"The idea that the seven days need not be taken literally is at least as old as St. Augustine."
Sweetie, it's older than that. It's what the Hebrew states and that was inspired from God. Look up the word "yom" in Hebrew in the context of morning, evening and God says just what He means -
seven literal twenty=four hour days!
My God, means what He says. He is not FINITE. He is INFINITE. If fallible humans want to insist on using their FINITE knowledge (lol) to reject an INFINTE God, well that's up to them and at their peril. The evidence is there for what God clearly states. Unlike evoluntary "truth", His "truth" doesn't "evolve".
Amen...
John 1:1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
John 1:14
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory , the glory as of the only begotten of the Father ) full of grace and truth .