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Here's a new take on it. I don't believe in God and I don't believe in Christmas. I haven't believed in either for a long time. It's not my personal opinion that Jesus Christ was the son of God.
But I believe in Santa Claus.
Modernizing Church's editorial, I believe in Santa Claus as the spirit of giving and the excitement of young children the world over. I believe in the kind words and good intentions and selflessness of the season. This is what Santa Claus embodies as surely as Christ himself embodies the Christian faith. My only misgiving on the matter is that it's tied to a specific date; the world would be a far better place could we carry such sentiment year-round.
On a more practical note, it is not anyone's place as a responsible adult to undermine a child's faith in his or her parents. A young child looks to his mother and father for moral guidance and how to be an adult. By giving a child a reason to doubt his parents, you remove that guidance and leave the child to attempt to develop a moral compass bereft of any aid. Such attempts almost always end very poorly. I've seen the result first hand, in children and associates who have either been bounced around different foster homes or are cared for by parents who don't live up to the responsibility. I'm quite certain that anyone who hasn't lived a completely sheltered life will be able to think of similar examples. So if a child asks me if Santa/God/Allah/Yahweh is real, I will not disagree with what that child has been taught by his mother and father.
I don't personally take issue with religion being taught in school as valid alternatives, what I take issue with is any faith or belief being forced upon students. This woman attempted to foist her own cynicism and disbelief on these children, which could ultimately cause a great deal of harm. It's every bit as bad as if I were to start telling the Catholic children that there is no God.
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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