Hello Major and paidforinfull;
I'm joining this discussion late. After reading the posts to this thread, I wanted to share my experience to what you posted regarding the students at the university you dealt with, assuming it was close to where you pastored at church.
There was a class I took that studied the doctrine of creation. To me it was an opportunity for potential dialogue and debate between Christianity and science regarding old and new earth creationism. We had to be warned because debates in the past on this subject was brutal because of sharp disagreements.
The new or young earth closely supports the Biblical account of 6000 years and a 24 hour period. The old earth does not agree with the young earth's chronological order, but a logical structuring over a much longer period of time. Are both sides relying on assumptions, or faith?
Though I'm terrible at debates, in my learning view, science interpretation cannot prove the past nor be forced fact.
I debated on the new earth while the opposing students argued the old earth. Both sides presented good arguments and fortunately the discussion / debate was healthy and nobody got kicked out of seminary. lol!
My response to paidforinfull regarding the survival of the plant's process of growth. We have to remember during creation that Adam did not begin his life as a new born baby, thus, the same would go for a new plant.
My question is, whether the old or new creation, how would that impact my birthday? lol!
God bless you both and your families.