Belief in God vs. Belief in Santa Claus

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I don't see how the two are comparable. People have believed in God throughout history. Kids believing in Santa Claus is a relatively recent thing in human history.

Saint Nicholas is a real person though.

Not a magic flying fat man who rides around in a sleigh, but a Greek monk who gave alms to the poor.

I have to agree with Barchan on a particular.

The comparison between God and Santa Claus isn't a comparison between Santa Clause and any divinity at all, rather it's a comparison between Santa Clause and the Canaanite version of Zeus in a chastity belt.

I think, in a sense, belief in God and Santa Claus could be comparable.

I believe both provide "moral boundaries" for children (and adults).

Belief in Santa Claus, to a considerable extent, involves the child "being good" so he/she could get presents.

Belief in God restrains many adults who have human passions.

Note: I don't believe in either--but I'm not going to argue with someone who does; it's their right to believe.

Let's see ... we have two choices ...

1) A bearded, supernatural father-figure who watches us while we have sex, and divides us all into two categories - "Saved" and "Damned".

-OR-

2) A bearded, supernatural grandfather-figure who watches children while they sleep, and divides them into two categories - "Naughty" and "Nice".

The former gives us eternal life, while the latter gives us presents.

... decisions ... decisions ...

No one goes to see God at the mall. No one leaves out cookies for God.

No one goes to see Santa at church. No one drops money in a basket for Santa.

How does one "agree" with another person when the other person failed to make any point?

Barchan was just being flip, by pointing out the irrelevent fact that the modern elf has the same name as the long dead monk. The modern meme has morphed so far away from the memory of the historic saint that they cant be considered to be the same thing. Its the modern jolly elf that the OP is talking about.

And BTW- when the Victorians first invented the modern Santa Clause he was thought of as being a bunny sized elf who could fit down chimneys ( with eight TINY reindeer). Only later did re evolve back into the less plausible human size again. The ancient middle eastern saint was not a bunny sized elf.

I think my eyes might have just done a number on that second sentence. I usually try not to let that happen, guess it's just been on of those days.

Translation please?

I misread it.

Well....at least you eat over the sink, rather than over the garbage

Than Cocoa cola dressed him in a red and white suit.

They are similar in that they are both made up beings that we believe in to make us feel good, and we're wiser when we stop believing either.

That is the intent of that comparison