Tree Hugging Revival

If you’ve ever taken a hike, then you’ve enjoyed the beauty of trees. They are blessings we should thank God for.1 Trees are exhibits of God’s creation, corroborating Genesis history.1,2 They provide oxygen, homes for creatures, and many other benefits. But nowadays there is a renewed promotion of their huggability—thanks to social distancing customs catalyzed by COVID-19 contagion.3 Should we hug trees for therapeutic benefit?

The Icelandic Forestry Service is encouraging people to hug trees while social distancing measures prevent them from hugging other people…. Forest rangers in Hallormsstaður National Forest in East Iceland have been diligently clearing snow-covered paths to ensure that locals can enjoy the great outdoors without coming in too close a contact with other guests, but can also get up close and personal with their forest friends. “When you hug [a tree], you feel it first in your toes and then up your legs and into your chest and then up into your head,”enthuses forest ranger Þór Þorfinnsson. “It’s such a wonderful feeling of relaxation and then you’re ready for a new day and new challenges…. People should take their time, Þór says, to reap the full benefits of their tree-hugging. “Five minutes is really good, if you can give yourself five minutes of your day to hug [a tree], that’s definitely enough,” he says.”3

It seems that Ranger Þór is promoting tree-hugging for some kind of emotional-therapeutic benefit. Egocentric show-offs might try tree-hugging just to gain attention (for acting silly in public). However, Ranger Þór is endorsing tree-hugging to “feelgood”— perhaps to distract some from their feelings of disorientation or worry, as the world changes threateningly in perilous times.

This seems goofy, yet not as extreme as tree-hugging done by those who venerate and embrace “ancient trees.” Those people act as if ancient trees are mystical-spiritual “grandmothers” whose wisdom and love somehow emanates upon those humans who reverently embrace them.4But for nature-worshippers, religious tree-hugging is for absorbing “ancient wisdom”, an animistic substitute for seeking wisdom from God.5Substituting nature for God, of course, is idolatry.6 Actually, nature worship, whether pantheistic or polytheistic, is nothing new—yet nature worship has not gone extinct either.4,7 It is idolatry to gratefully “adore” them, as if they deserve credit and thanks for blessing us with air, fruit, nuts, and wood; it is equally looney to confess one’s sins to potted plants, an inane and idolatrous misplacement of moral accountability.7

But the folly of nature-worshippers should not distract us from appreciating the value of trees—and thanking God for making trees.1

So, go ahead and take a nature hike—with family or by yourself—and appreciate God’s Creatorship as you look at His many marvels of creation, including the trees.8 But reserve your hugs for your family and friends.

References 
1. Johnson, J. J. S. Arbor Day: Planting Trees in April. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org April 24, 2020, accessed May 4, 2020.
2. Critics of Genesis have tried to use so-called “annual growth rings” to discredit the Bible’s accuracy, suggesting that tree rings require more post-Flood time than the Bible reports—but this notion fails when real science refutes the supposedly annual character of tree growth rings.Dr. John Morris notes: “But how valid is the assumption of one ring per year in a climate where tree-growing conditions are variable? … Scientists have observed that numerous ‘normal’ conditions can produce an extra ring or no ring at all. Weather was fingered as the most ‘guilty’ culprit. Unusual storms with abundant rainfall interspersed with dry periods can produce multiple rings, essentially one per major storm. Thus, the basic assumption of tree ring dating is demonstrably in error.” Morris, J.2012. Tree Ring Dating. Acts& Facts. 41(10): 15.
3. Kyzer, L. 2020. Forest Service Recommends Hugging Trees While You Can’t Hug Others. Iceland Review. Posted on IcelandReview.com April 10, 2020,accessed May 4, 2020.
4. In years past, this author has served as onboard lecturer(ecology, geography, and history) for four different cruise ships touring Southeast Alaska, visiting coastal areas previously dominated by Alaskan Native tribes (including Tlingits, Haidas, and Tsimshians).Even now animistic tribal religions are sometimes expressed by tribes folk who adoringly hug ancient trees (called “grandmothers”) in efforts to gain arboreal wisdom and ancestral “love.”
5. James:1:5-7 [5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
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6. Romans:1:21-25 [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
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7. Compare Johnson, J. J. S. 2016. Norse and Germanic Mythology. In World Religions and Cults: Moralistic, Mythical and Mysticism Religions, vol. 2. B.Hodge, R. Patterson, eds. Green Forest, AR:Master Books, 271-288. Also see Johnson, J. J. S. New York Seminarians Worship Plants. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org January 7, 2020, accessed May 4, 2020.
8. Not all Icelanders are promoting tree-hugging; some simply recommend taking nature hikes in accordance with whatever opportunities you may have, in light of present circumstances. See Ćirić, J.2020. Iceland’s National Parks Prepare to Welcome Local Tourists This Summer. Iceland Review. Posted on IcelandReview.com April 29, 2020, accessed May 4, 2020.

https://www.icr.org/article/tree-hugging-revival/