The Miracle of Fungi

by Colette Hehle

Amid the myriad amazing forms of life that make up God’s creation, there is one type that provides a remarkable mirror to the divine. It remains hidden, yet it is responsible for human sustenance. It is silent, yet speaks to an untold number of creatures. It is its own lifeform, yet it is everywhere, connecting us and helping us--even if we pay it no attention. It might sound like I’m describing God, but actually, I have fungus in mind.

One type of fungi permeate the soil with webs of a living substance that we call mycelium. These fungal strands reach out to the roots of plants and form a bond with them, whereby both fungus and plant can communicate their respective needs. The vast majority of plants across the globe form this symbiosis with specific forms of mycelium, which transport necessary nutrients, minerals, and water from deep in the earth to the roots of their partner-plant. In this role, fungus is absolutely crucial to plant life (and by extension, all life), especially in the context of climate change and industrial agriculture, where the availability of resources can decrease significantly. Connecting life with the resources it needs to thrive is a rather Godly function: as the Bible says of Christ, “in him all things hold together” (NRSV, Colossians 1:17). Fungi play a part in holding together the soil and the natural world, just as Jesus maintains the world of people, plants, and animals.  

Fungi play a part in holding together the soil and the natural world, just as Jesus maintains the world of people, plants, and animals.  

Fungus is also crucial in that it consumes—and thus creates life from—dead and decaying matter. Without fungi (and bacteria) to facilitate the process of breaking down the dead, we would have no healthy space on earth to inhabit. Fungus is a little like God, in that it can “swallow up death” (NRSV, Isaiah 25:8) and facilitates the process of changing a body “from death to life” ( (NRSV John 5:24).

We must also consider the miracle of mushrooms. When consumed by humans, mushrooms can be among the healthiest superfoods in the world. Used in traditional medicine across the globe but especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), some mushroom species have been proven to increase immune response and even help prevent certain types of cancer. Other types of fungi are even found in the human body, supporting crucial natural systems, such as digestion, even though we are unaware of their presence. Recently, scientists have even discovered that certain mushrooms (in this case the “special” ones), are able, in conjunction with talk therapy, to help people through illnesses such as PTSD and major depression.

While God is so much more than a fungus, the similarities between fungi and the divine are worth some reflection. After all, a fungus stretching nearly four miles across Oregon was only recently usurped as the largest living organism in the world. It has been alive for several thousand years, enduring fire, drought, storms, and change. Watching, listening, and tasting this part of God’s creation can teach us something about the Divine–the Divine that connects, restores, heals, and endures.

Resources 
Books:
Phillips, Michael. Mycorrhizal Planet: How Symbiotic Fungi Work with Roots to Support Plant Health and Build Soil Fertility. Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2017. 
Lowenfels, Jeff. Teaming with Fungi: The Organic Grower's Guide to Mycorrhizae. Oregon: Timber Press, 2017.
 
Articles:
Williams, Liam. “The Magic of Mycelium: Understanding Fungi’s Role in Our Ecosystems.” TheGreenTemple.net, 2023. https://thegreentemple.net/articles/mycelium-the-future-is-fungi/
Bogdanowicz, Richard. “Mycelium and Fungi.” The Permaculture Research Institute. January 2017. https://www.permaculturenews.org/2017/01/06/mycelium-and-soil/

---

Colette Hehle is a Seminary Intern at Creation Justice Ministries. Colette is a devout friend of the earth and a student of global theology. Colette earned their B.A. in English Language and Literature at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is currently pursuing a Master's in Divinity at Eden Theological Seminary.