Which belief is more ridiculous to believe?

Question

That a fat man from the North Pole in a red suit rides around the world once a year in a flying sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, one of which has a nose that glows in the dark, lands it on the rooves of every house that has a child, shimmies down their chimney, and leaves presents under a decorated tree?

Or...
That a man was born from a virgin, heals diseases, regenrates limbs, and raised at least two people from the dead, was hung on a cross until he himself died, was also raised from the dead, and then physically flew up into Heaven, wherever that is?

Answer 1

This is a good one to test my new logical fallacy machine on.. let me know if I should complain to the manufacturer:

What if the fat man IS the man who was born from a virgin?? Did you ever think of that? Ha ha, I just disproved your theory, so that makes mine automatically right.

You spelled roofs wrong, so that means you're wrong.

And you're insulting to some religions, so that means you're automatically wrong.

You're probably a lonely person, that makes you wrong.

My pastor says the Bible mentions Jesus but not Santa Claus, so that means you're wrong and I'm automatically right.

Everyone knows there are 8 reindeer plus Rudolph, therefore, the rest of your argument is invalid.

Edit: Oops, I forgot the strawman. That's like saying the Mach 5 from Speed Racer is not real, therefore Ford's Model T never existed. Obviously Ford created a Model T, therefore Jesus is real.

Answer 2

First of all, I have starred your question before even reading it all because of your ability to use unusual plural forms.

Secondly, I was going to take away points over the "regen[e]rates limbs" part, until I remembered there was a story about healing a man with a "withered limb." Good job on another obscure point.

But about the sleigh... is flight associated with only the sleigh, only the reindeer, or all of the above? I need to know before I can answer the actual question.

Answer 3

About the first one - I think there are several books and sites that talk about the physics not known to man which would be needed to perform such a task.

And the second? Well, try talking 2 billion people out of believing it. At least miracles have and do happen and prayers are answered, to satisfy the human need for proof.

Answer 4

I think that if someone chooses to believe in both of these things, in one or the other, or in neither then that's cool. I'm not going to give my personal opinion on this subject, but I will say that no one is ridiculous for believing in something. Someone could worship a pencil and as long as they're not fanatically trying to make me worship that pencil with them or hurting anyone or anything, then that's fine by me. The only thing that is ridiculous is chastising others for believing or not believing in something. No belief is any more ridiculous than another.

Answer 5

I do comprehend your rights and that they are yours and no person has the perfect to renounce u from elevating your voice against ideals for technology or information. i myself am an atheist. Its been greater effective than a 365 days and a a million/2 because I final prayed to god. it is your choose, your perfect to the two believe in what others say or believe what your heart says, what your strategies says. And the respond on your question is that theists consistently believe in ideally suited powers and blah blah blah yet those are their ideals. Its in comparison to all of us accept as true with a similar ingredient. all of us have diverse evaluations.

Answer 6

Both are equally rediculous. It's very unlikely for a story (even if partially or wholly true to begin with) to retain it's integrity after being translated, re-told, and re-written for thousands of years. At least you outgrow the self-deception of believing in Santa.

Answer 7

I think if a person wants to believe those things and they are not bothering anyone then what is the problem?Santa Clause is mostly for children and I don't think it causes harm for them to believe in him.

Answer 8

They're both equally ridiculous versions of the same idea: there is a magical paternal figure (Santa/God) watching over us at all times; and if you're a good little boy or girl, you will receive good things (presents/heaven), but if you're bad, you will receive bad things (coal/hell).

Answer 9

At least the dude with the sleigh gives us presents every year, and nobody feels the need to kill others in his name.

Answer 10

I believe in both