And the Bible specifically says there were no deaths of any creature prior to this? Could not this mean deaths of a creature with a soul? Bottom line, I don't interpret it the same way as you.
The Bible gives the geneology of Adam to Noah. And from Noah to Jesus.
And Genesis doesn't give any detail about what came between, and how long the time period was from the "dust" to the "man". I chose to interpret Adam as being the first creature with a soul. The first "man", yet his parents were not human, by God's standards, as they did not have a soul. That could certainly have been only a few millenia ago.
People of good faith can interpret the Bible in many different ways. Just look at how many Christian denominations there are, each with very honest and good people among their ranks. This is just another of those religious arguments that will never be settled. I don't mind if you teach things that I don't believe. Unless and until you insist on your particular interpretation be taught in public school. That's a bridge too far.
The bible mentions none. The first mention of death, I believe, Genesis 2:17 "...but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat it you shall surely die."
And the result of man's fall is the cursing of all creation (Genesis 3:14ff)
The first recorded physical death is the slaying of Abel by Cain which is a generation after the fall.
Adam's sin is the cause of death. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22) "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."
And Genesis doesn't give any detail about what came between, and how long the time period was from the "dust" to the "man".
Oh yes it does. Man was created on the 6th day.
The first "man", yet his parents were not human, by God's standards, as they did not have a soul. That could certainly have been only a few millenia ago.
Adam had no parents. God made him from the dust in less than a 24hr period (actually He made the beasts of the Earth earlier that day).