It's a natual reaction. They think of Santa, and they associate gift giving, and a spirit of friendliness, warmth, and holiday cheer with him. People start being nice to eachother, giving eachother more hugs and kisses, saying nice things to one another and are generally, just plain polite to eachother.
Does it bother you that Santa has this affect on people, while religions that are supposed to foster these things seem to push people apart more than anything else?
2007-11-20 08:00:49 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am all for anything that makes people nicer and more appreciative of others. (And if it takes an old round guy with a beard and a funny suit, so be it.)
2007-11-20 08:05:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it does not bother me. Anything that promotes a spirit of goodwill towards one another is a good thing and should not be looked at as a negative. Santa, just like other things in faith based ideas is a symbol.
2007-11-20 16:05:57 · answer #2 · answered by rammuniz@sbcglobal.net 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He was a 4th century Christian bishop of Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany) he is still portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes. The relics of St. Nicholas were transported to Bari in southern Italy by some enterprising Italian merchants;[2] a basilica was constructed in 1087 to house them and the area became a pilgrimage site for the devout. Saint Nicholas became revered by many as the patron saint of seamen, merchants, archers, children, prostitutes, pharmacists, lawyers, pawnbrokers, prisoners, the city of Amsterdam, and of Russia. In Greece, Saint Nicholas is substituted for Saint Basil (Agios Vasilis in Greek), a 4th century AD bishop from Caesarea. Also, the Northern part of the Netherlands and a few villages in Flanders, Belgium, celebrate a near identical figure, Sint-Maarten (Saint Martin of Tours).
2007-11-20 16:06:01 · answer #3 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
not really. I just remind them of Winter Solstice and paganism. Equal time.
It's hearing Christmas carols all the time in stores that gets on my nerves. why don't they play some good pagan music too?
2007-11-20 23:21:42 · answer #4 · answered by Lady Morgana 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So are you saying that if we had Santa nailed to crosses on our walls, things would be better?
2007-11-20 16:04:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No that makes me happy. Maybe that means the delusion is starting to go away.
2007-11-20 17:11:36 · answer #6 · answered by taristidou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't bother me at all. Then again, I'm not religious.
2007-11-20 16:07:22 · answer #7 · answered by I, Sapient 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes.it all bothers me because it is slow brainwashing
2007-11-20 16:04:53 · answer #8 · answered by mairszee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋