The Christmas tree is vegan-unfriendly, detrimental to the environment, sinful, and idolatrous. It is estimated that approximately 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced and harvested in the United States each year, with 50-60 million produced and cut in Europe (Kilgore 2023) (note 1).
Full Text: https://www.vegantheology.net/post/christmas-trees-are-anti-vegan-blasphemy-by-dr-chapman-chen
1. Violation of the 10th Commandment
With respect to veganism, each of these trees could be home to thousands of animal inhabitants, e.g., robins, sparrows, spiders, bees, butterflies, ladybirds, squirrels, lizards, snakes, deer, micro-organisms (note 2). Whenever you buy a Christmas tree, you are paying to have the habitat of thousands of innocent creatures destroyed, so that birds lose nesting and roosting sites; insects and other animals lose shelter, potentially disrupting the entire local ecosystem. Spiritually speaking, you are thereby sinfully breaking the 10th Commandment: 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house... nor any thing that is thy neighbour's' (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21 KJV).
2. Idolatry
Meanwhile, the Christmas tree smacks of idolatry, as long ago prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah.:-
"For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” (Jeremiah 10:3-5 NIV)
Idolatry, of course, violates the Second Commandment -- "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything" (Exodus 20:4-6).
3. Increasing CO2 Levels
Environmentally speaking, the harvest and production of Christmas trees invariably increases CO2 levels. The rationale is as follows: Since trees and plants "take in" carbon dioxide (CO2) during photosynthesis, planting more trees should reduce CO2 levels. For reference, combined with oceans, the terrestrial biosphere including plants and trees already remove about 45% of the CO2 emitted by human activities each year. Other scientists report that plants and trees globally are responding to elevated CO2 levels by taking up more CO2 (co2meter 2023) (note 3).
4. Conclusion
Don't buy any Christmas tree, especially those made from real trees, for Christmas. It is completely unnecessary, a waste of natural resources, and potentially blasphemous.
Notes
2. Christmas trees, typically evergreen conifers, can indeed serve as habitats for thousands of animal inhabitants. Here are some examples of animals that could rely on these trees:
Birds
Nesting: Many bird species use evergreen trees for nesting, particularly because the dense foliage offers protection from predators.
Examples: Robins, sparrows, chickadees, nuthatches, and owls.
Roosting: Birds roost in evergreen trees during cold months to stay warm.
Insects
Pollinators: Some trees can support pollinators like bees and butterflies when flowers bloom in spring (for trees left to grow naturally).
Hibernation and Habitat: Insects such as ladybugs, spiders, and moths find shelter in the bark and branches.
Mammals
Small Mammals: Squirrels, chipmunks, and even bats use these trees as homes or hiding places.
Larger Mammals: In forested areas, animals like deer may shelter near evergreen trees for protection from wind and snow.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Hiding Spots: Lizards and frogs often hide in or near the dense foliage for camouflage and safety.
Hibernation: Certain species, like snakes, use the leaf litter around the base of trees as a hibernation site.
Fungi and Microorganisms
Evergreen trees create microhabitats for various fungi, mosses, and microorganisms, which are part of a broader ecosystem.
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