teach children about fictional holiday characters in fear of having them not believe in God and Jesus when they find out the characters were not real?
2007-04-06 17:42:15 · 11 answers · asked by *~*~*~* 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I was just wondering because I was reading someone on FAQ's of the Bible and wanted to know what you guys think. I am going to teach my kids about them, it was the best times of my life.
2007-04-06 17:49:20 · update #1
If we did, it wouldn't be for the reason of the children losing faith in God and Jesus. It would be losing trust in their parents.
I always did have a bit of problem with knowing that my parents lied to me about Santa Claus, and you feel really bad - like you lost a whole bunch of innocence when you find out, but you get over it.
If you want to tell your kids that there is a Santa, that is totally your choice.
2007-04-06 17:49:46 · answer #1 · answered by Jennifer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that is ridiculous... is your faith so weak that it cannot withstand a fictional character? The Easter Bunny and Santa are harmless bits of fiction. Let the children imagine and dream. If you've raised them well in your faith, they will not question it based on a fictional character.
It's called imagination, not lying. It's a harmless thing to let a child believe in a fantasy of childhood. Why deprive them of that? I'm baffled by that line of thought. I was raised in a religious household and we did Santa and the Easter Bunny. I did become a non-believer in adult-hood but it had nothing to do with Santa and the Bunny because I knew they weren't real, but a fantasy.
I think the difference is telling the children he is real and then telling them he's not. We've never told our son that Santa is "real" in those terms. We've never said the one at the mall is a stand-in for the real one or anything such nonsense. I avoid it altogether and just let him imagine as he will.
2007-04-07 00:47:15 · answer #2 · answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no. I was taught both and turned out fine. My children know more about Jesus than Santa and they are just fine. My children know Christmas is a day we celebrate the birth of Christ. But the Christmas season is when we ask Santa for toys. They don't see the correlation at all. People get so worked up over somethings, they forget they are children. They dont' need to know all the gory details of the Bible when they are 3, that is ok for them to enjoy themselves and act like children. There is plenty of time to tell them Santa doesn't exist, but with the exception of mommy and daddy, Jesus is the one person who will always be a constant in their lives.
2007-04-07 00:51:39 · answer #3 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I, myself, was not raised as a Christian. I came to know Christ in early adulthood. As such, I was brought up with the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. I don't feel that it hurt me by any means, however my wife and I are choosing to explain to our kids that these characters are fictional.
We've explained to our 3-year-old that these characters are just for fun, but that the real meaning of these holidays is to celebrate Jesus. It amazes me how well she comprehends the difference....children are truly much more intelligent than we perceive. My parents are not Christians. I had to laugh a little to myself when my father asked my 3-year-old what 'Santa' had brought her for Christmas, to which my daughter very seriously replied, "Grandpa, Santa Claus isn't real."
I personally don't feel that there's any harm in involving these characters in the holiday traditions, so long as the children are clearly taught that Jesus is the true reason to celebrate.
2007-04-07 01:08:58 · answer #4 · answered by Marcus75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're stories. Do you want to stop telling stories about Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Snow White too? Or how about removing the kids programs from tv, like Diego?
Honestly... they're stories, just like God and Jesus. If your kids can't learn "pretend" then its you failing as a parent, not the stories of the pretend characters.
2007-04-07 00:49:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that reasoning from other people--- and I think kids are much more savvy than that.
They can tell what is "pretend" and what is "real" when they get older.
It really kinda sucks alot of fun out of childhood without those childhood play characters.
Once they are ready to reason for themselves and can learn about faith, its something they have to really choose anyway, or it means nothing.
2007-04-07 00:47:34 · answer #6 · answered by Lisa the Pooh 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I personally don't see how my kids (hypothetical) would know about jesus if I let them believe in the easter bunny and santa
2007-04-07 00:49:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. Children are smarter than we give them credit for. If they don't believe in God....maybe that means they figured out more than most people know.
2007-04-07 00:46:18 · answer #8 · answered by KS 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, I found out there was no Santa Clause and I never lost my
faith in the lord.
2007-04-07 00:49:04 · answer #9 · answered by Chase 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes I do believe that, and I never taught that cause that is a lie. and the Bible says all liars shall have their place in the lake of fire. And the Bible doesn't lie.
2007-04-07 00:46:42 · answer #10 · answered by wisdom 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋