I am inclined to agree, however in a weird way, I think the author does have a point to be made to Christian parents . Telling children this fantastic tale only to have it outed as a myth later on, can that hurt a child’s belief in God?
I would probably just want to venerate the real Saint Nicholas story, which is far more humble, and of course the Son of God, for whom the day is actually named.
I personally can’t stand the modern santa and I do know that my mother’s collection of them that were all over the house does have a bit to do with it, but Santa gives us nothing. Everything we have, to the breath we take, is a gift from God alone. Is santa a false idol? If Jesus were to return today and ask a three or four year old child He loves why Christmas is so much fun, how does He view the probable answer?
How can you teach that Jesus gave His life by using things as gifts? When a child sees the baby in the manger and sees the crucifix, that life story is etched into their minds. Which lesson should we be ingraining into their memories? Giving should be sacrificial to the child as it is for us. As it was for the best example of human giving in the New Testament, the old woman who gave all her coins to God.
When God judged Israel, He judged every individual. The child for gathering the wood, the father for making the fire, and the mother for making the cakes cooked for the false gods. Just saying.
As for Saint Nicholas, he was a good man and his story should be told as SAINT Nicholas. What is wrong with the word saint? It is a holy gift, a name written in the book of life and hated by Satan.
Stop letting the world dictate how we celebrate a holiday, a holy day, especially in a time when our babies are growing up and will indeed need to know in truth that the promise of “Peace On Earth” will actually be fulfilled when the baby in the manger returns to rule the world in righteousness and justice as the Great King. No santa can come close to that hope.