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 O'Hanlon.
I like the response letter. The editor doesn't come out and say that Santa doesn't exist. Instead, he forgoes the simplistic answer and makes it a philosophical issue.
I think that the ideas embedded in our beliefs are more important than if our beliefs are real. Is Santa real? It doesn't matter because Santa, as modeled after St. Nicholas, represents generosity. Doesn't knowing that your generosity made someone happy make you happy as well? Santa represents an idea and the idea behind Santa is probably more important than any question of the physical existence of Santa.
That's why it should not matter what the answer to the question of God's physical existence is. Whether God is physically real or not, the idea behind God* - to lead a good life - is more important.
*: I am assuming the more benevolent God of the NT, not the fire and brimstone God of the OT; that is, love, forgiveness, justice, compassion, wisdom, and other feel-good ideas are what God represents.
Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.
It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole
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