Today, Islam is the greatest force in the world. Its enemies cannot do it any harm. It is like a mighty oak which the storms of the world cannot uproot. Yet there was a time when this mighty oak was a tiny sapling, and desperately needed someone to protect it from the hurricanes of idolatry and polytheism which threatened to uproot it.
http://home.swipnet.se/islam/A_Personal ... pter19.htm
Many of the so-called Christians of the area had reverted to paganistic practices during his absence and were involved in spirit worship and magical arts. To counteract this sacrilege Bonifice was convinced drastic measures were needed, so he boldly struck a blow to the very heart of the local pagan worship. He assembled a large crowd at Geismar, where the sacred oak of the Thundergod was located, and with the people looking on in horror he began chopping down, the tree. It was a defiant act, but one that clearly drew attention to the fact that there was no supernatural power in either the tree or the god whom it honored.
http://users.auracom.com/gmilroy/boniface.htm