Santa Claus is blasphemous

[triumphguy]

Or maybe you just see things differently than others?

I like Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89). Poems. 1918.

1. Pied Beauty

*GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough; 5
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: 10
Praise him.*

Santa is a childish version of this.

 

[pnewton]

I see a lot whining in this topic. Nobody has even addressed the fact that it is clearly a lie. Sure, you can try to get around my point about Santa leading people astray, and you might even be right. But nobody has even challenged it’s a lie. Last I checked, lies were still sin, even if you’re lying to children.

That is because it is not a lie, anymore than a story is a lie, or an actor lies when he reads his lines. You may say it is not the same, but that is your opinion, like this is mine. I note the Catholic Church has not said the tradition of Santa Claus is the sin of lying, so we can disagree.

 

[pnewton]

The ones that bug me are the ones that go out of their way to make Santa seem real, and try to bribe their children into believing (the “believe or no presents” deal the other poster brought up).

Why would it bug you what other parents do with **their **children? I do not know how you treat your children, but that is you affair. Why the need to control others?

 

[Verbum_Caro]

I actually don’t tell my kids there is a Santa Claus as he is portrayed. When they ask, if they ask, I tell them the story of St. Nicholas and how that is where the thought of Santa Claus originated. If they ask me if he is real, I tell them that St. Nicholas is still alive in Heaven and that the same spirit of giving that he portrayed in his giving is why people still talk about him on Christmas. I find it innocent, but I don’t lie to them. No more than I would go out of my way to tell my child that Tom and Jerry on the television aren’t a real mouse and cat, for fear they might think they are actual people and draw them away from the church.

In the end, it’s up to us to make sure that Jesus Christ and Christ’s Mass is the center of our Christmas celebration. That doesn’t mean there is no room for frivolity and fun on the side, but that the focus of all of it should point back to Jesus. Just as St. Nicholas himself pointed back to the grace of God in his actions.

b,

When I read this I get a sense of an authentic “Catholic” spirit – a kind of prudence (as opposed to prudishness).

Or in other words. . . “The force is strong in this one”

VC

 

[John21652]

I don’t even have to go into the fact that most of the imagery surrounding Santa Claus is Pagan in origin.

This is your first big error. Santa is modelled on St. Nicholas. Read about it right here. After that major error, your -] rant /-] post goes downhill rather badly.

That’s nothing but a cheap shot. There’s so many other reasons to hate Santa.

You “hate” Santa? Now “hate” is a very powerful emotion indeed and it’s one we usually try and point out to our kids that it is a rather wasted emotion. There are far better things to do than hate. Most kids grow out of it by the time they are, like, five. What fascinates me is that you expend so much emotional energy against someone you are busy telling us isn’t real, Go figure…

Also, I am in no way against the blessed Saint Nicholas, he was a good guy. I’m not talking about an olden day saint who gave toys to poor children who had nothing, I’m talking about the guy in a red suit with elves and magical reindeer.

Isn’t it a wondrous thing how we can make mythology contemporary! There’s another thread going on Santa here, where you can find out why Rudolph’s nose is red!

First off, it’s nothing but a blatant lie. I don’t care how much people try to butter it up by calling it childhood innocence.

You mean like when a husband tells his wife she looks positively beautiful in a new dress, even though he knows it makes her few extra pounds stand out? Or like when you tell a child their handwriting is beautiful even though you know they need about another ten years of practice? Or when you tell your young son he’s fantastic at football, even though he can’t kick to save himself? Yep, we “lie” all the time.

What is that supposed to mean anyway? It is nothing more than a lie, pure and simple. You’re telling them something that you know good and well is not true, sounds like a lie. Just to go into the further illogical-ness of it, many parents are upset when the truth is exposed. Many tiptoe around the subject when kids are around, like it’s something sacred. It’s nothing but a lie people! Parents shouldn’t be mad somebody told their kid the truth. Oh, and just like real lies, it requires more and more lies to keep it going. Best example:

Your first question is what I’d expect from someone with low emotional intelligence, who is given over to ‘hating’. Your not like that, are you, surely? As for being upset about the truth being ‘exposed’, well, that depends on how old the kids are. It’s a bit like having someone tell your very young child their are really nasty human beings in the world. It’s true, but the kids don’t really need to know at a tender age. If someone told my kids the truth about a lot of things, he/she would be in serious trouble.

Telling kids that mall Santas are Santa’s helpers when kids get smart enough to realize Santa can’t be at every mall every Christmas.

Dunno who you mix with, or whether you just made this up, but everyone knows the santas in the shopping malls are not the real Santa. The real Santa is at the North Pole, working flat out to bring happiness and magic into the lives of little children.

Second, Santa takes away the main focus of the holiday, which is Jesus.

No he doesn’t. Unless, of course you mix with non-Christians, who need Santa and may one day find Christ through him causing Christmas to be continued as a celebration.

Christmas has become a secular holiday, for the most part.

But that’s a very recent phenomena, while Santa has been around for, like, ever! Logic should then tell you that Santa aint the cause.

And no, calling them “Christmas Trees” instead of “Holiday Trees” doesn’t help.

Well, look on the bright side, the secualrists still celebrate Christmas even if they don’t know the real meaning of the symbols used. Well, stop ‘hating’ and go teach 'em.

That whole “Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays” is trivial and stupid, they’re nothing but words. Christmas has become secular all on its own, as it has essentially become national gift giving day, with almost no religious conotations to it at all. Santa has almost completely replaced Jesus.

You mean, people who don’t believe in Jesus have replaced Him with Santa? That doesn’t make sense. Your thinking on this is really, well, not good. The ones who know about Jesus and who believe in Jesus have not replaced Him with Santa at all. If you say they have, you are making it up.

Cont.d

 

[John21652]

Cont.d

And many conservatives try to blame liberals/atheists on the seculariation of Christmas.

Secularists secularise all by themselves.

Nope, you guys did that all on your own. Let’s see, you took your religious holiday, purposefully removed all the religious symbolism, and replaced it with Santa, deer, elves, etc. You then essentially demanded the holiday take center stage in American culture, knowing full well that not all of America was Christian. And now they’re mad because they’ve essentially lost their holiday. No, you didn’t lose it, you gave it away and have only yourselves to blame.

Now this paragraph of yours is where you and I part company big time. The reason being is you have diffentiated between “you guys” and yourself and yet you have ‘Catholic’ on your profile. Either remove the ‘Catholic’ tag, or apologise for offending your fellow Catholics. Considering how Christmas, replete with Santa, has been around for centuries, in many, many countries, I fail to see the connection between Santa, Christianity and Secularisation of Christmas in America. Or anywhere else for that matter. You certainly have supplied no valid connection and, furthermore, you can’t. Your rant is based completely on supposition, at best and extreme bias, at worst.

Third, it’s stupid. OK, not a sin, but a valid point still. Go through the trouble of getting your child a Christmas present, and then giving credit to a guy who doesn’t even exist for no apparent reason. What a bizarre custom.

Not as ‘bizarre’ as ‘hating’ someone who you say isn’t even real real. The logic of Santa and “giving” is obviously lost on someone whose knowledge of Catholicism, if he has any at all, is virtually non-existent, because everyone knows that Santa embodies the traditions of old Saint Nick. In fact, in many countries, that’s what they call him!

Fourth, it sends kids a horrible message. I saved the worst for last, as there are two bad messages Santa sends children. The first being that it’s OK to lie to people. I’ve already explained how Santa is a lie with my first point. The second message is its ties to religion. Let’s see, let’s convince our children that there’s an old guy with a beard. Even though you’ve never seen him or met him, he will reward you if you’re good. Hmm, sound famliar? There’s a reason atheists call God “Santa for adults”. Also, kids usually learn about God and Santa from the same source (their parents), so when one is found to be false, why should they believe anything their parents say about God? The fact that this blatant lie is also centered around one of the biggest Christian holidays doesn’t help matters either.

You obviously know nothing about parenting either. As for God being Santa for adults, well, that’s just an epithet the God haters like to throw around for effect. It only makes them look childish. Like I said earlier, most people are over this behaviour and attitude quite early in life.

I’m not trying to say God is as fake as Santa. What I’m saying is that teaching your kids about Santa makes them more likely to doubt God.

What you are writing is awfully close to an anti-Catholic diatribe. Like I said, if that’s how you fell, remove the Catholic label from your profile.

Meanwhile, I’m off to get things ready for Santa’s visit.

Only two more sleeps!!

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

I don’t even have to go into the fact that most of the imagery surrounding Santa Claus is Pagan in origin.

Spoken like a true fundamentalist. Just this sentence opens the gate to lots and lots of argument.
I need proof to give the slightest credence to this first sentence.
Saint Nicholas is a great saint look him up.
The Christmas tree was given to us by St. Boniface not pagans. The Germans had lots of superstitions about an oak tree. St. Boniface destroyed it and gave a sermon on its stump while the Germans quaked in fear. St. Boniface pointed out the triangular shape of the fir tree and used it to represent God and especially Jesus.

 

[maryjk]

I see a lot whining in this topic. Nobody has even addressed the fact that it is clearly a lie. Sure, you can try to get around my point about Santa leading people astray, and you might even be right. But nobody has even challenged it’s a lie. Last I checked, lies were still sin, even if you’re lying to children.

So you have never, ever lied to your children?

That means, even when they were small you always did your best to win the game. If you ever ran with your children, you never “raced,” if so you always won.

You have always told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to your children. If you are married, you have always told the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth to your spouse. If you still have friends, you have always told them the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Or do you just feel that way about Santa?

 

[yellowbird]

Santa is blasphemous? Who died and made you Pope?

 

[Jeremiah1278]

Personally, I think the Santa business is great for teaching these little humans a little something about Christ and Catholicism. I don’t expect a 4 year old to understand the Paschal Mystery or the entire meaning of the Prodigal Son. But I do expect him to know that if you are good to your brothers and sisters, you will be rewarded with something. Later in life, he may understand what that “something” really is, and that it is significantly greater than a new toy.

I’m 33 and I *still *ponder, compare and contrast what I thought about Christmas as a little boy and what I think of it now. I feel it provides some depth to my understanding of the true meaning of Christmas and for what Christ is calling me in this life.

And Santa is fantastic—I love that he’s no moral relativist. It’s nice having a fella around who actually requires you to be good before you are rewarded with anything. No “Trophies For Everyone” for Santa. Wow: actual consequences for bad and/or ambivalent behavior in his world. Love it.

 

[Rascalking]

This *must *be a joke. Santa? Blasphemous?! Really? No one can seriously believe that.

 

[ahs]

Nobody has even addressed the fact that it is clearly a lie. Sure, you can try to get around my point about Santa leading people astray, and you might even be right. But nobody has even challenged it’s a lie. Last I checked, lies were still sin, even if you’re lying to children.

Is it really a lie? Saint Nicholas is real, and he really did give gifts to people/children during the Christmas season and really did have a reputation for giving secretly. This is what began the tradition of “St. Nick” or “Santa Claus”. The tradition that lives on is in the spirit of selfless giving that the great Saint modeled for us (though it can be easily seen that some have gone astray from that message). In no way has this tradition detracted from the importance of Christ’s Birth. It is individuals who detract from that.

You can despise the fact that some people warp a wonderful tradition and turn it into a meaningless form of material gluttony; but don’t hate the tradition itself, because that tradition is set in the spirit of self-giving as we do our humble best to imitate the matchless Self-Giving that our Saviour gave.

 

[nickybr38]

I, personally, am no fan of the Santa lie. My sister’s children have never been told the Santa myth and they enjoy Christmas just as much as any other kid. When a nice lady at the grocery store asked them if they were excited for Santa to come they responded (and the youngest was 6), excuse me ma’am but Santa isn’t real.

Every parent has to make their own choice but I know I won’t be lying to my kids. I’ll be focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. Which isn’t gifts or Santa or reindeer or any of that nonsense. The only thing, the only gift, that matters at Christmas is Christ.

Mind you I wasn’t raised with the Santa myth either so I guess I pass on that tradition.

 

[nickybr38]

This *must *be a joke. Santa? Blasphemous?! Really? No one can seriously believe that.

He knows when you’re sleeping.
He knows when you’re awake.
He knows if you’ve been bad or good…

That’s at least borderline blasphemous since he is given the attributes of god. And don’t get me started on how much of a creep he is… Stupid jerk watching me sleep…

 

[ruslan]

:coffeeread:

 

[Verbum_Caro]

And Santa is fantastic—I love that he’s no moral relativist. It’s nice having a fella around who actually requires you to be good before you are rewarded with anything. No “Trophies For Everyone” for Santa. Wow: actual consequences for bad and/or ambivalent behavior in his world. Love it.

Jeremiah,

Did that ever happen in your family in practice? I.e. was anyone rewarded extra for being good or less rewarded for being naughty at Christmas?

Thanks!
VC

 

[Fragile]

 

[bmullins]

Growing up I always heard that Santa would put coal in your stocking if you were bad and you wouldn’t get any presents… to this day I’ve not met anyone who was on the ‘naughty’ list. I’m sure there are some people out there who are cruel enough to tell their kids that… but I don’t think those types of people are necessarily doing it to educate their children in moral choices.

 

[BigFellaMick]

If I remember correctly a lie was still a lie. I don’t think Christ cares if the lie is to make a child happy on Christmas. Especially if, as op stated, it takes the focus off of Him and His Sacrifice. I grew up with Santa in my life and it made Christmas magical. But when I finally faced facts I was devastated and resented my parents (as much as a young child can) for a decent amount of time. Do I blame all of my personal failings on that pivotal moment in my childhood development? Of course not. But telling a lie is a sin. Period. Remember the Commandments. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. I assume that is even more important for your own children who you are charged with raising into the faith as best you can. I think the OP makes very valid claims as belief in santa can (not necessarily does but “can”) lead to doubts later in life about God. I mean whether we do it for fun or to create memories I think we’ll all still have to be held accountable for every lie we tell in our lives. That includes year after year of taking the focus from Christ and giving it to Santa. Does that mean you’re going to hell? I’d strongly bet absolutely not. But does it mean you might spend some extra time in purgatory? Possibly. Obviously none of us can ever know definitively until it’s our time of judgement. But for the sake of argument, it’s infinitely better to go with the Truth of Christmas. Keep Christ in Christmas. God Bless!

 

[onenow1]

Jesus told us to be of good cheer, His Angels sang such a song to the shepherds. {ST.}{Santa.Claus} does just that with a HO, HO, HO, and a Merry Christmas.