that he lives at the North Pole and flies around the world delivering toys to all the good little boys and girls on Christmas night, why don't Christians believe the stories, as opposed to the verifiable evidence?
After all, they believe that a man named Yeshua is really "Jesus" and lives in Heaven, protecting his followers from going to Hell when they die, as long as they accept him as their personal lord and savior before they kick the bucket.
How can they totally disregard one story as fiction BECAUSE of the verifiable evidence about that person's existence, yet believe another story DESPITE the verifiable evidence (or should I say, lack thereof) for that person's existence?
2007-12-26 05:59:33 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not arguing whether "Santa" was real or not, I'm asking why you believe incredible stories about Yeshua without evidence to support it, but reject incredible stories about St. Nick BECAUSE of the lack of evidence to support it.
2007-12-26 06:08:44 · update #1
Please read the whole question, not just the opening sentences. There is a REAL question there that most of you are failing to address.
2007-12-26 06:10:28 · update #2
People, verifiable means that you can look at the evidence and VERIFY its truthfulness. The bible is no more verifiable than a Spider-Man comic. Sure, New York City really does exist, but that does not mean that Spider-Man really fought Doctor Octopus there.
2007-12-26 07:21:20 · update #3
Gift giving as part of the celebration; stories about Santa Claus, Father Christmas, etc.
The practice of Christmas gift giving is not based on what was done by the Magi. As shown above, they did not arrive at the time of Jesus’ birth. Furthermore, they gave gifts, not to one another, but to the child Jesus, in accord with what was then customary when visiting notable persons.
The Encyclopedia Americana states: “During the Saturnalia . . . feasting prevailed, and gifts were exchanged.” (1977, Vol. 24, p. 299) In many instances that represents the spirit of Christmas giving—an exchanging of gifts. The spirit reflected in such gift giving does not bring real happiness, because it violates Christian principles such as those found at Matthew 6:3, 4 and 2 Corinthians 9:7. Surely a Christian can give gifts to others as an expression of love at other times during the year, doing so as often as he wants to.
Depending on where they live, children are told that gifts are brought by Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Père Noël, Knecht Ruprecht, the Magi, the elf Jultomten (or Julenissen), or a witch known as La Befana. (The World Book Encyclopedia, 1984, Vol. 3, p. 414) Of course, none of these stories are actually true. Does the telling of such stories build in children a respect for truth, and does such a practice honor Jesus Christ, who taught that God must be worshiped with truth?—John 4:23, 24.
2007-12-26 07:03:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Saint Nicolas is a real Catholic Saint. Santa Claus is a fictional character whose tales came from the figure of Saint Nicolas.
To say that Santa and the Saint are one in the same is the same as saying you have to believe the Grinch is real because there was a grouchy guy who hated Christmas years ago.
ETA: Your question doesn't hold because we do "believe" in the Saint, he was an actual person.
Jesus was also an actual person. If you don't believe what you read (the evidence a.k.a. the Bible) then that is one thing but it doesn't make it non-verifiable evidence.
BTW, I'm not Catholic.
2007-12-26 14:08:14 · answer #2 · answered by Me 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No one wishing to be taken seriously is going to suggest Jesus didn't exist, and that there is no evidence of Him.
Even the most skeptic are well aware that Jesus walked the earth and had a tremendous following that caught the attention of Jewish religious and Roman political authorites which, because of this attention, conspired to have Him murdered in a most brutal manner.
Again, no one wishing to be taken seriously is going to deny this. Jesus did walk the earth. Whether or not you believe He was the Son of God, well that's a matter a Faith and one either has it or they don't.
BTY, the Bible constitutes a legitimate source. Ask any serious historian if you do not believe me.
2007-12-26 14:34:33 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First with Saint Nicholas we know where he his body is, I am not sure it has finaly been returend to the Orthodox church where it should be so we know he isn't physcaly walking about.
the figgure of Santa Claus is a combination of various sorces of myths and legends. As for jesus Christ who we beleive was God incarnated on the earth your starting to realy get into a topic you can not confirm or deney.
First there is the simple matter of proving God exists or dose not, scientificly tis is imposiible as God is be yound man's reason.
2007-12-26 14:27:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honey we do believe the stories about the original St Nicholas. We don't believe the ones that Coca Cola Co. made up, if that's what you mean. why, do you think Coca Cola co. writes history? Did you believe the stuff about the North Pole and stuff when you was a chil and now you don't and you are sad?
2007-12-26 14:03:51 · answer #5 · answered by Tanitha B 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The North Pole and such was an invention of an American Author. He wrote it for his daughter who was ill. The REAL Santa Clause was St. Nicholas. He was the model for all the Santas to come.
2007-12-26 14:05:33 · answer #6 · answered by Rev. Kaldea 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Saint Nicholas was a Catholic Bishop in Turkey, who associated the act of giving unwarranted unknown gifts to strangers to God the Father's gift of Jesus to our world for the redemption of humanity.
Saint Nicholas is real, as is the message of self sacrificing Love of Jesus Christ.
2007-12-26 14:07:45 · answer #7 · answered by Lives7 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Santa Claus" is a compilation of two things, a Catholic saint who performed good deeds, and Nordic traditions of a kindly old man who gave out toys (in small villagers usually) during December (hence the sled and reindeer). The melding of these two along with other customs and beliefs led to what we know as Santa Claus today. Jesus is completely different and is Holy and you shouldn't mock Him.
2007-12-26 14:05:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anna P 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Catholics are infamous for their hypocrisy and following tradition before following true bible facts. i.e., mardi gras, christmas, priests that molest kids, etc etc.
Just let this issue go, because it's a lost cause.
2007-12-26 14:08:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋