But just for you, here is another perspective on what the Bible says about the earth, though not really relevant to our discussion:
The Roundness of the Earth
At different times and in different places it has been thought that the earth is flat. In fact, as recently as the 16th century, sailors would threaten to mutiny on ocean-going ships that sailed too far from land, for fear of sailing off the edge of the earth, which was thought by many to be flat like a table top. There are even a few who believe in a flat-earth today!
(Some have wrongly thought that the Bible teaches a flat earth, but it does not. The Bible speaks of the "four corners" of the earth (in Rev. 7:1), but this is only a figurative way of referring to the "four points" (basic directions) of the compass ---and this same verse speaks of the "four winds," which refers to the same thing.)
In comparison, the Bible actually says, "He (God) sits enthroned above the circle of the earth and its people are like grasshoppers" (Isaiah 40:22 NIV). In that verse, the word translated "circle" is the Hebrew "khoog", which can also be translated as "roundness," "circle," "circuit," or "compass" (ref: Strongs Dictionary, 2329). The roundness of the earth is a viewpoint from space that no mere man had in 760 BC when those words were written. (Although, it might easily be suspected that the earth is round, by looking at the sun and moon). Furthermore, from about the year 1500 BC, it says in Job 26:10, "He marks out a circle (or roundness) on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness." Indeed, a circle would be the correct shape which describes any line between darkness and day-light along the surface of the oceans.
For much more on the roundness of the earth in the Bible, see: "What Shape is the Earth In?" by J.P. Holding. --- And for a history of the "flat earth" idea, see: Who invented the flat Earth? at ChristianAnswers.net.
The Earth is Suspended in Space
For centuries various cultures around the world speculated what holds up or supports the earth among the stars and sun and moon. The ancient Greeks believed that a giant being, Atlas, stood with the earth on his huge arms and shoulders, while the Hindus believed that the earth was supported on the backs of immense elephants, which stood on the shell of a great cosmic turtle which then swam around in the "cosmic sea."
But the Bible, on the other hand, gives an amazingly accurate picture of what we have confirmed to be scientific reality today, as seen from space. The Bible says (concerning God): "He suspends the earth over nothing" (Job 26:7). This is an accurate description of what it is like to view the earth from outer space, from any direction. It also does not run counter to the gravitational (and momentum) force which "suspends" the earth in space "over nothing." ---Amazingly, these are words written in about 1500 BC!
Very handy to pick and chose your verses like that. But how about these?
Ecclesiastes:
1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. [Clear, unambiguous description of the sun's orbit around the earth.]1st Chronicles:
16:30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.Psalms:
93:1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
96:10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be re-moved for ever.
> Anyway, no one is asking for the Bible to be taught in science class.
Those promoting Creationism sure do. Or are you suggesting that the Raelian view of Creationism is the one to be taught?
> The ancient Greeks believed that a giant being, Atlas, stood with the earth on his huge arms
Actually, it was Greek pagans (in the form of Aristarchos of Samos) who discovered and demonstrated that the Earth was a sphere. Really quite accurate diameter measurement, too... off by something like only 7% if memory serves.
> "He suspends the earth over nothing" (Job 26:7). This is an accurate description of what it is like to view the earth from outer space
No, it's not. Suspend a pretzel over nothing, and it looks nothing like Earth as seen from space. HAd the Bible said "sphere" or "ball," then... maybe.