Santa Claus: A Stepping Stone to God?

“He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good. So be good for goodness sake!” (Coots and Gillespie). The man is all knowing, benevolent, loving, generous, and kind. He can see people’s every action, and keeps a list of the good and bad that they have done. He rewards if they have done good, and punishes if they have done bad. He lives far away in a mystical, magical, un-chartable place. His name is Santa Claus. Or, is it God? There are undeniable parallels between the two. They are magical, mystical, and beyond the natural world. Santa Claus is very God-like. In fact, children take an approach to Santa that is similar to one they would God.

First, the most obvious similarity of the two is that God and Santa are both omniscient (all knowing). They can see everything that happens, and are known to keep tally of the actions of the people that they watch over. However, God has the added ability of being omnipotent (all powerful). He does not merely know everything, but he can do anything. Santa keeps tally of good and bad deeds and gives gifts, or withholds gifts accordingly. While God keeps an account, and can punish or reward in endless ways. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. . .” (NIV, Rom. 6.23). Belief in Santa or God comes with an acknowledgement that he can see every action, and that every action has a consequence. Second, the methods used to communicate with Santa and God are very similar. Each is

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a one-way call from the individual to the benevolent being. Letters to Santa are not unlike prayers. Truly, a child is more likely to ask for a tangible item, such as a bicycle, from Santa. However, it is not un...

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... when no one is looking. They give faith that there is something greater than anything that can be seen with human eyes. Likewise, there is something powerful in having the ability to relinquish that faith, if the time comes. Santa and God both represent goodness and greatness beyond the scope of either man or child.

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Coots, John Frederick, Haven Gillespie. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” November 1934.

Romans. Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

Slotterback, Carole S. “Terrorism, Altruism, and Patriotism: An Examination of Children's

Letters to Santa Claus, 1998-2002.” Current Psychology 25.2 (2006): 144-53.

ProQuest Psychology Journals. 16 Mar. 2011.