Is it acceptable for parents to lie about the existence of Santa Claus? Options

[Joanne]

Last year in my Academic Reading & Writing class, we had a debate about whether it is acceptable or appropriate for parents to lie to their children about the existence of Santa Claus. I found it really interesting... so why not bring the debate here?

We were each given a 1897 New York Sun article as 'background information' Okay, so she gave this to us because she found it interesting and it's related to the topic. = ='':

Dear Editor: I am 8 years old.

Some of my little friends say, there is no Santa Claus.

Papa says "If you see it in the Sun it's so."

Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would they prove? Nobody sees Sanata Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.

No Santa Claus! Thank God, he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

So... yes or no?

[Stuckie]

The whole point of christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. (Thats not what it originally was, but thats for another topic.) Why would you need a fictional character for a holiday that is supposed to be for Christ? And if you're not christian, and you dont believe in christ, you shouldn't celebrate the holiday anyway. If you want a day specifically for the giving and receiving of gifts, pick a random date and call it "Gift Day". Why would anybody want to purpously raise their kids to be ignorant? And when they find out, wonder why their child seems less innocent than when they were blinded by lies? Just my opinion.

[brooklyneast05]

And if you're not christian, and you dont believe in christ, you shouldn't celebrate the holiday anyway.

why should whether you are christian or not have any bearing on santa clause? two unrelated things. you already pointed out that christ wasn't born then anyway so why should those who believe in christ be celebrating it?


christians just confuse me.