[JamesP81]

Unless you can accept the Bible sometimes uses metaphoric expressions.

Hebrew is written two ways: narrative and poetic. The two are easily distinguished by the sentence structure. Narrative is intended to be taken at face value. The Levitical law is written this way. Poetic is just that: poetic. The Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and all the allegorical tales are written this way.

Genesis is written in narrative form. It's written in the same way that the levitical Law was written. The Hebrew word for day is 'yom' and every single time in the Old Testament 'yom' is used in conjunction with a number, it's talking about that number of 24-hour rotations of the Earth. While it can occasionally mean an indefinite period of time, it has never meant an indefinite period of time when used with such phrases 'and there was evening and morning'. It seems clear to me that not only is Genesis meant to be taken literally, it was written in such a way to prevent someone from taking it any other way.

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Christian Answers

[Remole]

But it is highly debateable that Genesis 1 is written in narrative form. Certainly the rhythms and repetitions in the text suggest that it is closer to poetry than narrative.

And anyway, the neat distinction between poetry and narrative, as is the case in English, is not at all secure in Hebrew. There are very very few passages in the narrative sections of the Genesis that one can determine are prosaic forms of expression; one such passage is the words of Esau to Jacob in regards to the red stew. See the work of Robert Alter in his translation of Genesis.

And anyway, how is one to determine the literalist vs the metaphorical meaning of a passage? To do that requires life within the culture.

And finally, even if the creationist view is correct, why did the sacred author of Genesis adopt THIS way of describing the phases of creation? Why 7 days? why not 10? or 50? or 365? [hint: this is a loaded question]

[stands2reason]

Glad I'm not a Christian. Makes it easy for me to accept logic and reason.

[presently no screen name]

Exactly. Gen 1:23....And there was evening and there was morning a FIFTH day.
Gen 1:31 And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the SIXTH day.

Why is that so hard for some to understand? Seems 1st grade to me. To 'simple' for the 'educators'? Again, it's the little things that confound the wise (so called).

He created the whole earth in six days - they can't believe someone can do that - someone can't but an AWESOME God can and did and that's their problem. They can't understand it so they don't believe it. What kind of God would He be if we have the same intelligence as HIM, Our Creator.