“.how could the creation of the Earth be explained in such a way other than in allegorical form?”
Well, how about a simplified narrative that is at the same time not factually untrue? We do that all the time when explaining things to our children, so it can’t be beyond the capacity of God to do the same.
What is “untrue”?
I've asked the same question, but I came to a different answer-it's not true or divinely inspired, just a story written by a very superstitious person without any knowledge of scientific fact or reasoning.