The first amendment is a wonderful thing. Without such, it would be much more difficult for people to embarrass their entire religion before the world.
False reasoning. “Santa Claus” was derived from the efforts of English-speaking children in England to pronounce the Dutch name “Sinter Klaas.” I don’t think “Satan” (from the Hebrew Shatan, meaning “adversary” cf. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
If the “Jesus Freaks” want prospective converts to take them seriously, they had better acknowledge the existence of languages other than modern American English (Dutch and Hebrew, for example) and take a course in language, including etymology.
This doesn’t mean I have all that much to say in favor of Santa Claus, for other reasons: I was somewhat surprised to see some text in a big book by Robert Ripley, suggesting that “Santa Claus” was the patron saint of pawnbrokers and thieves, for example, and that a Santa-like visage preceded the Jolly Roger (!!) on some pirate flags.
I think it was best said by Stan Freberg in “Green Chri$tma$.”
I skimmed through the link and it sounds very plausible to me. I can agree with it. Christmas has nothing to do with Santa Claus, it’s just an effort by the devil to get attention off of what it’s really about, which is the birth of Jesus Christ. That’s what Christmas is about, not Santa Claus.
It goes on. This is pathetic. If Satan is Santa, then he is no doubt behind this site, since it is so terribly reasoned, that it offers the best possible cover for the Horned One. After all, the best place to hide something is in plain view.
Inquiring minds want to know – the site is registered to the following:
Administrative Contact:
Watkins, Terry (TW512) spuh004@UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU
Dial-the-Truth Ministries
5990 Willow Ridge Road
Pinson, AL 35126
205-681-9956
Technical Contact:
Watkins, Terry (TWS266) terry@AV1611.ORG
Dial-the-Truth Ministries
5990 Willow Ridge Road
Pinson , AL 35126
205-681-9956
This is PUBLIC information so please do think that anything nefarious was committed in the process of discovering the above listed. Maybe Mr. Watkins might like to debate his point on the SDMB?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Jesus about treating people like they want to be treated His4Ever? I can think of no better way to be treated than to get presents.
Plus don’t discount the Santa Claus factor as an effort to keep Christianity in schools and thoughts of people during this time of year.
Had a Sociology prof back in the 80’s who gave this sort of lecture… he did it to shock people.
Christmas has nothing to do with Christ’s birth which was orginally celebrated in the spring( if thats wrong I am sure there are plenty people to correct my faulty memeory)
Christmas is merely sorta Christian belief grafted onto the old Midwinter celebration and fertility rites( via the tree) in the old “If you can’t beat them join them” theory.
I like the anagram stuff. I mean, what word is an anagram of God? DOG Does this mean that the ownership of puppies is a way of owning God? My Mom’s dog worships her, what does this tell us about God?
I do however agree that Santa Claus has nothing to do with the religious celebration of the birth of the Christian God Jesus. Santa is however, deeply embedded in the secular celebration. It is unfortunate that both are referred to as Christmas. For many people who celebrate Christmas by being with family and friends, sharing food and giving gifts, the day has no more religious significance than Labor Day. This should not make the religious celebration for those who keep it any less holy, any more than my working and eating on Rosh Hashanah lessens its significance to Jews. It is not disrepectful to celebrate on Dec 25 in a non-religious fashion, though it would be more politically (religiously?) correct to call it by a non-Christian name. Me, I celebrate Midwinter, and because all my family gets Dec. 25 off work, that’s when I celebrate it.
Just call me a Pagan on the side of the Rebel Jesus.