And here is my association of Santa Claus to science using Eddington's reasoning:

The theory of relativity has ... unified the great laws, which by the precision of their formulation and the exactness of their application have won the proud place in human knowledge which physical science holds to-day. And yet, in regard to the existence of Santa Claus, this knowledge is only an empty shell -- a form of symbols. It is knowledge of structural form, and not knowledge of content. All through the physical world runs that unknown content, which must surely be related to Santa Claus. Here is a hint of aspects deep within the world of physics, and yet unattainable by the methods of physics.

The theory of relativity has ... unified the great laws, which by the precision of their formulation and the exactness of their application have won the proud place in human knowledge which physical science holds to-day. And yet, in regard to the nature of things, this knowledge is only an empty shell -- a form of symbols. It is knowledge of structural form, and not knowledge of content. All through the physical world runs that unknown content, which must surely be the stuff of our consciousness. Here is a hint of aspects deep within the world of physics, and yet unattainable by the methods of physics.

A variation on the theme used by the Maharishi is to first glorify science, then point to its limitation for not being able to answer mystical questions, and finally insert the mystical assertion at the end as the truth. The glorification convinces the readers that the New Age gurus are 100% for science. The obvious limitation of science persuades the reader to buy into the mystical claims.

In Space Time and Gravitation, Eddington uses such a ruse:

Arthur Eddington, the notable British astronomer who was the first to verify Einstein's general theory of relativity, was caught up in the flood of mysticism brought to Europe at the beginning of the last century. In his popular book on relativity, Space Time and Gravitation, he introduces Einstein's theory of relativity. However, he exploits the book and its content on relativity to put a scientific mask on his own mystical ideas.