Stupid Holiday Morality Question

[thumper07]

First off Merry Christmas to everyone. OK I have a question I know is stupid, I am a volunteer firefighter, last night we did a santa detail. I dressed up as santa and we drove around many neighborhoods while i froze my ass off waving to kids and making them happy. My question is as a catholic was it wrong for me to promote christmas with santa claus, when the real reason to celebrate christmas is the birth of jesus? Now i am not losing sleep over this I would like to here everyones opinion.

-matt

[danieldrieberg]

The costume is merely that. The action is what defines the morality. Santa is just fine as long as he acts within your religious framework. Remember the act is for others, not to please yourself or your peers.

I'm a Christian but I take a Pascalian view on this subject.

1. If there is a GOD you've done the right thing
2. If there is not a GOD ---still the right thing

Pascal says your bases are covered!!!!!

Be comfortable and at peace!!!!!

BTW
Merry Christmas

[microcrayfish]

So you gave your time and froze your ass off to make kids happy and now you're wondering if you did the right thing because Santa doesn't fit in with your religious beliefs? I don't usually bother with religious discussions but that's just ridiculous. You did something good and made someone's day better, you really think your god is going to be upset with you for it? Hell, um I mean heck, if everyone just forgot about the whole God and religion business and started doing things like that for no better reason than to bring a bit of happiness to their fellow man I dare say the world would be in a better state than we find it in presently.

[zeg]

Here's my take. Although I'm as annoyed by the overcommercialization of Christmas as anyone, I don't subscribe to any of the major religions. As such, I find Santa to be the symbol of the season for me. He stands for a lot more than crass commercialism---he *can* stand for generosity, caring for your neighbors, and a lot of the "right" Christmas values. In the spirit of the giving you were doing, I think it's a great compromise. It helps you reach out to a much wider audience than if you stuck to a symbol unique to your personal belief. I don't mean to suggest you would have intended to do this, but you spread good cheer without turning it into a debate about whose practices are the best.

[normdamarine]

Here's my take. Although I'm as annoyed by the overcommercialization of Christmas as anyone, I don't subscribe to any of the major religions. As such, I find Santa to be the symbol of the season for me. He stands for a lot more than crass commercialism---he *can* stand for generosity, caring for your neighbors, and a lot of the "right" Christmas values. In the spirit of the giving you were doing, I think it's a great compromise. It helps you reach out to a much wider audience than if you stuck to a symbol unique to your personal belief. I don't mean to suggest you would have intended to do this, but you spread good cheer without turning it into a debate about whose practices are the best.

Well done...

Although Christmas is based of a religious experience the meaning nowadays is almost completely different in many peoples eyes...