I'm going to jump in on the D&D part. I've also played D&D in college. (Actually played as a student at Oral Roberts, but they banned it the next year!). For me (and note that this is for ME, not for anyone else!), I had to quit. I also had to quit playing Bard's Tale on the computer. To be able to play well, you must be involved with the casting of spells. You find swords and rings, which can take over you mind (in the game, not in real life!). You are calling on familiars and/or demons. I cannot see how this is in any way honoring God. I believe it opens us up to the occult. Now if you don't feel uncomfortable with that, OK. I'm not judging anyone who does play. I just know that it is wrong for me and my family. Well, Amie, I guess that means you can still play and make it into heaven...maybe...
Yes... I teach them about Santa Clause. But we do not celebrate a Christmas that involves him. This from the chick who plays DnD...lol. I have no wish to lie to my child...about anything. Not even Santa.
i taught my kids about SC too, the history, where he came from what our guy got hsi dress from etc. Each year now they do thier own research to see what they can teach me! We celebrate JESUS at achristmas and all year round
Although I am not sure who this question was for if anyone in particular, I will answer anyway...LOL. My kids are not raised to believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, or any of that. Of course, they have knowledge of these things but they have never believed any have ever existed. What is the connection between Santa and what we are talking about? What were you trying to get at? Is it just the fact that Santa is make believe? I am not against make believe. If I were my kids would never be able to play at all...lol...make believe is all kids do. Or my kids would never watch anything on tv and I probably wouldn't either. However, fantasy and make believe are not the reasons we don't do Santa Claus. So what was the jist of what you were asking? I agree with Sneaky about some of the Disney movies also. My kids did not see the Hunchback or Hercules due to some of the stuff in there. Which even saying that I am afraid someone will ask me to be specific but I can't be. It has been some years since I even gave those movies a second thought...sorry. D&D: I would not feel comfortable casting spells or dealing with wizards or dragons and some of the other things and creatures in D&D, so I guess it isn't a game for me. I am not anti-role playing games as I loved some of the xbox games. Another thing that did not appeal to me when it came to D&D was the sheer time one had to put into it. I guess I perfer my xbox to figure things out for me...LOL...just lazy I guess. lol.
I don't see you playing D&D and not allowing the belief in Santa as contrary. I played Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, and stuff like that and I don't allow Santa. One way, I am completely aware that I am delving into fantasy and the other I am encouraging a false belief. I think there is a difference. Now, now, I know plenty of wonderful people who allow the belief of Santa in their homes. That is their choice. I really don't care.
I asked the Santa question because I'm just curious about like where people draw the line at. I mean, Santa involves alot of "magic". You know, reindeer that fly, twinkles his nose to get through the chimney, stuff like that. I was just wondering if you didn't do Santa, what the reason would be. We do Santa because in our opinion you can get excited waiting for Santa to bring you gifts and you can be joyful in the celebration of the birth of Jesus as well. We are just a really open family, I guess. We do have our limits, but they stretch further.
We don't "do" Santa. We tell the kids that he's pretend, but it's fun to pretend sometimes. We ALSO tell them (when younger) that sometimes parents like their kids to think Santa is real, and we NEVER tell our friends he's pretend; that's for their Mommy and Daddy to do! My dad was rather upset when Rachael was little, because Carl didn't want her sitting on Santa's lap. I wouldn't have minded!
My reasonings actually have very little (really, nothing) to do with my Christianity. I have a big issue with lying. I hate lying in every way shape or form. IMO, if I were to "do Santa", I'd be a great big hypocrite. I refuse to lie to my child, even when telling the truth is inconvenient. I won't tell them that we're out of cookies just so they don't pitch a fit over wanting another cookie (I've seen many parents tell similar lies). And I won't lie to them about Santa Clause. I think I'd feel the same even if I wasn't a Christian. Now, I have never flat out said "there is no Santa". My oldest is only 5 and I lean more towards the "other people believe he's real, what do you think?" All the while presenting evidence that he's not. I don't write "from: Santa" on any gifts. We don't put out cookies. I don't threaten him with Santa bringing him lumps of coal. All of those things promote a lie. I will say that I find it odd that my mom will lecture me about the pagan symbols in Harry Potter while sitting by her Christmas Tree (with gifts "from Santa" underneath). IMO, if she's going to throw something out because of pagan symbols, she needs to chuck all of them. Even the "innocent ones" (if she honestly feels that pagan symbols are evil in all circumstances, then is there such a thing as an innocent one?). Again, however, this is my personal conviction. I don't think anyone is any less of a Christian for doing Santa than I am for playing DnD.
Okay I feel weird joining in the middle of this but I wanted to just state my opinion about these different things. I love Narnia (lion, witch, wardrobe). I read it as a child and it was one of my favorite. I tried to get dd11 to read it but she has no interest but did see the movie. I have never read HP but it isn't banned in my house. Saturday I went to pick dd11 up from the library (she had gone with friends) and she was sitting there reading HP. She checked it out along with an HP movie. We watched it yesterday and she is really enjoying the book. Yes my kids know all about Santa, the Easter Bunny and all that. I do not see it as lying. I see it as fantasty and fun. I can not imagine not "believing" in Santa for a while as a child. We celebrate the joy of Jesus birth as well but in my family we do both and love it and I wouldn't have it any other way. My kids watch all the Disney movies. In my family we love them and find nothing wrong with them at all other than they are usually way off base from the real story. I don't ban much. Overt sexuality or really bad language yes but not much more than that. I just don't see a movie having that much influence over my children. I am the bigger influence. Real life is the bigger influence. At least in my family. We also have a great time dressing up and trick or treating at Halloween. I am perfectly content and happy with the things we allow in our family. I think we all have to make our own decisions. What I have a problem with is when someone else tries to tell me what I should or should not do or what is right or not right for my family. Then I have a problem. I would never presume to know what is right for anyone else.
Tif, try reading the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a read-aloud. I've found that there's many books my kids wouldn't read themselves that they've enjoyed when I did the reading! Or get it on CD.
We do things pretty much like Amie said she does--With Santa and Easter Bunny, etc.---which is to say we DON'T do them. (we don't do D&D either) I agree with Tiffany as well--we do what we feel is right in our family, but I don't tell others how to run their family!
I can see why you asked now. I guess I am such a dork, I wasn't even thinking about the magic of Santa. LOL. Our reasoning behind not doing Santa has nothing to do with magic or our Christianity. So, I certainly hope my point of view would not come off like I think Christians should not do Santa stuff. I just don't do Santa. It is more a personality thing and a not lying thing. I don't think Santa is harmful. I don't think you will ruin your children by allowing them a belief in Santa Claus. I believed in Santa growing up. I know many wonderful people who did. Now, as I have grown in my faith, I do chalk some of the Santa stuff up to following "the traditions of men" and not celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. Which that is in debate seeing as how it really isn't Jesus's birthday. lol. However, I have seen many wonderful Christian families balance Santa and Jesus during the holiday season.
I totally agree. Now, Tiffany and I have many differences in opinion on what should or should not be allowed. I am more strict than she is. Case in point, she is allowing her dd to read HP and I would never allow it. However, I know she is raising amazing children. She is a woman who loves the Lord and wants her kids to serve the Lord. I don't think my children are better than her's or that my children will love the Lord more than her's will. I don't even think that my kids will be more moral or ethical than her's will be. I think we are two families who are trying to raise our children based on our own personal convictions. I am confident we each will raise happy, loving, God fearing children. I would be more than happy to allow my dd to spend time with her dd. In the end, this is not about who is right and who is wrong. This is about YOUR family. What do you allow? What are your own convictions? How will you teach your children discernment? One parent may see exposure with guidance as the answer while another keeps certain things out of the house. If you believe the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and you accept Him as your personal savior than you have the same Holy Spirit living in you as I do in me. The Holy Spirit guides, teaches and convicts. We all have different weakenesses, different trigger points, different sin. So, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us on our convictions. I think discussions like this are valuable because we may learn something or find conviction where we wouldn't have before. Or we may feel reinforced in our conviction. I enjoy hearing other people's opinions. After all, if I was not flexable in my beliefs and not willing to see my flaws, I never would have surrendered to Christ.
Monkeymama, I couldn't have said it better myself! I was hoping I would find someone with my same point of view.
I do hope you know that although some may not have the same point of view as you, that you will be treated with the utmost respect. I hope you don't feel like your posts have been challenged too much. I was kinda getting the impression and started to feel about about it. It is hard sometimes to get across in black and white type that discussions like this are mostly of interest to us and never meant to be turned into a debate.
And this attitude is exactly why we get along so well! We are different yet the same and respect each other. Once again I must say that you totally rock!
When I first joined here I did feel a bit out of place - but trust me - get to know most of these ladies and no matter what your beliefs are most of them will support and respect you.
Did I miss something? Did someone say that everyone should think the way they do? Or does everyone just feel like proclaiming their right to act upon their own personal convictions? LOL I'm so lost?!
You missed nothing. It just has been my experience and I think the experience of others that once you start these kinds of discussions you need to explain that you are not judging those who feel differently. I think we feel the need to do that because of other threads that got out of control and led to hurt feelings. You missed nothing. lol. No one has claimed that anyone needs to conform to anyone else. However, things have been taken seriously wrong before so I think we are just trying to ensure it doesn't happen again. Waste of time? Maybe. I get the feeling you are a bit like me and don't get offended easily if at all...so we don't need to always have these things explained to us. Yet, I have been the center of people thinking my opinions were way too harsh and judgemental...so I am just trying to be more careful and not cause anything again. LOL. Geesh, hope that came out right? LOL.
