1C) Additional Discovery of Topics: Chapter 1

[TreyAndKrys]

Santa Claus is a major icon at Christmas. There are plenty of movies,
songs, and images of Santa that flood us every year. Santa is the
guest of honor at all major parades and events during the season. For
many of us writing a letter to Santa and going to get our picture
taken with him were big events when we were children. Santa has become
such a part of the holiday season, many people don’t even question his
presence or the message he may send to our children.
In Chapter 1 Slaughter challenges our concept of Santa Claus. Here are
some articles about the psychology of Santa Claus. These articles
present different point of views and challenge the things that we
teach our children. There are several articles below, please do not
feel that you have to read all of them. We wanted to present a wide
range of view -points for this discussion. Consider the questions
below about the “Santa Question”.

A) The History of Santa Claus (Where did the idea of Santa Claus come
from? How has Santa changed over the years? ): http://www.religioustolerance.org/santa1.htm

B) The Theology of Santa Claus and What Children should be taught
(This is a short commentary that touches on religious beliefs as well
as psychological impacts to children): http://www.religioustolerance.org/santa3.htm

C) The Truth About Santa Claus (This is a collection of articles from
psychologist and author’s about children and the belief in Santa. This
is a secular discussion and only briefly touches on religious beliefs
during this season): http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/the-truth-about-santa/

D) Should Christian’s tell their Children there is no Easter Bunny?
What about Santa Claus? (A Christian writing about their philosophy
regarding teaching children about Santa) http://www.creationtips.com/santa.html

Has Santa Claus become a false idol?

Does Santa teach our children that God is a myth?

Is the belief in Santa a stepping stone for children in understanding
the bigger concept of God and Jesus?

Is there a way to allow our children to believe in Santa but not
create a false idol that dishonors Jesus?

Are we doing a disservice to our children’s faith development and
relationship with Jesus by teaching them about Santa?

Is Santa harmless and we are making too big a deal of it?

[Krystina Kyle]

It wasn't until I was a youth director and a youth asked me about the
Santa-Jesus conflict a few years ago that I even realized there was
one. The youth was attending a very conservative Baptist private
school and was feeling guilty that they had believed in Santa as a
child. It didn't take me long to find opinions about Santa on the web.
When I was growing up I was taught about St. Nickolas not ,the Coca-
Cola version of Santa. My Grandmother, being a Catholic, had taught me
about saints and I understood that Santa was not Christ. That Santa
and Christ could function together without taking away from Christ. I
never felt that my Grandmother or Mother lied to me because I had the
appropriate context for Santa Claus from the beginning. In my Mother's
family we still put Santa in the From category on gifts.

I plan on teaching my son the story of St. Nickolas. It is a great
story that compliments that Christmas story. I think there is danger
in the secular world that Santa and Christ may become confused. The
unchurched may very well see God like a myth that they believed when
they were children. Parents have a responsiblity to teach their
children the difference, by the same token we have a responsibility to
teach the unchurched about Christ.

[JoAnna Van Camp]

My daughter at 5 years of age asked me whether Santa Claus was real. I
was a single mom, and she knew to come to me for the "straight scoop".
I hemmed and hawed and finally told her that Santa Claus was a real
guy who lived a long time ago that loved to give presents to kids. So
now, every year, we get to be Santa Claus and give gifts to each
other. Boy I thought I was so smart. Until my daughter announced that
"this" year was her year to be Santa Claus, and she was going to
deliver the presents to all her friends, in her red wagon, complete
with climbing down their chimneys. I gotta give her points for spirit
though. We nixed the red wagon and chimney idea, but she had fun
coming up with gifts for friends.
Also, since our household was often short on cash, the years she did
write a letter to Santa, the letter usually got a commentary from mom
"Ya know, Santa only gets you one gift off the list. That's a list of
suggestions, but you only get one." So, Christmas was never about
raking in the good stuff, she always found more joy in giving to her
friends.

To be quite honest, my kid was more convinced about the Easter Bunny
being real than Santa. Never understood that one, but it was fun while
it lasted. And the Easter Bunny gave all kinds of educational
materials and games and stuff. Weird.

[Krystina Kyle]

That is a great story! I think you handled the Santa question well. We
were always short on cash too and one year my Grandma came up with the
bright idea that I should put my top three choices at the top and
Santa could "see what he could do". One year we got the J.C. Penny
Catalog wish book in mail and I took a marker to it and circled all
the things I wanted...when my Grandma saw it she was really upset...I
had ruined the catalog! When she asked me if I really wanted all those
things I remember tell her "well, sure! It was the wish book, so I
made a wish." She laughed at me and told me there was nothing wrong
with wishing.