The Christian war on Christmas

[T.G.G. Moogly]

[Armchair_Parent]Disagree. Children's imaginations should be indulged, but as they get older parents should take it upon themselves to explain the concept of santa and how he represents a certain aspect of the human spirit idolized once they're old enough for such adult concepts. You don't want your kids to figure out on their own because then they feel they can't trust you, then it becomes "Well what else are they lying about?"[/Armchair_Parent]

I cannot remember any of those childhood deconversions - Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa - did I miss any? So naturally I have no association between them and my parents. There could be subconscious aspects operating, however.

There were two popular fictions I remember discovering as a kid. One was that the Harlem Globetrotters were not a real basketball team, the other was that professional wrestling matches were not real competition. And those discoveries came about just talking with friends and watching these things on TV.

Religion is just another popular fiction. The difference is that states have enforced one popular fiction over another for all of human history. This is the problem, not that these stories are around.

Vork is right. We shouldn't give a shit when it comes to religion and religiously themed events, and we wouldn't if those fans of popular fiction we call religion did not have such a sordid past, and that we need to protect ourselves from.

Religion certainly is not "just another popular fiction." It's a framework, a world view that applies to all aspects of life. It's often indoctrinated, as opposed to simply taught or told. Furthermore, it's a group identity often based in some idea of good vs. evil "spiritual war" that must be won through belief and obedience to the religious rules.

No one teaches a kid that their self worth as a human being depends on whether they believe in the Tooth Fairy or that they will burn for eternity if they don't put out cookies for Santa. Such people would be rightfully regarded as crazy abusers.

As for what kids should be taught about fiction, I say teach them all the fiction you want but also how to tell the difference, and help them to hone their imaginative skills as well as their critical skills.

I agree with you that religion becomes all of those things to many people.

But at its most basic construct, at the very bottom, beneath all the righteous indignation and superstition and fear and love and brutality that it inspires for some people, it remains popular fiction. That is all it is. It reads exactly like other popular fiction. It is nothing special. Giving it special status is what makes it religion.