Santa is a stand-in for Jesus... for children. They're both magical beings that can perform miracles and have similar methods: Both Santa and Jesus have naughty lists and forms of punishment that come later; much later (both are equivalent lengths of time to a child though 🤣). Both bring "gifts". Both have traditional appearances. Both have followers that wear silly hats and strange clothes. But most importantly...

Both are imaginary.

If you believe in Santa as an adult you're ridiculed. If you believe in Jesus as an adult you're just labeled, "Christian". Yet the fact that nearly every child eventually finds out Santa isn't real is quite disturbing to a lot of Christians. After all, if they could stop believing in Santa--who is so similar to Jesus in every way--then they could stop believing in Jesus.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 26 points 2 days ago (2 children)

You have to start off believing the little lies like the Hogfather before you can believe in the big lies like justice

[–] 0x0@programming.dev 2 points 2 days ago

You mean turtles don't hold the world?

[–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago

Zamn

[–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

After all, if they could stop believing in Santa–who is so similar to Jesus in every way–then they could stop believing in Jesus.

This is a laughably bad faith interpretation of the issue. Please, please leave this r/atheism exaggerated strawman rhetoric out of this website. I'm pretty sure most people on Lemmy are already atheist anyways.

[–] P4ulin_Kbana 3 points 2 days ago (2 children)

You might not believe about what the Bible says about Jesus, but historically, there was at some point a person named Jesus. Whether or not he was like the Bible describes is another story. /lh

[–] riskable@programming.dev 3 points 1 day ago

Historically, there were probably tens of thousands of people named, "Jesus" around that time. There were also loads and LOADS of people crucified by the Romans. If you were to make up a story and try to make it believable wouldn't you pick a likely starting point?

[–] Scary_le_Poo@beehaw.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There were probably thousands of others named Jesus as well. What is this supposed to prove?

[–] P4ulin_Kbana 1 points 18 hours ago

That there was a person named Jesus who got a lot of attention and they are an important figure in Christianity.