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It's always weirded me out how many ostensibly Christian households teach their children about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, etc, and let the kids think they ar

It's always weirded me out how many ostensibly Christian households teach their children about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, etc, and let the kids think they are real. Do they not realize they are sewing the first seeds of doubt the children will have in their household religion?

graemep 3y ago
I think the "ostensibly" has a lot to do with it. I am Christian and never told my kids Santa Claus was real. On the other hand there is no harm in stories. I also do not want my kids to believe something just because I believe it. They should think for themselves and to do otherwise it is dishonest. I do agree it is sometimes odd. I found myself trying to explain to a bewildered Sikh guy on Twitter why British society gets upset when people tell kids that Santa Claus is not real but is fine with people telling kids that Jesus is not real.
consumer451 3y ago
Hmm, I wonder if it serves a societal purpose. As far as I can remember, catching my parents in "the big Santa lie" was the first time that I realized that adults are full of crap. This is a valuable lesson, right? But I felt so betrayed! It was the beginning of my journey into fact-based reasoning, naturalism, etc. I distinctively remember thinking: I will never believe in magic again! I started asking too many questions at catholic Sunday school, and the Sunday school teacher and I decided it was best that we part ways. I am over 40 now, but this is such a strong and important memory. I am still a little pissed off about it. This is hilarious, and maybe a bit profound.
127361 3y ago
And how deceiving children is normalized in society, together with even worse forms of mistreatment. Because children are low status and can't fight back, adults and society in general can get away with doing all sorts of unjustified nasty things to them. That no adult would ever tolerate. It really is a dominance hierarchy there, something we expect from animals. People are supposed to be better than that.
Slow_Hand 3y ago
That’s certainly what happened to me. I can’t recall ever believing in Santa whole-heartedly and the knowledge of it’s falseness was a foot in the door to question everything else. Strangely my brother was far, far older when my mother and I had to convince him that Santa was not actually real. She was afraid that kids at school would make fun of him if we didn’t pop his bubble first. I’m not sure what to make of that difference in belief between my brother and I.

graemep 3y ago

I think the "ostensibly" has a lot to do with it. I am Christian and never told my kids Santa Claus was real. On the other hand there is no harm in stories. I also do not want my kids to believe something just because I believe it. They should think for themselves and to do otherwise it is dishonest. I do agree it is sometimes odd. I found myself trying to explain to a bewildered Sikh guy on Twitter why British society gets upset when people tell kids that Santa Claus is not real but is fine with people telling kids that Jesus is not real.

consumer451 3y ago

Hmm, I wonder if it serves a societal purpose. As far as I can remember, catching my parents in "the big Santa lie" was the first time that I realized that adults are full of crap. This is a valuable lesson, right? But I felt so betrayed! It was the beginning of my journey into fact-based reasoning, naturalism, etc. I distinctively remember thinking: I will never believe in magic again! I started asking too many questions at catholic Sunday school, and the Sunday school teacher and I decided it was best that we part ways. I am over 40 now, but this is such a strong and important memory. I am still a little pissed off about it. This is hilarious, and maybe a bit profound.

127361 3y ago

And how deceiving children is normalized in society, together with even worse forms of mistreatment. Because children are low status and can't fight back, adults and society in general can get away with doing all sorts of unjustified nasty things to them. That no adult would ever tolerate. It really is a dominance hierarchy there, something we expect from animals. People are supposed to be better than that.

Slow_Hand 3y ago

That’s certainly what happened to me. I can’t recall ever believing in Santa whole-heartedly and the knowledge of it’s falseness was a foot in the door to question everything else. Strangely my brother was far, far older when my mother and I had to convince him that Santa was not actually real. She was afraid that kids at school would make fun of him if we didn’t pop his bubble first. I’m not sure what to make of that difference in belief between my brother and I.