Several points arising from the tale of Rev Dr Paul Chamberlain, who apparently brought a group of schoolchildren to tears when he told them that Santa’s not real and their parents eat the biscuits supposedly left for him. The first and most obvious is how easy it is for devotees of one myth to brusquely dismiss another. How would the reverend gentleman react if someone else told the children that Santa is real, but Jesus is just a fairy story to make people behave themselves?
Also, when I saw the headlines, I assumed the traumatised kids were five at most. In fact, they were all in Year 6, which makes them 10 or 11 years old. And they’re still shocked by the revelation that Santa is a fraud? Isn’t that a bit weird?
2 comments:
I always told my children Santa Claus was a story. The parents of other children my children had passed the word to reacted like the Inquisition did with blasphemers.
It isn't just their right to lie to their children; it is everyone else's duty.
To be fair, most clergymen will happily discuss the question of whether "Jesus is a fairy story" if you raise it with them.
I like it :
"teachers are working overtime to restore the festive spirit"
Pupils are "crafting badges declaring "Lee-on-the-Solent believe"
Parents are "trying to inject as much "magic" into this Christmas as possible"
And finally : Paul "apologised unreservedly", to everybody, who could not run away.
Lots of magic injections taking place there. Sounds like something an American president would sell.
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