Jude 2

Do you tell your kids that there is a Santa Claus and that he brings them gifts?

If so, how do you handle it when the time comes that they learn the truth? How do you tell them that you weren't lying for the past 5 years of their lives? What is there to gain by telling them about Santa in the first place? Do you not, in fact, lose some of the love and appreciation for the gift giving from the kids?

Just curious...

he's not real? :O

Shall I spare you a repeat performance of my views (and the debate that ensued) by simply providing a link???

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=lf#/Pastor.Christopher.Hart?v=feed&story_fbid=235501946336

I love santy claus and I teach my son that he IS REAL!!!

Fezzik -

Do you isolate your children from books, videos and TV that present a fantasy world? The Little Mermaid doesn't exist, you know, so is it a lie to allow kids to enjoy the imaginary character? How about talking fish? Nemo can't REALLY speak.

Pastor Gary wrote:Fezzik -

Do you isolate your children from books, videos and TV that present a fantasy world? The Little Mermaid doesn't exist, you know, so is it a lie to allow kids to enjoy the imaginary character? How about talking fish? Nemo can't REALLY speak.

Pastor Gary,

Should we lead our children to (and/or let our children) believe that fantasy and/or fictional characters from books, videos, TV, etc. are real? They can enjoy the characters knowing they are fictional and without one lying to them, can't they???

I think you should make it a point to crush their imaginations. Don't let them believe in Santy claus like the other kids, or the tooth fairy or dragons or dwarfs.

Then stress all the stuff that will make them go to hell like drinking a beer or having long hair or, God forbid, letting their own children believe in nonsense like santy clause.

I think that's a fun idea. Bring them up in the FEAR and admonition of the Lord. I stress the fear part. After all, we have an Angry, hateful God ready to pour out his wrath if we slip up and sin.

Poimen wrote:

Pastor Gary wrote:Fezzik -

Do you isolate your children from books, videos and TV that present a fantasy world? The Little Mermaid doesn't exist, you know, so is it a lie to allow kids to enjoy the imaginary character? How about talking fish? Nemo can't REALLY speak.

Pastor Gary,

Should we lead our children to (and/or let our children) believe that fantasy and/or fictional characters from books, videos, TV, etc. are real? They can enjoy the characters knowing they are fictional and without one lying to them, can't they???

You have obviously lost the wonder of childhood in which there is a very fine line between fantasy and reality. When kids play, they say "Pretend we are..." (or, in the south, "Play like we are...") and they slip easily into an imaginary world of make-believe that is -- for that moment -- as "real" as the real world.

Do you honestly think kids who don't have a fireplace or a chimney BELIEVE an enormous fat guy magically comes into their home? Do you think they really believe toys packaged with bar codes and peeled of price stickers were made my magical elves at the North Pole? How about that 6 foot tall rabbit, the Easter Bunny, who somehow lays colored chicken eggs?

You folks have lost the magic of childhood and imagination, and I am sad for you.

P.S. Make dang sure you don't buy them any little cars, boats, or tractors because they are FAKE. They aren't real!!!

CRUSH THEIR LITTLE HEARTS and make sure they know that all their little toys are EVIL.

At some point at a very young age my two children saw Mom and Dad buying those toys.

Of course we taught them Santa and played it to the hilt. When they get to the age where they ask if he is real or not, we answer truthfully.

Actually guys,

I've lost nothing and I crush nothing. Really.

My children are very imaginative and creative, with a good grip on reality versus fiction, and still have an uncanny ability to blend the two when playing make believe.

Maybe some others have trouble there. *shrugs* Dunno...

But not here.

I never "taught" my children that Santa was real, nor did I demonize him either.

While we never told them that Santa brought the gifts, we got their pictures made with him when they were little.

He was just another Christmas decoration in our house.

Shellie wrote:I never "taught" my children that Santa was real, nor did I demonize him either.

While we never told them that Santa brought the gifts, we got their pictures made with him when they were little.

He was just another Christmas decoration in our house.

Pretty much the same here.

BTW, my additional comments are not meant to debate the issue, only to clarify my families experience. My girls think of Santa (and of course Rudolph, ha!) the same way they do Dora or Diego -- a fun fictional character. Nothing more.

I don't think children should be allowed to pretend. After all, isn't that kinda like lying to ones self - endangering the child to the eternal torture of hell. All Liars DO have their place in hell. Doesn't lying to yourself in the form of pretending damn people to hell?