[HPforGrownups] Re: HP religion debates

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 8469

Ebony wrote:

> You know, at the church I currently attend, the reading of *most*
> fantasy literature is very seriously frowned upon.  So is teaching
> children to believe in Santa Claus.

Just to point out that for Catholics, Santa Claus is not a fictional
character. His portrayal as a jolly man who brings gifts can still be traced
to the works of Bishop Nicholas of Myra (I think he was a bishop), who has
been canonized. My 5-year-old already knows Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus
are the same person, and that saints can look different when they need to
(just as Father Christmas looks different; she's seen him, too). When she's
old enough, I can explain that the whole bringing gifts thing is a concrete
example of the spirit of giving, etc., but I never have to tell her that
Santa does not exist. I guess it's the "jolly old elf" aspect that some
churches object to; I always sort of lumped them with the ones who don't
celebrate Christmas or Easter because of the pagan origins of some of the
trappings.

--Amanda