The pattern actually doesn’t match, since Santa Claus is an intentional deception from adults to children, while religion is a large-scale self-deception. (Most religious leaders are as sincere in belief as their followers, thanks to the selection process in major world religions.)
I see the practical difference you are stating. However, the match in incentive structure—well-behaved person gets mind read by supernatural being and gets supernatural rewards for good behavior and supernatural punishment for bad behavior—is a good wake-up call to the person who otherwise doesn’t believe in the supernatural.
The pattern actually doesn’t match, since Santa Claus is an intentional deception from adults to children, while religion is a large-scale self-deception. (Most religious leaders are as sincere in belief as their followers, thanks to the selection process in major world religions.)
I see the practical difference you are stating. However, the match in incentive structure—well-behaved person gets mind read by supernatural being and gets supernatural rewards for good behavior and supernatural punishment for bad behavior—is a good wake-up call to the person who otherwise doesn’t believe in the supernatural.
Amusing (partial) pattern match :-)
Likewise my attempt to describe the rationalist version of Santa Claus/heaven...