Santa Claus is not the Devil

[ioioouiouiouio]

hot_wheels_turbo_racing

You're wrong. My school is different. They do understand, and since you've never been there, don't try to tell me I'm wrong.

You're right. I haven't been to your school. Lemme ask you question about it, though. About how big is it?

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No, I've heard God.

No, you haven't. How do I know? Because God said no more prophecies untill later on (some time in the apocolypse). You may have had His will made clear to you, or even gotten 'one of those feelings' (where you know it was God-inspired), but you have not heard God.

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Yeah, so people should stop trying to convince kids Santa Claus is real.

They don't 'try' to convince their kids. They just do. Kids are easily influenced. You know, 'mummy an' daddy said it, is its gots to be reel' and all that jazz. This attitude is exactly what stops kids from 'getting' God. They don't understand what their told, they just accept it.  

[hot_wheels_turbo_racing]

Cometh The Inquisitor

You're right.

There's a statement I don't hear enough.

Cometh The Inquisitor

Lemme ask you question about it, though. About how big is it?

Currently, in all, there's about 130 students.

Cometh The Inquisitor

No, you haven't. How do I know? Because God said no more prophecies untill later on (some time in the apocolypse). You may have had His will made clear to you, or even gotten 'one of those feelings' (where you know it was God-inspired), but you have not heard God.

Again, you're not me, so you can't say that. I have heard God.

And what do you mean about "no more prophecies"? There are still prophecies today.

Cometh The Inquisitor

They don't 'try' to convince their kids. They just do. Kids are easily influenced.

Then they'd do better influencing them about God and not Santa.

Cometh The Inquisitor

You know, 'mummy an' daddy said it, is its gots to be reel' and all that jazz. This attitude is exactly what stops kids from 'getting' God. They don't understand what their told, they just accept it.

Well, I'll tell you that when I was told about God as a kid, I understood what I was told, not just accepted it.  

[ioioouiouiouio]

hot_wheels_turbo_racing

Currently, in all, there's about 130 students.

ok... So, unless you go to battle school, I'd say that (according to the percentage of child prodigies compared to normal people) there are probably 0-1 people in your school capable of understanding God at a young age. God is an abstract concept, and kids can't understand abstract concepts.

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Again, you're not me, so you can't say that. I have heard God.

And what do you mean about "no more prophecies"? There are still prophecies today.

If someone told me they heard the will of the Flying spaghetti monster, I wouldn't need to be them to realise that they were wrong.

And no, there are no prophecies today. Why? God said so. We don't get to talk straight to God.

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Then they'd do better influencing them about God and not Santa.

Probably, but, considering we are talking about christian parents, they do that just fine.

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Well, I'll tell you that when I was told about God as a kid, I understood what I was told, not just accepted it.

Sorry, pinnochio, but you aren't a real boy. Sure, you may think you understood God, but you didn't. Unless, of course, you were that 0-1 kid in your school, at which case you would probably understand just how stupid all the other kids are. I don't care if it's circular logic, it's still true.  

[hot_wheels_turbo_racing]

Cometh The Inquisitor

ok... So, unless you go to battle school, I'd say that (according to the percentage of child prodigies compared to normal people) there are probably 0-1 people in your school capable of understanding God at a young age. God is an abstract concept, and kids can't understand abstract concepts.

Well, you're wrong about my school, and I don't appreciate you badmouthing it.

Cometh The Inquisitor

And no, there are no prophecies today. Why? God said so. We don't get to talk straight to God.

Where did God ever say there are no prophecies in today's age? And what do you mean, "We don't get to talk straight to God"?

Cometh The Inquisitor

Sorry, pinnochio, but you aren't a real boy. Sure, you may think you understood God, but you didn't. Unless, of course, you were that 0-1 kid in your school, at which case you would probably understand just how stupid all the other kids are. I don't care if it's circular logic, it's still true.

Okay, that is a flat-out remark against me, and I'd report you if I could. Your remark is directly derogatory and degrading. You are not, never have been, or ever will be me. You cannot go saying I could or couldn't have been capable of/done this or that because you have no right to say to. You cannot determing what I am/was capabale or incapable of.

Ban, ban, ban, dang, I don't have that power.  

[ioioouiouiouio]

hot_wheels_turbo_racing

Well, you're wrong about my school, and I don't appreciate you badmouthing it.

I'm not badmouthing it. I'm saying that you aren't genius' (hence, the battle school reference, if you've read any of the Ender's series). Heck, the reason your estimate was so high is because your a small school. big school with a couple thousand kids? Not a chance of even a single person capable.

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Where did God ever say there are no prophecies in today's age? And what do you mean, "We don't get to talk straight to God"?

Oh, it was something along the lines of "no more fun stuff 'til the second coming'. Can't remember exactly where it was. And just what I said, we don't get to talk to God (the father). We have to go through Jesus.

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Okay, that is a flat-out remark against me, and I'd report you if I could. Your remark is directly derogatory and degrading. You are not, never have been, or ever will be me. You cannot go saying I could or couldn't have been capable of/done this or that because you have no right to say to. You cannot determing what I am/was capabale or incapable of.

No, I just said you were average but, incomparison to have the intelligence level of a child prodigy, rather stupid. Of course, we all are rather stupid compared to an actual genius. Really, though I'm sorry you took what I said as an insult, the fact stands. Unless you are a certified child prodigy (which, just considering the mere probability of it, I doubt), you were not able to understand the concept of God at a young age (neither is/was anyone else).

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Ban, ban, ban, dang, I don't have that power.

Good, especially since I haven't done anythig worthy of a ban. A warning at most, maybe.  

[hot_wheels_turbo_racing]

Cometh The Inquisitor

Oh, it was something along the lines of "no more fun stuff 'til the second coming'. Can't remember exactly where it was.

Well, you're going to have to come up with a lot more than that if you think I'm going to believe that.

Cometh The Inquisitor

We have to go through Jesus.

Where in the Bible does it ever say we have to go through Jesus?

Cometh The Inquisitor

Unless you are a certified child prodigy (which, just considering the mere probability of it, I doubt), you were not able to understand the concept of God at a young age (neither is/was anyone else).

You're wrong...there's no other way I can say it nicely.

Cometh The Inquisitor

Good, especially since I haven't done anythig worthy of a ban. A warning at most, maybe.

Hardly  

[ioioouiouiouio]

hot_wheels_turbo_racing

Well, you're going to have to come up with a lot more than that if you think I'm going to believe that.

Eh, I'll try.

Cometh The Inquisitor

Where in the Bible does it ever say we have to go through Jesus?

Y'know, that whole, like, "One way to the Father" bit?

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You're wrong...there's no other way I can say it nicely.

Like to prove that?

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Hardly

Oh, I've broken less rules then you have. You know, all those times you said something was satanic or of the devil. And how about those times you called me not christian? Oh, and that time...

Really, we could get into some big pissing contest over whose broken more rules and gotten away with it, or we can just act like big boys and be mature.  

[hot_wheels_turbo_racing]

Cometh The Inquisitor

Y'know, that whole, like, "One way to the Father" bit?

You're going to have to be a lot more specific than that, and if I remember corretctly, that was not in reference to prayer.

Cometh The Inquisitor

Like to prove that?

You bet.

Cometh The Inquisitor

You know, all those times you said something was satanic or of the devil.

If it's not of God, it's of the Devil.

Cometh The Inquisitor

And how about those times you called me not christian?

Never said you weren't one, only asked because you were probably conveying a very non-Christian idea or principle.

Cometh The Inquisitor

Oh, and that time...

Please...

Cometh The Inquisitor

pissing

Don't cuss, please

Cometh The Inquisitor

we can just act like big boys and be mature.

Or even better, turn this coversation back towards the original topic. Now then, I'll ask again. Why do you insist it is not harmful for children to believe in Santa? Woodlock gave some pretty good reasons why back on the first page.  

[ioioouiouiouio]

hot_wheels_turbo_racing

You're going to have to be a lot more specific than that, and if I remember corretctly, that was not in reference to prayer.

Prayer is the only way to talk to God.

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If it's not of God, it's of the Devil.

Well, duh. But we're still not aloud to call it satanic.

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Don't cuss, please

I'm not. I simply chose the less offensive of two variations of a very applicable analogy.

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Why do you insist it is not harmful for children to believe in Santa? Woodlock gave some pretty good reasons why back on the first page.

Because it isn't harmful. It is a decidedly nuetral action, as it can be bad (if taught incorrectly [or to a stupid person]), and it can be good (teaching kid's the whole 'christmas is about giving'). And I believe I did reply to woodlock, though it is decidedly irrelavent, as I am discussing what you say and have said.  

[hot_wheels_turbo_racing]

Cometh The Inquisitor

[Prayer is the only way to talk to God.

And did I ever say it wasn't?

Cometh The Inquisitor

Well, duh. But we're still not aloud to call it satanic.

Who says?

Cometh The Inquisitor

I'm not. I simply chose the less offensive of two variations of a very applicable analogy.

No, that word was not necessary to prove your point at all.

Cometh The Inquisitor

as it can be bad (if taught incorrectly [or to a stupid person])

Which is why people shouldn't bother.

Cometh The Inquisitor

and it can be good (teaching kid's the whole 'christmas is about giving').

Which is why Jesus is a better example for that.

Cometh The Inquisitor

And I believe I did reply to woodlock, though it is decidedly irrelavent, as I am discussing what you say and have said.

No, not really, because I hold practically the exact same views.  

[Gambol]

My parents didn't let me believe in Santa.

So, I've always thought that it was foolish to believe in Santa.
But I sure liked having my picture taken! razz  

[hot_wheels_turbo_racing]

Gambol

My parents didn't let me believe in Santa.

You were a very priviledged child. I can only wish I could have been in that place.

Gambol

So, I've always thought that it was foolish to believe in Santa.

And even though there was a time I believed in him, I still feel it was foolish.  

[Fushigi na Butterfly]

Wow, Hotwheels and Cometh, the two of you amuse me. **has read through your entire little bickering contest** Anyway, that whole thing about "not being able to hear God until the Apocolypse" that Cometh said. Who's to say we're not already near the Apocolypse? I don't remember seeing a set date in the Bible. And the Bible never says anything about no more prophecies. If it did, I'd like to see your verses that back it up.

And then about children believing in Santa versus believing in God- we're learning about cognitive development in my Human Development class. Until a child is around the age of 12 or so, they can't even really begin to understand who God is. Their minds don't have the cognitive capability of understanding something so abstract. Santa on the other hand is easier for them to grasp, because we normally liken him to a real person. Granted, real people don't live in the north pole with elves and fly on a sled with magical reindeer, but to a child, that makes more sense than an omnipotent, omnipresent God that is Lord over all the universe. Besides. Santa brings toys. smile

I guess my point is that it wouldn't matter if you introduced your child to God at an early age or not. Until they hit adolescence, they just aren't going to understand what you're talking about.  

[hot_wheels_turbo_racing]

Fushigi na Butterfly

Wow, Hotwheels and Cometh, the two of you amuse me.

I try.

Fushigi na Butterfly

Anyway, that whole thing about "not being able to hear God until the Apocolypse" that Cometh said. Who's to say we're not already near the Apocolypse?

Exactly

Fushigi na Butterfly

And the Bible never says anything about no more prophecies. If it did, I'd like to see your verses that back it up.

So would I.

Fushigi na Butterfly

And then about children believing in Santa versus believing in God- we're learning about cognitive development in my Human Development class. Until a child is around the age of 12 or so, they can't even really begin to understand who God is.

There is a difference between believing in something and understanding something. I can believe and know that objects accelerating due to gravity fall at -9.81 meters per second, but I don't have to understand how that happens to know it.

Fushigi na Butterfly

Besides. Santa brings toys. smile

God brings salvation. That's much more important.

Fushigi na Butterfly

I guess my point is that it wouldn't matter if you introduced your child to God at an early age or not. Until they hit adolescence, they just aren't going to understand what you're talking about.

Again, understanding and knowing are two different things. Ever hear the phrase, "impressionalby young children"? Exactly When I was a child, I was told about the existence of God, and how he made the world and all things in it. I believed that. Whether I actually understood how is immaterial, and to say that it "wouldn't matter" when you introduced your children to God is not true, because by being taught that God was the creator of the universe, I did not believe teachings of evolution, because I unfortunately atteneded a public school in my elementary years and was taught that evolution was how the universe was created. So, the fact that I had been introduced to God did matter, for if I'm being taught something at a young age, I'm going to believe it. Children will believe anything. Why not have them believe in the real God over the fictional Santa?  

[Fushigi na Butterfly]

Mm ... you have a point. But until they're a certain age, God isn't going to be real to them. They'll believe, but it'll just be out of "well, Mommy and Daddy say it's true, so it must be." The decision for Christ will have to come at a much later time, when they actually know what they're getting into.