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#REDIRECT [[Santa Syndrome]]
'''Santa syndrome''' is a psychological syndrome [[Causes of atheism|causing]] affected individuals to ultimately accept [[militant atheism|atheism]].<ref name=Syndrome>{{cite web|url=http://debunkingatheists.blogspot.com/2011/04/santa-syndrome.html|title=Santa Syndrome|publisher=Debunking Atheists|date=15 April 2011|accessdate=23 May 2012}}</ref> Most individuals discover or are told that the supernatural aspects associated with the [[Christian]] tradition of [[Santa Claus]], such as him riding a sleigh led by [[reindeer]] and giving all good children around the world [[Christmas]] presents, are legend and are simply practiced in order to enrich the experience of celebrating the holy day.<ref name=Syndrome>{{cite web|url=http://debunkingatheists.blogspot.com/2011/04/santa-syndrome.html|title=Santa Syndrome|publisher=Debunking Atheists|date=15 April 2011|accessdate=23 May 2012}}</ref> However, individuals with Santa Syndrome are often [[abnormal psychology|abnormally]] bitter about this finding and as a result, move further to reject the existence of [[God]].<ref name=Syndrome>{{cite web|url=http://debunkingatheists.blogspot.com/2011/04/santa-syndrome.html|title=Santa Syndrome|publisher=Debunking Atheists|date=15 April 2011|accessdate=23 May 2012}}</ref>
In the book ''Christian No More'', author Jeffrey Mark describes his suffering from Santa Syndrome;<ref name=Reaction>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=h4iSp50GLO4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Christian+No+More&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vrO9T5P3AePs2QWhvdiqDw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Santa&f=false|title=Christian No More|last=Mark|first=Jeffrey|year=2008|page=17|accessdate=23 May 2012}}</ref> notable Christian [[apologist]] [[ShockofGod]] has analyzed Jeffrey Mark's case and presented his findings in a case study available to the public.<ref name=Case>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pGa-0lhaP0|title=Atheism Santa Syndrome Case #20|author=[[ShockofGod]]|date=1 March 2010|accessdate=23 May 2012}}</ref> He describes the consternation he underwent when he was told about the supernatural additions to the story of [[Saint Nicholas]]: {{quotation|She broke the unbelievable news that no, there really was no Santa Claus. But how could that be?<ref name=Reaction>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=h4iSp50GLO4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Christian+No+More&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vrO9T5P3AePs2QWhvdiqDw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Santa&f=false|title=Christian No More|last=Mark|first=Jeffrey|year=2008|page=17|accessdate=23 May 2012}}</ref>
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This finding led to the author's psychopathological denial of the existence of God: {{quotation|And interestingly, my feeling that Jesus was real was just as strong as when I was younger and felt that Santa was real. But Santa wasn't real. That gave me something to think about.<ref name=Example>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=h4iSp50GLO4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Christian+No+More&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vrO9T5P3AePs2QWhvdiqDw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Santa&f=false|title=Christian No More|last=Mark|first=Jeffrey|year=2008|page=24|accessdate=23 May 2012}}</ref>}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[Causes of Atheism]]
==External links==
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/can-you-disprove-santa-clause-atheism-and-%E2%80%9Csanta-syndrome%E2%80%9D True Freethinker: Santa Syndrome]
*[http://anti-matters.org/articles/91/public/91-84-1-PB.pdf The Pyschology of Atheism] by Paul C. Vitz, Ph.D., New York University Department of Psychology
*[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt Columbia University: The Psychology of Atheism]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9j8wi2zQT0 Santa Syndrome Explained]
*[http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3F54DB0328E314F9 Santa Syndrome Case Studies]
{{Nb Atheism}}
[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category:Mental health]]
[[Category:Psychology]]
[[Category:Syndromes]]