Children's movies & Skepticism

[Forty-Two]

On the subject of Santa Claus, my parents never led me to believe that he was real -- beyond the stories of the original Saint Nicholas, that is. Presents accumulated under the tree and in stockings throughout December rather than just appearing on Christmas morning. As my mom explained it, this way everyone could be Santa by giving someone else a present.

I think my parents handled it wisely; I'd like to do the same with my kids when I have some, but my fiancé wants to do the traditional "Santa is real" thing. (If that's the case, then he's going to be the one staying up Christmas Eve to unload the presents. )

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Nyarlathotep, Richard Dawkins discusses this issue at length in his book UNWEAVING THE RAINBOW. Basically, kids need to be credulous, so when their parents tell them, "Don't jump into the lion cage or you'll be killed..." they believe it and can avoid getting selected for a Darwin Youth Award. Kids are basically built to believe anything their parents tell them.

Now, with such power comes great responsibility. Using this power to cram religious dogma into your kid's head, in my opinion, is abuse. But letting them believe in Santa, the Tooth Ferry, etc, is just good old fun, and it's probably good for youngsters. Such fables and stories help us cope with the huge world when we're small. Most parents do eventually reveal the hoax.

What's embarrassing is when you grow up and still believe in such ludicrous fables *cough* religion *cough cough!!*

Interesting. I really haven't read as much Dawkins as I would have liked. I shall have to read that book.

And I think the biggest difference between Santa & religion is that at a certain age, if you haven't figured out Santa is a hoax, then somebody at least let's you in on the gag. Not so, religion.