09 Jul '14 20:05>2 edits
"A new forum" Thread 20404 (OP)
Original post by Subscriber Russ, 02 Mar '05 04:34
"For posts about religion."
Since March 2, 2005, when the venue for spirituality topics was moved from the Debates Forum to this newly created forum until today Wednesday, July 9, 2014, there have been three thousand four hundred and fourteen (3,414) days. During these nine years and four months, contributors posted a total of three hundred and seven (307) pages containing thirty threads each or nine thousand two hundred and ten (9,210) threads (2.7 new threads each day on average) have been the daily mecca for site members seeking conversation and debate on topics relating to "the supernatural, religion and the life after."
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If some Red Hot Pawn Spirituality forum contributor who actually believed with certainty that Santa Claus exists, has the supernatural attribute of omniscience; and is capable of traversing all GMT Settings of planet earth annually on the eve of December 24 to distribute children's gifts beneath decorated trees in the living room of their homes or placed in stockings hung by their fireplaces while they were sleeping, started one of those 9,210 threads with the following original post:
Santa Claus (Santa-claus-pics-0101)
I believe in Santa Claus and would urge each you to seriously consider the possibility that he really does exist. Your future happiness is at stake. Here is an example of the evil antisantaclausism movement that is trying to create falsehoods:
"Santa Claus, or Santa, is a figure in North American culture with legendary, mythological and folkloric aspects, which reflect an amalgamation of the Dutch Sinterklaas, the English Father Christmas, and Christmas gift-bringers in other traditions. Santa Claus is said to bring gifts to the homes of good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. Santa Claus in this contemporary understanding echoes aspects of hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift-giver Saint Nicholas, the man from whom the name of Santa Claus derives and in whose honor Santa Claus may be referred to as Saint Nicholas or Saint Nick.
Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films. The North American depiction of Santa Claus as it developed in the 19th and 20th century in turn influenced the modern perceptions of Father Christmas, Sinterklaas and Saint Nicholas in European culture.
According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine (originally eight) flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularized by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice" ) and to deliver presents, including toys, and candy to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh."
http://characters.wikia.com/wiki/Santa_Claus
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Questions: How would you respond or react to this serious poster and/or to his or her thread? Would you seriously consider the possibility that Santa Claus may exist? Would you reply with a logical counter argument to neutralize the site member's claims and personal credibility? Would you laugh derisively and add the person to your blacklist? Probably not. Chances are you and I would both summarily dismiss the thread. And, having done so, smile at and ignore the myth as irrelevant.
If someone here claims that Sovereign God exists; and has provided for the reconciliation of depraved mankind to Himself; and offers you the personal grace gift of salvation and eternal life through faith in the person of His uniquely born son Jesus Christ and you decline, why not summarily dismiss the person and claims of the risen Christ and move on in your life? Why would anyone who has thoughtfully declined this gift have a residual need to vigorously defend that decision on this forum?