But, is there a Santa Claus?

@kennethamy,

Quote:

"He remembered exactly who I was. He said, 'It's really good to see you, Amanda, how have you been?' " she recalled. "It shocked me. . . . I stopped believing at age 12, but when I saw him again I didn't know whether to believe in him or not. Something about it was really cool. If he knows who I am, he's gotta have some kind of magic going for him."

Perhaps she is familiar with the magic we like to call "memory".

1 Reply

@Zetherin,

Zetherin;113796 wrote:

Perhaps she is familiar with the magic we like to call "memory".

Are you also cynical when a kid tells you about the tooth fairy?

1 Reply

@kennethamy,

kennethamy;113801 wrote:

Are you also cynical when a kid tells you about the tooth fairy?

Yes, not only am I cynical, but I consider that a punishable offense. Gotta teach these kids not to be so gullible. I'll beat the reason into them if I have to!

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@kennethamy,

No Santa? Then who might I ask left all those presents underneath the Christmas tree while mommy and daddy were fast asleep?

Silly people!

1 Reply

@fast,

fast;113811 wrote:

No Santa? Then who might I ask left all those presents underneath the Christmas tree while mommy and daddy were fast asleep?

Silly people!

Good point. And Aunt Anne was out of town, too.

Newseum - Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

---------- Post added 12-23-2009 at 01:23 PM ----------

Zetherin;113805 wrote:

Yes, not only am I cynical, but I consider that a punishable offense. Gotta teach these kids not to be so gullible. I'll beat the reason into them if I have to!

Newseum - Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

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@kennethamy,

I've told this story before but I think it appropriate to repeat it now. One of the most memorable fights I had a youngster was when a neighbor, kid about my age at the time, told me there was no Santa Claus. I lit into him like a hurricane and won too, though he out weighed me significantly. He knew and I knew there was the possibility of there being no Santa Claus. but if he ever told my Mom and Dad that I knew such, he would get that butt lickin' again, Ha!

William

1 Reply

@William,

William;113834 wrote:

I've told this story before but I think it appropriate to repeat it now. One of the most memorable fights I had a youngster was when a neighbor, kid about my age at the time, told me there was no Santa Claus. I lit into him like a hurricane and won too, though he out weighed me significantly. He knew and I knew there was the possibility of there being no Santa Claus. but if he ever told my Mom and Dad that I knew such, he would get that butt lickin' again, Ha!

William

Argumentum ad baculum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 Reply

@kennethamy,

Well, my ten year old daughter approached me a few weeks ago
"Daddy is Santa Claus real?"
To which I responded "What do you mean real?"
"Real like the table", she said.
"Well no Santa Claus is not real like the table", I replied.
"Santa Claus is real like a spirit, like an ideal, Santa Claus is real like kindness, love, beauty, truth. None of the really important things in our lives are "real like the table"..
And even the ten year old could see some truth in that assessment.

Of course there was the "if you stop believing in Santa Claus, he might stop coming" part of the conversation, as well.

2 Replies

@prothero,

Ho ho merry Christmas everybody. The season of the winter spirit, the gift of new life is in the air. Belief in certain innocent spirits is far less dangerous than certain maintained beliefs. May his magic stay with us in our children's eyes.

1 Reply

@kennethamy,

And a merry Christmas to you and all!

0 Replies

@kennethamy,

Like Prothero asks: is 'the spirit of Christmas real?'

Well - of course it is. You might say, well how do you show it to me? How do you demonstrate that it exists?

And the answer is - by being generous, giving gifts, showing love to your family, and all the other things you do at Christmas.

And on that happy note, Happy Christmas to all my friends on the Forum and your friends and family.

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@prothero,

prothero;113858 wrote:

Well, my ten year old daughter approached me a few weeks ago
"Daddy is Santa Claus real?"
To which I responded "What do you mean real?"
"Real like the table", she said.
"Well no Santa Claus is not real like the table", I replied.
"Santa Claus is real like a spirit, like an ideal, Santa Claus is real like kindness, love, beauty, truth. None of the really important things in our lives are "real like the table"..
And even the ten year old could see some truth in that assessment.

Of course there was the "if you stop believing in Santa Claus, he might stop coming" part of the conversation, as well.

You should have said, "Santa Claus is real like Tinker Belle in the play, Peter Pan". Unless the children in the audience believe in Tinker Belle, she will die.

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@kennethamy,

kennethamy;113836 wrote:

Argumentum ad baculum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fallacies all around. Especially in that guy's post. Hence why I don't read them anymore.

1 Reply

@kennethamy,

Of course there is a Santa. Many bums dress up as Santa at local malls over the U.S. The idea in children's heads is enough for there to be a Santa. Sure, it is all in the mind, but the reality exists as a result nonetheless.

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@kennethamy,

It is an interesting lesson in the contrast between reality and existence.

Is Santa real? No.

Does Santa exist? Yes.

(In shopping malls, and christmas cards, and in the wishes of children, all over the world.)

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@kennethamy,

It is sad to me we celebrate this time of giving only once a year. It should be everyday. It's not about the gifts we give but the so many other ways we can give that matter. I don't know how I know this but there is a love in me for the entire world. I feel that. Hugs, kisses and handshakes all around.

I hope each and every one of you one day share in what I have that I give so freely. Ralph Waldo Trine wrote a small book a little over a hundred years ago he called WHAT THE WORLD'S A SEEKING that I think helped me understand what life is about and what that life means. Another he wrote IN TUNE WITH THE INFINITE did the same.

Sure there is much to be said about religion and we thinkers/stinkers ha, discuss that and still we don't understand it but it means something or the word wouldn't exist now would it? We are trying to tell ourselves something in all that and one day, I hope anyway, we will all hear all that is. What is important is you must WANT to hear it.

We have our discussions about "this God" and all think of him as good and when we believe that and treat others like this god would surely understand and treat us, we begin to understand what caring, understanding and love are all about. It is in the giving; an unrequited giving. Many say there is no such thing. They are wrong. I promise you there is. Try it some time, you'll understand what I mean, even if it is a smile that was never asked for.

An All Seasons Greetings to you and a love from me as well, :a-ok:

William

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@Emil,

Emil;113952 wrote:

Fallacies all around. Especially in that guy's post. Hence why I don't read them anymore.

Haha, you philosophers always worrying about fallacies. I think you can at least admit that argument by force can potentially be one of the most fun fallacies to employ. I mean, who doesn't enjoy forcing someone to concede an argument due to your fist bashing into their face? Very Happy

I love you, Santa! Merry Christmas all!

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@xris,

xris;113872 wrote:

Ho ho merry Christmas everybody. The season of the winter spirit, the gift of new life is in the air. Belief in certain innocent spirits is far less dangerous than certain maintained beliefs. May his magic stay with us in our children's eyes.

And Ho Ho to you my friend. Yes there are mantained beliefs and what maintains them is that element of truth in them. Your last sentence was a wonderful thing to say. :a-ok:

Merry Christmas
William

0 Replies

But, is there a Santa Claus?

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