# And the Jesus Freaks wonder why nobody takes them seriously. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920 "2002-12-15T19:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guybud5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Guybud5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guybud5)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/1 "2002-12-15T19:02:54Z")
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. To be honest, I thought this was a joke: Read about how Santa Claus is actually Satan: [http://www.av1611.org/othpubls/santa.html](http://www.av1611.org/othpubls/santa.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/2 "2002-12-15T19:19:38Z")
Wow, interesting reading. Somebody put a lot of time into that. I’m not sure that it isn’t a joke, though. ---
**Author:** ![Azure\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Azure\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azure_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/3 "2002-12-15T19:41:09Z")
Church Lady says: > [@](#): > > Well, Elaine, let’s examine thew word “Santa”, shall we? [holds up board with “SANTA” spelled across it in removeable letters] Santa. Let’s see, what have we got here? We’ve got an S and an A, an N, a T, and another A. Hmm… [rearranges the letters] Who could be causing all those laps to bounce up and down curiously? Who would help grown men peel the focus from the baby Jesus on his birthday? Who could it be, I just don’t know. Could it be… [echo] Satan!! > **[SNL Transcripts: Danny DeVito: 12/05/87: Church Chat - SNL Transcripts Tonight](https://snltranscripts.jt.org/87/87fchurchchat.phtml)** > >  Saturday Night Live Transcripts  Season 13: Episode 6 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/4 "2002-12-15T19:46:03Z")
The site in the OP is for real. A Google search indicates so. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/5 "2002-12-15T20:21:23Z")
Oo! Looky – Adam Sandler’s “Little Nicky” is included to support the argument! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/6 "2002-12-15T21:08:37Z")
Quoth Styx: “T-t-t-t-too much time on my hands…” ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/7 "2002-12-15T21:14:59Z")
Actually, the text of Isaiah they are quoting is, i believe, talking about the babylonians, not satan. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/8 "2002-12-15T21:19:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by XWalrus2 \* > \*\*Actually, the text of Isaiah they are quoting is, i believe, talking about the babylonians, not satan. \*\* That’s the great thing about prophetic language. You can make it say whatever you want. Your only limit is your imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/9 "2002-12-15T21:25:26Z")
Hey guys, I thought Santa Claus wasn’t real? I think these guys weren’t told something as a child. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/10 "2002-12-15T22:11:18Z")
_From the website_ > [@](#): > > You ever noticed how easy it is to transform “Satan” from “Santa”? Just move the “n” to the end. And presto! “Satan” appears. . . Hmmm…. 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$tma$.” ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/11 "2002-12-15T22:14:36Z")
_Oops! :o_ > [@](#): > > I don’t think “Satan” (from the Hebrew _Shatan,_ meaning “adversary” cf. Strong’s _Exhaustive Concordance)_ add here: “…has a form in Dutch that looks anything _like_ ‘Sinter’ or ‘Klaas!’” ---
**Author:** ![ILENSER](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@ILENSER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILENSER)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/12 "2002-12-15T22:18:55Z")
Dooooh! Got to go, Have to burn some …Oops Can’t say its name…Stuff… Things in the yard…Ooooh…Before it’s too late. ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/13 "2002-12-15T22:58:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guybud5 \* > \*\*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. > > To be honest, I thought this was a joke: > > Read about how Santa Claus is actually Satan: > [http://www.av1611.org/othpubls/santa.html](http://www.av1611.org/othpubls/santa.html) \*\* 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. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/14 "2002-12-15T23:13:45Z")
from the link… > [@](#): > > An internet Google search on “Satan Claus” [not Santa Claus – but SATAN Claus] found over 1,700 hits! Obviously, there are many that tie the two together. > > The rearranging of letters (called anagrams) to hide secret names or words has long been practiced in the occult. The Jewish Encyclopedia writes of the Jewish occult book called the Cabala: > [@](#): > > Is “Claus” another anagram for “Lucas”? > [@](#): > > Claus sounds a lot like “claws”. > > Maybe “Santa Claus” means “Satan’s Claws”? Like lion’s “claws”? 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. ---
**Author:** ![o42cDeadBeef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@o42cDeadBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/o42cDeadBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/15 "2002-12-16T01:21:01Z")
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](mailto: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? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/16 "2002-12-16T01:28:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/17 "2002-12-16T02:05:45Z")
> [@](#): > > So it is with Satan. He’s “seeking” those “whom he may devour”. Well that settles it. I’m not leaving any milk & cookies this year. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/18 "2002-12-16T04:06:01Z")
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.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/19 "2002-12-16T04:16:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920/20 "2002-12-16T04:51:22Z")
His4Ever, so Satan manifests himself as Satan only in English speaking countries? I prefer to think of him as St. Nick. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-jesus-freaks-wonder-why-nobody-takes-them-seriously/142920.md?page=2)