Santa Clause

Today my New Media teacher came up with a very interesting thought (as he often does.)  He suggested that perhaps the idea of Santa Clause somewhat undermines/sabotages the idea of religion.  Basically, we (well not me, but many people) believe in Santa Clause until we are, what, 10?  Something like that.  Santa Clause is kind of like a spiritual being, a magical force that we have complete faith in.  Yet, when we grow up, we come to realize the silliness of the idea and understand that, although perhaps a nice idea, Santa Clause doesn't exist.  Ultimately, we believe in God the same way we believe in Santa Clause. Although God is a far more complex concept that is often acknowledged at a much later age, many children believe in the presence of God with the same faith that they believe in the presence of Santa Clause.  Does the realization that Santa Clause does not exist attempt to set them up for the same type of conclusion about God?  Although I never believed in Santa Clause, I believe wholeheartedly in God, with no intention of ever finding out that He is really just part of my imagination.  I think I am becoming more opposed to teaching children about Santa everyday.  Not only does he take all of the credit from those to which it is due and extremely disappoint thousands of children at some point in there life, he may now be instrumental in planting the idea that God is a synonymous fantasy.