Jessica B wrote:
> lsenders{at}hotmail.com (Loren) wrote in message
news:...
> > However, from my own perspective and reflection, it is a poorer
child
> > who has his imagination taken from him.  Those days will come all
to
> > soon.
>
> However, there is a big difference between allowing a child
> a flight of fantasy, which, as I said before is not only
> good, but necessary for their development, and actively
> seeking to deceive them away from reality.
>
I think you are presenting something of a theoretical distinction as
opposed to an experiential one.  But be that as it may, it is
interesting that the James Dobson bulletin insert this will addressed
this very question.  His final answer was that each parent must address
this for themselves and for each child.  He saw nothing wrong, and did
in fact raise each of his children on Santa, but also allows for those
who would stiffle this imaginative excursion for the reasons already
stated.

Perhaps I wanted to let my children grow up with Santa was because I
grew up on hardbound English comic books such as Bilbo and that
wonderful little white bear personage, can't remember his name just
now, but Paul MacCartney purchase all the rights to that cartoon series
and even made one of them into a short film.   I suppose it also has to
do with me having some of my "formative" year prior to television,
listening to radio instead, playing outdoors instead of being spoon fed
by PBS.  Imagination, as you have rightly noted, is necessary and a God
given part of being human.

Tell me, if I might enquire, what do you think of letting children
either read or watch Harry Potter?  How is this different?

My own children are a little old for HP, but have all feasted on the
LOTR, both book and movie.  I think the issue isn't really Santa or HP
or Gandalf, but rather being able, as Sony's 5 Ave campaign claims,
"Live in your world, play in ours."

A side bar.

I think our generation is like no other generation prior to it.  I
think that the lying signs and wonders of the Antichrist and his false
prophet will be so well received and consummed by this present
generation that it takes my breath away to think about it.  One watches
the progression from the time of especially Star Wars down to the
present HP, LOTR, even Aliens and Riddick movies, and one just gets the
sense that the stage has been so carefully set for The Introduction of
the "prince to come."   Santa Clause is small potatoes in the way of
things today.

just my .02

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