Santa Claus introduces the gates to the Christmas World

And there is nothing wrong with faith. Challenges only arise when people define and shape these gods to suit their own needs to promote their own, often selfish, goals. Gods, who created the universe that is too immense for the human mind to comprehend, are made participants in individuals’ and small groups’ selfish interests, their disdain for other groups, and even their desire to destruct others. Many gods, both new and ancient, seem like old, angry, vindictive and bigoted tribal leaders who are disconcerted by their own impending demise and determined to punish others for it.

Shaped by human beings, gods become the image of human selfishness. Faith becomes a religion. Clergy and elite are formed for the religion and, together with the financial and political elites, they use the god and sacred texts written in his name as a way to get people to do their bidding. Many religions that start out as a movement advocating goodness and justice get splintered into sects. They become more organized and rigid entities with dogmas, or gateways, that must be memorized. And the original crown and light of truth and virtue become the sword and chain of lies and injustice.

Long-term religions take root in the minds of the people that grow under their influence from the early childhood. Gods created by people at various times then battle each other for power. Religion makes many communities feel that the omnipotent god needs constant company, soothing, and apologies. People often feel that they need to bear witness for their gods and defend them, even with arms, against other gods and people who believe in them. Power relations between people and gods turn on their head. Gods made to serve people’s purposes then get entangled, in their own, partial ways, in the wars between nations and religions, becoming involved in disputes between people.

Therefore, religions give rise to gateways of some kind, requirements and precise and often very strict instructions that people must adhere to throughout their lives. Many religions emphasize that their beliefs and gods are the only correct ones. They also tell their followers that people of other religions are heretics. Whether individuals pass through these gates set by religions or whether they show indifference toward them determine the judgment passed on them at the last gate. The afterlife is therefore fully dependent on this judgment.

These gates take us to the gates to the Christmas World. The main message that Santa and the Christmas World want to convey is the message of good will, sincerity, justice, hope, and love. Everyone who wants to do so may enter the Christmas World. And you can come here while you are still alive; the gates to the Christmas World are always open. Even though almost everyone has heard of the Christmas World, it is not always easy to find the route here. The Christmas World is a world of thoughts, words, and specially actions. This means opinions and deeds on the level of individuals - you - where personal interests and justice do not always automatically mean the same thing.”

“This is all that I want to say to begin with. Now we have time for opinions and questions,” Santa concluded his introduction that had become something of a sermon.

“I’d like to ask a question!” shouted someone loudly via the Dreams connection maintained by the elves. On the basis of the question, the person could have been from the U.S., Finland, Russia, Hungary, Israel, Saudi-Arabia, China, India, South or North Korea, Ukraine, Sweden, Turkey or any other country and could have represented any religion, social class, political view, and gender.

“What does it matter if the laws of nature, continuous battle and the survival of the fittest are the rules that govern individuals, communities, nations, religions and so on? If the winner takes it all and losers lose, isn’t that what life is all about?” the voice continued over the remote connection, now sounding fairly aggressive and defiant.

“The question is reasonable,” said Santa Claus calmly, “Are humans in any way different from animals? After all, humans as a species are part of the animal kingdom. Physical and mental dominance and financial power, violence, and the oppression of others are often the key to winning the battle you mentioned. But evolution has granted the humankind the opportunity to take development toward something greater and more sustainable than instant gratification and self-interest, which is often viewed in very narrow terms. This development could be summarized by calling it innate humane values.”

“I have a question too!” someone in the crowd called out, with a raised hand, “Did I get this right; Santa doesn’t see anything good in religions or faith?”

“I apologize for my one-sided criticism of religion. Most religions and their teachings have good objectives and ideas that, when implemented in the lives of individuals and put into practice are definitely beneficial. In many situations, people need advice and consolation. All people encounter hardship and disappointments at some point in their life. Stressors, such as personal illness or illness of a loved one, other sad events, and finally the awareness of our own mortality may lead people to seek meaning and certainty amid uncertainty,” Santal concluded his answer.

“I would like to introduce another perspective to this discussion on religion,” said the next speaker, adding, “There are two sides to everything. Practicing religion, engaging in politics, or supporting a soccer team, for example, may offer a person positive, meaningful, happy, and important experiences. Problems arise from a fanatical attitude. Placing too much emphasis on your own thinking or the thinking of the group you represent and holding onto these ideas despite facts and other matters result in problems. The main problems are the arrogance arising from the belief in the infallibility of one’s own god and ism and the audacity and even cruelty of the disregard shown toward others. These always have their roots in skewed ideas and extreme narrow-mindedness and bigotry that individuals and groups show in their thoughts and attitudes toward others.”

“I also have a question to Santa Claus and you all,” a more hesitant and uncertain voice could be heard to say via the Dreams connection, “Some of the listeners are present onsite, while the rest of us are watching the event via the Dreams connection, albeit slightly sleepily and blurrily. But I for one can’t see any gates. Where are the gates to the Christmas World that were mentioned in the invitation? Can anyone else see them? On the basis of the introduction by Santa Claus I have some thoughts on this.”

“I hoped that this question would come up during this discussion. Please tell us what you think,” said Santa Claus, in an encouraging tone of voice.

“All of you out there, look behind you. I mean, take a look at your own life and history. Do you notice the gateways and crossroads that you come across almost every day? These are situations where you have been able to and have had to make decisions on the basis of your values on matters such as the choice between an injustice toward others and your own personal benefit or short-term hedonism and long-term spiritual growth. What are the values, attitudes, and reasons that guided your decisions, conduct, and words in these situations? The first of those gates is called “What’s in it for me”, while the second is called “Innate humane values”. You don’t always have to, and you are not always able to, choose the latter gate, and neither should you always do so, but that is the gate to the Christmas World,” the speaker concluded.

“Thank you!” Santa Claus exclaimed, visibly pleased, “I couldn’t have hoped for a better summary. And naturally, all of you will encounter these gates in the future as you have done in the past. ‘What’s in it
for me?’ gates are often large, tempting, and well lit. They are often also busy. And after passing through these gates, people often quickly forget the benefits they reaped and look for the next thing. ‘The innate humane values’ gates may seen small and modest and they are not always located along main routes. But they are there. And the more often we look for these gates and pass though them - sometimes with great difficulty - the more effectively the spirit of Christmas is put into practice everyday and everywhere. And better the world that we live in becomes. And better the people feel. That’s what the gates to the Christmas World are like,” concluded Santa.”

Best regards,

Santa Claus