"God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat.
God is a stern fellow...and a great ebeliever in rules and regulations. He holds men strictly accountable for their actions.... God is difficult. God is unsentimental. IT is very hard to get into God's heavenly country club.
Santa Claus is another matter. He's cute. He's nonthreatening. He's always cheerful. And he loves animals.... He gives everyone everything they want without thought of a quid pro quo. He works hard for charities, and he's famously generous to the poor. Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: There is no such thing as Santa Claus."
PJ O'Rourke, Preface to "Parliament of Whores", 1991 First Vintage
