I do take most of the Old Testament literally. But, in your desire to tar me with your broad-brush Muslim hysterics regarding Jewish and Christian Old Testament vengeance, you overlook just why there is a Christian New Testament, and why that vengeance is no longer mine to take.
Rationalize your way around Biblical Creation all you want; you'll be completely undermining more than just a few key Biblical precepts that are present in both the Old and the New Testament. There is a future earthly perfection, another Edenic existence, brought upon the entire world, all of Creation, and rather suddenly. What does science have to say about this? We, ourselves, will be physically brought back from the dead, some having been dead for millennia. What does science have to say about this, as well? Where do you draw the line upon subjecting God to science, and why?
Stop and think about what you're advocating. Yes, we appear foolish in the eyes of modern scientific perception, but we do not appear foolish in the eyes of God, for defending His Word, all of it. The Genesis, the Alpha, is inextricably linked with the Omega, the end, His return. God Himself is the Alpha and the Omega, the great I AM. God is vengeance. God is love. God offers us the gift of Salvation through Grace, having offered His own Son to die as the final sacrifice for our sin. Yet He is risen. It's up to us to accept this gift through what? Faith.
So, what does science have to say about the rest of Christian beliefs, since you're so preoccupied and eager to compromise? There are broad repercussions from doing so, that you either do not care about, which makes you not Christian, or that you just plain have not thought through.
I’d love to tag a couple of quotes and say, “Good point!”
The problem is, that was all great. Thank you for saying it clearly.
GG