Our take: Nalini Nadkarni, a University of Utah biology professor, is highlighting the role that nature and trees play in faiths of every kind. Seen by many religions as manifestations of divine knowledge, trees have played an unassuming, yet vital role in every aspect of faith from the design of church grounds to being viewed as spiritual objects connecting the heavens to the earth. Hoping to use this information to help teach people about tree and nature conservation Nadkarni is traveling and speaking at churches to share her research findings noting that there are 328 references to trees and forests in the Bible alone.

Whether churchgoers realize it or not, the trees in their churchyards have religious roots.

Those tall, thin-branched trees on the corner of this city's Episcopal Church Center of Utah, Purple Robe Black Locusts, were probably named after a biblical reference to John the Baptist eating locusts and honey.

Nearby, the crab apple tree just outside the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Mark produces a small, sour fruit used by 15th-century monks to treat diarrhea, dysentery and gallstones.

And the flowers of a nearby dogwood tend to bloom around Easter.

My hope," said University of Utah biology professor Nalini Nadkarni, "is (worshippers) will realize that nature and trees are as much a part of their sacred ground and worthy of reverence as what goes on inside a cathedral or church."

Read more about The sacredness of trees on The Huffington Post.

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University of Utah biology professor wants people to notice the sacred role of trees