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The great Santa debate
By Elizabeth Tenety
With all the craziness of Christmastime, it's easy to forget the real reason for the season . . . getting presents from Santa Claus.
I kid, I kid!
For many families, the dilemma over how to incorporate beliefs about the jolly old chimney invader with the religious celebration of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem is a drama that plays out each December.
(The Washington Post)
Pastor Mark Driscoll wrote for On Faith this week about how he, as a Christian minister, explains the concept of Santa to his kids. Driscoll wrote:
"We gladly include him in our Christmas traditions to remind us of what it looks like for someone to live a life of devotion to Jesus as God."
Some parents work as Santa's little helper-elves, while others eagerly welcome St. Nick into their homes. Like Driscoll's, some religious families emphasize the spiritual symbolism of Santa over the magic of his eight flying reindeer, but few families escape the great Santa debate unscathed.
More On Faith and Santa:
Thistlethwaite: What is the difference between Jesus and Santa Claus?
Elizabeth Tenety
| December 9, 2010; 1:11 PM ET Save & Share:
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Posted by: Lefty_ | December 14, 2010 2:53 PM
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"just be closer to God as well as good person..".
Posted by: andrebudianto | December 21, 2010 7:30 AM
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Santa's hardly the biggest problem. What about the date? Many scholers place the date of Christ's birth in the spring, probibly April (and in 4 BC.) December was chosen in order to incorporate (or co-opt) the pagan winter solstice celebrations. That's also where the Christmas tree comes from. Church records show that the day of the 25th was chosen in 270 AD. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus but he won't arrive until April 5th.