Is Santa Claus good or bad?

[cherub_rocker1979]

You decide!!

https://www.av1611.org/othpubls/santa.html

[arensky]

what??? Where in hell (hohoho) did you find this? This is utterly bizarre. TOO strange, kind of disturbing...

[pianistimo]

it is a well known fact that pagan customs and religious customs have been combined for centuries.  a tree has nothing to do with Christ.  the evergreen is a symbol for life during the winter months.  i think jerimiah 31 (have to look it up) says something about people cutting down trees and setting them up.  people used to worship nature and natural things as gods.  nowdays, people are just oblivious as to what they mean.

religious topics seem to be an area of common debate - but, if truth is sought - the bible is consulted.  it seems to indicate (through counting the line of priests to the exact time of the 'course of abiah') - that Jesus Christ was actually born in the fall (probably as the article said, during the feast of tabernacles).  an explaination of this can be found in the companion bible (in the appendixes).  the fixing of the date of x-mas is around the darkest time of the year.  the other would be at a harvest time - similar to the harvest of souls that He will reap.  and, the sheep would still be in the fields.

why does santa want to know if children are good or bad?  that's another question. 

[stevie]

santa and satan are obviously the same thing, some idot made a typo a few centuries ago, randomly

[sarahlein]

it is a well known fact that pagan customs and religious customs have been combined for centuries. a tree has nothing to do with Christ. the evergreen is a symbol for life during the winter months. i think jerimiah 31 (have to look it up) says something about people cutting down trees and setting them up. people used to worship nature and natural things as gods. nowdays, people are just oblivious as to what they mean.

Then why do 'Christians' still celebrate Christmas? 

[pianistimo]

christian customs started to be combined with pagan when rome began to combine christianity with the secular government around the time of constantine.  there are many st. nicholas popes - but the st. nick that most think of was probably the bishop in turkey.  christmas = christ + mass    the catholic encyclopedia describes the first celebration:  www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm

www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas  was a recent documentary on the history of santa. 

i think today - people are generally not 'worshipping' santa or trees, but they don't know the symbolism behind them.  what caused them to be there in the first place.  they are roman ideas (trees, ule logs burning) along with norse (gods like odin) along with germanic (santa and elves - as carpenter) - russian (worship of saints - as santa means 'saint').

the only reason i even wondered or was interested was because my mom pointed it out to me when we were children.  i don't think knowing this has hurt me - but - i respect people's own beliefs and just hope they will worship Christ.  he's no baby anymore. in fact, He is already king.  Just not in our world yet.  I believe that He was probably conceived at the end of december - thus the birth in september - but did not request that anyone keep his birthday.  No one did, for many years.

something else came to mind, in that Christ himself before he died said about serving others before yourself 'do this in remembrance of me.'  His death was the ultimate sacrifice  and His ressurrection our gain.  it's probably higher on the list of things to memorialize because he was no longer a baby.  He had lived a life of purpose and his 'gospel' wasn't preached when He was just born.  It was preached when he became an adult and God used Him to speak His words.  Just as we remember Martin Luther and others, we don't remember them as babies - but as leaders.  Having done some commendable action. 

[rob47]

"Santa is Satan's counterfeit of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Man some Christians are so awesome! They are the only ones who really get what life's about. I especially respect young Christians who really have no life experience yet condemn other's to hell for not having the same morals and values. There is no doubt in my mind Jesus would have wanted them to do this.  Hilariously, when I suggested this to some random Christians at the "youthforgod forums" they deleted my account without explanation! Off topic? Yes, but just tell me this then: Is BoliverAllmon the second coming of Christ? Just give me the word and I will start worshipping him. Being Catholic I will let my church know that, yes, Christ has actually come again, and that he supports the Houston Astros.

Below Jesus and Santa try to bring Christmas to Iraq.

[stevie]

[cfortunato]

Actually, the Christmas Tree probably comes from when they used a tree hung with balls to represent the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden hung with fruit.  It was part of a sacred play that was performed around Christmas, much like  a modern Lesson & Carols Service.  They used an evergreen, of course, because it was December, and it was green.

However (and it's a big however) there is something similar in some pagan traaditions.  And as frequently happens with rite and ritual, diferent religions have similar motifs coincidentally, and they wind up borrowing ideas from each other, originating with those similarities.   The process is very dynamic, and not at all linear and direct.

[pianistimo]

dear rob47,

you remind me of my son (except older, probably).  i tell him the same things about halloween (origins and all) and he goes out and buys a sumo wrestling outfit and does what he wants.  imo, a sixteen year old doesn't need to go out and collect candy - but he brought back this HUGE pillowcase full and deemed it right to have done so.  he told me he had a race with someone else in a hard- to- move costume  from house to house. 

all i can say, is without people like you (and my son) we'd have nothing to complain about.    he tells me that going to church is stupid. 

but, in most other areas not revolving around religion he's really level headed and thoughtful.  as a mother, i just want him to know that he'll have help at any time in his life if he chooses - because God isn't a respecter of persons (money, power) - but of the opposite.  humbleness and meekness.  in my son's perspective right now, winning a war is about guns and knives (he likes to play those terrorist games - with blood and guts) - but what if winning a war was not just 'bringing christmas' but bringing hope every day.  i'm sure many of our soldiers in iraq want to - it's just really hard because so many different voices on both sides still want war.

[sarahlein]

So pianistimo do you celebrate Christmas?

[pianistimo]

no.  but, it doesn't mean i'd want to keep others from appreciating the day that possibly Christ was conceived.  i think it's intention.  God knows our hearts.  it's probably a matter of how people interpret the Word.  some churches believe (sort of like at thanksgiving) to give more than receive.  if a person goes and is charitable on that day, more power to them.  there's a whole lot of people needing things right now in lousiana and elsewhere. 

i don't think i'm a perfect christian, but i try to understand why i have gone through the experiences in my life that i have.  when you don't do what everyone else does, you tend to develop less fear of being different.  thankfully, we live in a country where we can choose what we believe is right.  imo, santa is a story people like telling their kids and makes them believe 'magic.'  my parents observed x-mas maybe 2 or 3 times and then we quit.  they substituted the spring and fall festivals (sukkot) based around harvest (like thanksgiving) and celebrated for 8 days.  i realize most think this is a very jewish thing to do, but i am surprised at how many people who are not jewish (as i am irish) just look into scripture and try to find what days God said were 'holy' days.     

[thalbergmad]

Funniest post of the year.

[chopiabin]

Santa is just a way to brainwash children and get them used to the idea of the Christian moral system. Think about it: he's an apparently omnipotent being who judeges your every action and, when you're good, you get rewarded. Sounds like the blueprints of Christianity to me.

[pianistimo]

yes. 

i think stevie wants something!  but, he looks like he's been really bad.  wonder what's going to happen to him?  you never hear the other side of the story - where santa just leaves the plate of cookies sitting there - and maybe a message - ok, kid.  you've been intolerably bad.  sorry to break the news - but, there's nothing for you this year. 

i mean, that would make santa more believeable, right?

[chopet]

Santa is just a way to brainwash children and get them used to the idea of the Christian moral system.

  WHAT!!!!!!!!! You mean he's not real? 


lol

[stevie]

[pianistimo]

you really scared me with those front teeth.

[mycrabface]

Satan gave us Santa to hide the true meaning of Christmas. Satan gave us the Easter bunny. Satan gave us the internet, and along with it, porn. Satan gave us magazines, busy schedules, so we often do not have time for God, and won't want to spend time with Him.