Christian arguments about gods "omnipotence". Don't they remind you of kids and Santa?

Question

When a child who has been misled into thinking that Santa is real says ; "but Dad, Santa CAN give all the toys to kids, he has MAGIC reindeer!"
Don't they sound JUST like christians who claim that "god doesn't follow the rules and laws of nature, he INVENTED them!"
I mean how pathetic is it when an adult can't tell the difference between reality and make believe?
At least most kids eventually come to terms that Santa is a myth...

Crusader,
your cut and paste garbage has been refuted a dozen times over. Your argument is no more valid than a child's when he says "But dad! the presents are here and Santa brings presents so he MUST be real!"

n9,
Of course you'd have to TRY to debate before you could be unimpressed.
Pretty easy to criticize someone of something your too cowardly to do yourself isn't it?

Jeff,
Wait, let me get this straight, you'll tell your kids that Santa and the tooth fairy aren't real because there is no evidence for them, yet you'll still try and convince them that god is real despite the FACT that there is less evidence to support his existence than the first two?
Yeah, that makes sense... *rolls eyes*

Cheney,
No kidding. Typical christian "love" right there in action huh? LOL.

Answer 1

To Catholic Crusader: Dawkins has already tackled Aquinas.
Here is my personal response:

"The first and more manifest way is the argument from motion. It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are in motion... it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God."

Sorry, but physical laws control motion, not independent beings. He's equating Physics to a god -- and it sounds like Spinoza's god.

"The second way is from the nature of the efficient cause. In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes...Therefore it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name of God."

Yet again replacing natural processes explainable by science with an appeal to the supernatural (and a specific god, no less). Assumptions from a man who lived in a universe his society did not understand...

"The third way is taken from possibility and necessity, and runs thus. We find in nature things that are possible to be and not to be, since they are found to be generated, and to corrupt, and consequently, they are possible to be and not to be...therefore we cannot but postulate the existence of some being having of itself its own necessity, and not receiving it from another, but rather causing in others their necessity. This all men speak of as God."

I have no idea how this man was considered logical or how his argument in any way, shape, or form supports the idea of a god, much less his specific Christian one.

"The fourth way is taken from the gradation to be found in things. Among beings there ...therefore there must also be something which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness, and every other perfection; and this we call God."

Aquinas wins my medal for best rationalization...on the slimmest of assumptions.

"The fifth way is taken from the governance of the world. We see that things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies, act for an end, and this is evident from their acting always, or nearly always, in the same way, so as to obtain the best result."

It's called nature. Looks like he was observing at least a bit of the natural selection found in nature.

Answer 2

You'll find that in many Christian homes, Santa Claus is no longer brought into play.

The difference between Santa and Christ is that early followers of Christ didn't seek to decieve for personal profit (beyond eternal life)- in fact, many lost their lives for their beliefs. Adults that propagate the Santa myth know that it isn't real (in my view, they are liars to their children). On the other hand, people that raise their children with religion generally aren't trying to deceive their children - in their view, they are educating them.

I don't teach my kids the tooth fairy or santa - not because there isn't evidence for them, but rather there is evidence that it is made up. Your comparison is weak.

Answer 3

Yes, all magical and wishful thinking shares similar qualities. Unfortunately, religious faith has the added bonus of being a terrible plague, always looming threateningly over civil society. Guess what, folks? We don't need religion anymore (giving them the benefit of the doubt that, at some time in the ancient past, we did).

Sure, the image of someone kneeling at an altar to eat Santa's flesh is pathetic, but what about the thought of someone being executed for refusing to believe in Santa? That's just ******* scary.

To Catholic Crusader: Why not JUST post the link instead of taking up the whole page with copy/pasted text?

To Darth Cheney: He doesn't have to be nice, treat people with respect, or even restrain himself from threatening people because his faith gives him license to be a bad person, so long as he believes. Or didn't you hear the gospel?

Answer 4

This is why I didn't perpetuate the Santa myth with my children. When a parent tells kids about Santa, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, etc. they are setting them up to think everything they haven't seen really doesn't exist. I can assure you, there are some really important things you haven't seen which really exist. I believe completely that God exists. I hope you rethink your position as you get older and wiser.

CANADIAN ATHEIST: If you believe that there is no evidence that God exists, you are more deluded than those who believe in the Tooth Fairy.

Answer 5

It does remind me of kids and Santa. Fortunately, myths only tell us portions of the truth. The full truth is in Christ. And you cannot really see it unless you have the eyes of a child. This way, there is no resistance to the gift of faith.

Answer 6

What is pathetic is when an otherwise intelligent atheist completely ignores traditional apologetics and chooses to refute armchair theology instead. I know an atheist who believes that the moon is bigger than the earth. But guess what? I base my opinions of atheism on the philosophical writings of prominant atheists, on not on the testimony of that guy.

Answer 7

It must really bother you that without Christian Americans your country would be a worthless little half-frozen tundra populated by disillusioned Native Americans that no one has heard of, huh?

Here's a song for you.

Sheryl Crow - A Change (Would do you good)

Ten years living in a paper bag
Feedback baby, he's a flipped out cat
He's a platinum canary, drinkin' falstaff beer
Mercedes rule, and a rented leer
Bottom feeder insincere
Prophet lo-fi pioneer
Sell the house and go to school
Get a young girlfriend, daddy's jewel

Oh, I think a change
A change would do you good
A change would do you good

Answer 8

I have seen a bumper sticker that belonged to an atheist.
This is what was on it:

"Jesus Christ;
the imaginary friend for adults"

Answer 9

How pathetic is for parents like you TO mislead your children to Santa.

Your ignorance almost matches your arrogance of something you DON'T know.

I'm not impressed with this lack of effort in debate.

Answer 10

If you really don't want to believe that there is something better than the hellhole we call earth and that there is no supernatural power that can protect you in the universe, at least don't insult our beliefs. Please, be considerate.

AND STOP WITH YOUR PETTY INSULT TO ANSWERS YOU ARE GIVEN OR NO ONE WILL WANT TO ANSWER!!!