I would like to know what you think about Santa. He is the one that is celebrated for Christmas, not Christ. He is the one that the parents talk about.
2006-12-12 10:19:14 · 24 answers · asked by nrwilcox 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, I was just asking peoples opinions...there is no need to insult me and my beliefs.
2006-12-12 10:24:37 · update #1
And also. True Christians praise God every single day of their lives...they just use the Christmas season to celebrate His birth. We all know He wasn't really born in December...it is just what history has laid out for us to celebrate...
2006-12-12 10:28:25 · update #2
Jesus is the reason for the season, but there is room for Santa too. Peace be with you, and Merry Christmas!
2006-12-12 10:28:50 · answer #1 · answered by shepherd 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, in fact St Nicholas was a real person that went about giving gifts. Parents are sometimes uninformed about the symbolism or confused about the two.
Early Christians took what was a pagan celebration of dancing naked around evergreen trees and converted them to Christians, now what could be blasphemous about that? People tend to become like the Pharisees and start subjecting everything to the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. Jesus spoke many times about that.
Santa Claus is a symbolic person for the Gift God gave to us in Jesus and Santa Claus is a representative of Christian giving. If you stop to think about it, Christmas is 365 days of the year or should be, in the celebration of Christ and the spirit of giving. It is a demonstration of what Christians and an unbelieving world should be like all the time.
2006-12-12 18:40:17 · answer #2 · answered by Sassy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like many catholic/Christian holidays they were stolen from the pagans. Winter solstice was turned into Christmas and Summer solstice was turned into Easter. Now as most know If Christ existed he was not born in the winter. (I'm Jewish!) As for Santa I don't know where that whole thing came from but I was raised on it and so are all four of my nephews and niece.
What I find annoying is for one night and one day people tell each other how much they love each other and give each other gifts for no real religious reason (as far as I understand it. other than copying winter solstice.). I'm not saying that Jews are better because we celebrate for eight days! What I am saying is that there should be more love and good will than around Christmas time. We might just have a better world. Mabye.
2006-12-12 18:30:40 · answer #3 · answered by mistyfan69 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Santa Claus as he is known in 21st century America doesn't support or harm the Christian meaning of Christmas. For those who know a bit more, part of our current "Santa" come from traditions that date back to St. Nicolas, a 3rd century bishop in what is now Turkey (if memory serves).
I grew up in a rather conservative Catholic household. Santa was always welcome, but we knew the TRUE core meaning of the celebration was Jesus. My mother found a lovely carving of Santa with his hat off, kneeling at the manger and prayer to the Christ Child. See, it can all work?
2006-12-12 18:27:20 · answer #4 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Considering I'm not a Christian, naturally, I don't talk about Christ to my daughter (not that she doesn't know, I grew up Christian myself).
But then, Christmas is not actually a Christian holiday at all, but the pagan celebration of Yule. Pope Gregory, unable to prevent the population from celebrating the winter solstice (Yule), decided that he would make it an official holiday by turning it into a celebration of Christ's birth (which was actually in April).
But then, that's why we have Halloween as well. The pagan holiday of Samhain (celebrating the spirit world as well as the harvest) was turned into "All Hallow's Eve." But, it didn't stick quite as well as Christmas.
2006-12-12 18:32:59 · answer #5 · answered by Voodoid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the myth of Santa Claus does detract from the real meaning of Christmas which is celebrating Jesus' birthday. Christmas is supposed to be a time of reflection of what Jesus means to mankind and the world.
The true concept of gift giving is a picture of the greatest gift that God the Father gave to us in His son, Jesus Christ.
I wouldn't necessarily say that Santa is blasphemous to Jesus but it is a huge stumblingblock to a lot of people.
http://www.handlethetruth.net
2006-12-12 18:25:26 · answer #6 · answered by truthhandl3r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Santa and God have an agreement! The Holiday was meant to be shared between them. Neither is envious of the other. Santa is an extra addition God gave us for entertainment, he loves the little children!! Parents who share the belief of God also share the true meaning of Christmas with our little ones. We leave neither out!! Merry Christmas (or Hanukkah or Happy Holidays).
2006-12-12 18:35:48 · answer #7 · answered by tamara.knsley@sbcglobal.net 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it's getting very disappointing to me. Everything is about money and getting presents. Not too many people are stopping to praise god for the birth of our savior. Even when the movie "The Nativity" came out, it wasn't publicised because the corporate people didn't want to discourage the shoppers. (DISCOURAGE the shoppers?!) Jesus is the whole reason for Christmas. Santa is way too big. This is exactly what the bible warns us about with earthly things, and that they mean nothing. Too bad so many peoples lives revolve around 'things'.
2006-12-12 18:24:26 · answer #8 · answered by mama 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
weird, cause christmas is actually derived from a PAGAN holliday... the traditions (giving gifts, the tree, holly, mistletoe and eating ham) are all derived from pagan traditions...
every biblical scholar knows christ was NOT born in december.
so why do you think its all about you?
infact santa clause is actually taken from a person long ago, who used to put money and toys on the doorsteps of poor people's houses during this time.
point number 2: why do christians think that christmas is the only time they should celebrate the birth of their lord? one day out of 365 is enough to praise god?
2006-12-12 18:21:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Can't Santa and Jesus just get along?
Seriously, though, I think quite a few Christians manage to enjoy both the religious and secular aspects of Christmas without any problems. It's not as though Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, and the Grinch are teaching children things counter to Christian values.
2006-12-12 18:21:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋