Actually, trees do not require rings to stand. Those growing in uniform climates do just fine without them.
This illustrates what I would distinguish as "appearance of history" versus "appearance of age". Some features of creation would be functionally necessary if it were all created instantaneously, even though in the ordinary course of things they are formed gradually. However, others provide no necessary function. Thus, a fifty foot tree has appearance of age; a fifty foot tree with rings, knotholes, and dead leaves around it on the ground has appearance of history. The boundary between the two categories is rather subjective, but as general classes I see them as helping distinguish between what is inherently assumed for instantaneous creation and what requires additional explanation or admission of a problem.
Dr. David Campbell
"Old Seashells"
Biology Department
Saint Mary's College of Maryland
18952 E. Fisher Road
St. Mary's City, MD 20686-3001 USA
dcampbell@osprey.smcm.edu, 301 862-0372 Fax: 301 862-0996
"Mollusks murmured 'Morning!'. And salmon chanted 'Evening!'."-Frank Muir, Oh My Word!
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