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Is Santa just Indoctrination into Organised Religion?

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T002 Tyrant

T002 Tyrant

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Nov 8, 2018
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So getting kids to believe in some kind of magical figure who knows exactly what you're doing, and knows if you're bad or good. Then rewards bad behaviour while punishing undesirable behaviour sometimes to the extent of the Krampus.

Are we just all indoctrinating kids into believing in god? Or is Santa just harmless and totally doesn't screw kids up when they find out they've been living a lie?
 
takriel

takriel

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I'm gonna raise a little scientist, so no reason to make them believe in this stuff.
 
Randolph Freelander

Randolph Freelander

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On the other hand, it could also be a clear path out of religion once the kid figures out mom & dad were lying about Santa all along. Not to mention the easter bunny and the tooth fairy.
 
nekkid

nekkid

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I just can't imagine living in some of your heads. Doesn't the overanalysis get tiresome??
 
NeonZ

NeonZ

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T002 Tyrant said:
So getting kids to believe in some kind of magical figure who knows exactly what you're doing, and knows if you're bad or good. Then rewards bad behaviour while punishing undesirable behaviour sometimes to the extent of the Krampus.

Are we just all indoctrinating kids into believing in god? Or is Santa just harmless and totally doesn't screw kids up when they find out they've been living a lie?
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I mean, it's not like people avoid talking about religion to children, taking them to church or anything like that. A surrogate has no point (especially one that will eventually be dismissed). If anything wouldn't it weaken religion since at some point they will realize Santa Claus is just fantasy?
 
BasilZero

BasilZero

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Reading the OP and the responses agreeing with them reminded me of this

the-grinch-1573157404.jpg




Moppeh said:
Seems more like indoctrination into consumerism to me.
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This, pretty much.
 
fracas

fracas

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Oct 27, 2017
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God lord this site sometimes

Why y'all have to hate everything good grief it's just santa
 
Chopchop

Chopchop

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Oct 25, 2017
14,171
It's more getting in the habit of giving and getting gifts. The religious aspect is barely even there these days.
 
rpm

rpm

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No?

Plenty of irreligious people celebrate Christmas. If anything, I'd think it'd have the opposite effect ("if my parents lied about Santa, what else are they lying about")

If Santa is indoctrinating kids into anything, it's definitely consumerism
 
kyle mechlachlan

kyle mechlachlan

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Oct 27, 2017
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I dunno bout this, but learning that Santa wasn't real is what broke the concept of religion and god and all that when I was a youngin.
 
Beignet

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No, but finding out Santa was fake at like 8 years old completely shattered my trust in my parents and pretty much made me realize religion is bullshit as well. If I have kids I'm just going to treat Santa like a fun little mascot for the holidays instead of a real person who monitors what you do and gives you presents.
 
bananab

bananab

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Oct 27, 2017
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Most parents bring their children up into their belief system via a more direct method known as raising them
 
Joliet Jake

Joliet Jake

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Oct 27, 2017
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Santa gets too much credit. The Easter Bunny is the one who died on the cross for the sins of mankind and rose from the dead.
 
Thorn

Thorn

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It's best to introduce your children to the cold unloving truth of the world as soon as possible.
 
Sanka

Sanka

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The religion of unlimted consumerism maybe. That's the only reason Santa exists in the way he does.
 
TheCthultist

TheCthultist

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No, religious indoctrination is indoctrinating kids into organized religion. There's plenty of it to go around, no need to go stretching the definition to include extra things like this, too. A belief in Santa isn't going to lead down a path toward religion anymore than a belief in the Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy is.

The concepts are removed from any actual religious beliefs at this point in time. Besides, it helps gets them used to being lied to the rest of their lives. There's a great line about it in The Hogfather that I can't quite remember the wording of, but I'm sure someone will post it soon enough...

EDIT: Nvm, found it
 
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belairjeff

belairjeff

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Oct 25, 2017
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No, because kids in Japan believe in Santa and their society is completely detached from a judeo-Christian world view.
 
diakyu

diakyu

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Dec 15, 2018
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Ahahahahahahaha what is this. It's just a fun thing for kids, they're meant to grow out of it. I'm honestly very concerned that some of you had a traumatic experience learning Santa isn't real.
 
Razmos

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Trying to get kids to believe in something that makes no sense and falls apart under the slightest scrutiny, yep certainly sounds like religion
 
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