Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think!snorkelwacker!apple!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: hall@vice.ico.tek.com (Hal Lillywhite) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Santa Claus Message-ID: Date: 18 Jan 90 04:25:38 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR. Lines: 21 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article kw1r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Kevin Whitley) writes: >I had a number of interesting experiences with respect to Santa Claus >over the Christmas holidays that I thought I would share. >Thinking about it I realized that I tell my children the truth about >everything, within my ability to tell and their ability to understand. >I tell them the truth about people, about the world, about God, about >everything. Why should I make this exception for Santa Claus? I remember that when I found out the truth about Santa Claus my reaction was, "My parents have been lying to me." I don't want my children to feel that way so we tell them the truth. Actually we present Santa as kind of a synonym for anyone who wants to give presents without the children knowing who it is. This also goes along with the idea of anonymous giving which Jesus taught. What in fact happens is that our children, after associating with others "deceive themselves" into believing in Santa. We don't spend time fighting this, I think what's important is that as parents we not lie to them.