good Saint, and worth explaining to your children about. He worked many amazing miracles, so many he was called a "Wonderworker" and is in a special class of Saints.


When the Arian heresy was being debated, Arius stated that Jesus was not God. Saint Nicholas belted him, and lost his bishop position over it. Two years later it was reinstated.

There are many legends about Saint Nicholas, but he was a very real person, and did many wonders and miracles. Even today people attribute miracles to him.

There are people alive today who have seen him and were ministered to by him. You don't have to be a child to believe in Saint Nicholas!

He is my family Saint, and yes, I did see him!

Answer 11

NO PARENTS SHOULD NOT LIE TO THEIR KIDS ABOUT THEIR BEING A SANTA CLAUS. ALWAYS TELL KIDS THE TRUTH THEY ARE SMARTER THAN WE EVER THINK THEY ARE.
SANTA CAME INTO THE PIC, SO PEOPLE WOULD FORGET THAT IS WHEN WE CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS.

ALL I CAN SAY FOR YOUR LAST PARAGRAPH IS THAT WE CAN ONLY SEE IN THE END TIMES, I HOPE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND TO BELIEVE. THERE'S NO WAY IN THIS WORLD YOU WOULD BE HERE WITHOUT GOD.