Atheists: would you make your kids believe in Santa?

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santachrist He died for your presents.

It's disheartening to see/hear how often the anti's are willing to burn the pro's at the proverbial stake when it comes to religion.

Me?

I'm an atheist...and the endless toxic "strawn man" rants of many fellow atheists are SO tiresome. They're on just as much of a crusade as the people/philosophies that they "decline" to accept/indulge.

I was raised devoutly Catholic, briefly messed around with evangelicalism, have deeply studied a wide variety of Western and non-Western belief systems, and am as hardcore atheistic/rationalistic as you'll ever find...BUT...you aren't likely (never say never!) to catch me ripping/castigating on people/systems unless they make themselves targets first by preaching, moralizing, etc, of course.

Like a lot of people, I used to get angry with people who held and/or preached (there's a difference) irrational notions.

Then, one day, I realized that despite (or perhaps because of) my upbringing *I* had "figured out the truth of there-is-no-supreme-being," so why couldn't/shouldn't my kids be able to do the same? Who was/am I to take away any security blanket from my children? If they want/need to believe that goodness reigns in the universe, that their dead pets go to heaven, that gramma/grampa didn't die horribly and that they are now enjoying eternal joy/peace, etc etc etc, who in the f*ck am/was I to rip that away from them and violently rub their noses in the sh*t of "reality"?

In other words....by being essentially nonreactive to stuff that I eventually assessed to be silly, naive, wishful thinking--eg SANTA!!!---they got whatever peace and happiness that they needed in childhood along the way (different strokes for different folks, right? Isn't that what we AS/AD folks are always whining about NOT getting from NTs?)...and guess what else?

They didn't percieve me as a cranky angry crabby bitter nutcase.

They didn't do the "equal and opposite reaction" rebellion thing.

I didn't contribute to any sense of "us against them" alienation from the world notions.

AND...the crown jewel:

They also have come to the same conclusions that I came to: Life and love are what you make of them, sh*t happens, and there ain't any Sky Daddies/Sky Mommies (or Santa's) takin' care of bizness on anyone's behalf. And they're happy, well adjusted, tolerant, kind, loving, and moral all the same...

So...to each his/her own. Let people take solace and find peace where they find it, so long as they aren't stealing from someone else in the process. Bright, intelligent, compassionate people will still find their way to "the light" just as you and I did, dear reader!

I voted no, but it's in how you worded the question. I don't think there's anything wrong with a little fantasy for kids. If I had children I'd likely do the whole santa/easter bunny/leprechaun thing, if only because I remember enjoying it when I was a child. On the other hand, I wouldn't "make" them believe, and I'd probably go about it in a manner where if the kid was smart, they'd pick up pretty quick it was a little fun joke.

In my opinion, this fun sort of fantasy is infinitely preferable to the not fun at all fantasy of a judgmental God.

I might let my children believe in the fat man, but when he still hasn't delivered on 25/12, I'll buy gifts in plain view and look like a hero on his expense.

As for the opinion "Silly bunny; Christmas is for christians": See if I care. I grew up in the thick woods of Småland, and if I want to have a party in mid-winter, I shall have my bloody party. God Jul.