How Santa Helps Christians Love Jesus
THE WASHINGTON POST
By John Mary Reynolds
America should be proud of Santa Claus. He is an American myth and we don’t have that many. These teaching stories were what Plato would have called “myths.” Sadly, most of us get stuck on one meaning of the term “myth:” stories about ancient gods that are false. Plato knew better. He knew that a good story could prepare the soul for the deeper truth that it was not yet ready to grasp. Good fairy tales do this ethical training for us. Frank L. Baum enfolded the myth of Santa Claus in his Oz world. Santa Claus is very American and so a very Christian myth. He rewards good behavior and punishes bad behavior. He is old, but avuncular and he loves children. He is an American legend, our own Zeus, but like Zeus he is not real. Instead, as his creators understood, Santa prepares the heart for the deep reality of Christmas: Jesus is God come in flesh. Merry Christmas! [link]
By John Mary Reynolds
America should be proud of Santa Claus. He is an American myth and we don’t have that many. These teaching stories were what Plato would have called “myths.” Sadly, most of us get stuck on one meaning of the term “myth:” stories about ancient gods that are false. Plato knew better. He knew that a good story could prepare the soul for the deeper truth that it was not yet ready to grasp. Good fairy tales do this ethical training for us. Frank L. Baum enfolded the myth of Santa Claus in his Oz world. Santa Claus is very American and so a very Christian myth. He rewards good behavior and punishes bad behavior. He is old, but avuncular and he loves children. He is an American legend, our own Zeus, but like Zeus he is not real. Instead, as his creators understood, Santa prepares the heart for the deep reality of Christmas: Jesus is God come in flesh. Merry Christmas! [link]
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