If you are a Christian and you tell your kids the Santa Claus story, what's your reason for doing so? Just curious as to why Christians would propagate this tale. Do you not consider this lying to your children? If not, please explain. No judgement...just curious.
2007-11-16 07:48:49 · 30 answers · asked by Mack N 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Of course there are Christians who tell their children about Santa Claus.They want their children to believe in nice things and have happy thoughts while having a reason to be good that includes rewards for being good.It is any wonder how any child can trust their parents about imaginary people like Santa and Jesus after they find out Santa was really daddy.
2007-11-16 07:53:02 · answer #1 · answered by Demopublican 6 · 5⤊ 4⤋
My husband and I are Christians and all five of our children believe in Santa Claus. Okay, well we have 5 month old twins so I guess they don't know about Santa, but they will. We are logical, it is okay for children to have an imagination, and to believe in something that brings them happiness and joy. We also study and read the real reason for Christmas and they are young enough not to know that the two stories can't really coexist. They have such bright smiles and joy for Jesus and when they make cookies for Santa and lay out carrots for the reindeer, it is so great. I have never understood why people think that children can't have imaginations and still love and know Jesus. We had a friend who wouldn't let her children watch dragon tales or anything of the sort, and Harry Potter is just pure evil. We always try to find a happy medium. The realities of life will come to them soon enough. I don't see any problems with letting them be children with great imaginations. Oh and my oldest two have always attended Christian schools and the schools never had issues with Santa, they just focused on Jesus.
2007-11-16 15:58:34 · answer #2 · answered by Barbara C 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
As a child, I was told about Santa, just to have that magical childhood experience of waking up that christmas morning and having toys set up in my living room! It was wonderful, and I don't believe it was lying. When I finally asked my mom, "Is santa real?" She would just respond my saying, "What do you think?" And wouldn't give me a no. I found out, and felt tricked a little, but then realized that it was all just fun, and getting toys from Santa was just a way to make my childhood more memorable and fun. Santa was an actual man who gave toys to children a long time ago, so he did actually exsist, if that is any consolation. I think the important thing to stress is that this holiday really isn't about Santa, even though it's fun and all. It's really about this boy in a manger and his life and resurrection.
2007-11-16 16:02:42 · answer #3 · answered by SBF 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My parents always told me about Santa Claus and I was about 9 or 10 years old and I asked them how do Santa Claus gets in our house and I said though the front door. At that time we didn't have a chimney we had a heater. They said no he came though the heater with magic at that time i knew they were lying to me. So i went though the house to try to find any evidence about there was no Santa Claus. Then i found a two boxes full of our presents for my brother and sister and me. So at that i confronted them and they told me the truth.
2007-11-16 15:55:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Santa Clause (or, saint nicholas) was a real person. he was a generous soul that gave gifts to kids for being good. It's not an evil thing... just a tradition. Just like anything else we do for holidays... i've heard rumors there wasn't even a turkey at the first thanksgiving... so we shouldn't eat turkey? it's a tradition.
As for the santa clause thing now, a large man in a red suit coming down your chimney.... hmmmmm god forbid give kids something to spark their imaginations... ;) most children understand when they get old enough to realize there really isnt' a santa why their parents did so, and if they don't they talk to their parents. I remember when i found out i was so upset... but i don't remember being upset for long. my mom was more hurt than i was, i think... lol but my santa memories are some of my favorite christmas memories now.
my cousin grew up not believing in santa. my uncle never did it. she told me years later that she wished she hadn't missed out on that as a child, becuase it's memories... and good memories. It just adds a bit more magic to Chrismas. ;)
my hubby and i are in our 20's, with no kids in the house. we still invite santa into our home on christmas. it's just fun to wake up and find presents under the tree that you know you didn't put there... ;)
Happy holidays. Whatever you believe in. :)
2007-11-16 15:59:17 · answer #5 · answered by Silver Thunderbird 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, my husband and I are Christians and we DO tell our daughter about Santa Claus - we also tell her the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. Not only is it fun to do Santa, but it's good for developing a child's imagination. And that's healthy..........As long as the tru meaning of Christmas is also proclaimed and celebrating, there's no harm in playing Santa.
BTW - we also get visits from the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy!
2007-11-16 15:59:46 · answer #6 · answered by God's Child 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was raised Fundamental Baptist, and my parents told my brothers and I about Santa Claus. It's not a lie, it's just a harmless fairy tale. It's fun for kids.
2007-11-16 16:34:55 · answer #7 · answered by Bookworm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I told my children the truth about Santa as soon as they were old enough to understand.
On Christmas, we'd decorate the house to hold a birthday party for baby Jesus. We'd sing Christmas Carols but we'd also sing "Happy Birthday!" to Jesus.
We did not have a Jeremiah chapter 10 tree in our house.
Pastor Art
2007-11-16 15:55:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do it because I enjoyed it so much as a kid and I tell him the truth, there really was a man who was a monk and he actually did leave gifts for kids. When he was old enough to know it was me he already knew about Jesus birth, because he went to a christian school. It doesn't have to be either or.
2007-11-16 15:57:40 · answer #9 · answered by Connie D 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Alright,
Think of this, when you were little, was there something you wanted to believe in? Something you knew was true? Something that you wanted to spark your imagination?
We tell kids the tale of christmas not just to lie to them and let them find out its not real later on in life. But they have that hope that santa is coming and it gives them something to cherish during the holidays.
You could think of it that it teaches your child a lesson believing in santa clause. Part of the tale says that if your not good that year, santa will put coal in your stocking. Well, every kid wants gifts, right? They look upon the past and they judge. 'Have I been good this year?'. They might say 'No' and they might say 'Yes'. But they might try to be a good person so they don't get coal in their stocking.
If you were a small child who wanted something to believe in, and you knew that santa came down the chimney from his sled and put gifts underneath the christmas tree with your name on it. Do you think you'd feel the same way if you knew it was your parents buying the gifts and just sticking them under the tree?
I guess christmas isn't all that it use to be now, then it was before. But the tale still sticks, and the story of santa clause will be passed on. Plus, what kind of christmas specials would there be on TV without santa clause and the story of christmas??
When your kids grow older, and they start to begin to doubt santa clause, and then you go and tell them he doesn't exsist. Do you think they will really feel heartbroken? If anything I'd thank my parents for lying to me. I mean, there is lying to be good and help someone out. Then there is lying to trick them and be mean. So when you say they lied to you remember that there are 2 meanings to lying bud.
And that concludes my rediculously long novel on why we lie to our children. : )
2007-11-16 16:04:41 · answer #10 · answered by Mr Clean 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋