I have not followed much of this thread, but the topic is definitely an interesting one and it is necessary to discuss and debate it. This is due to the fact that so many people who profess Christianity these days now deny flat out that the Genesis account of creation should be taken as literal days. The problem is one that is well pointed out by Ken Ham and the Answers in Genesis ministries, that the word "Day" used in Genesis 1 is the same Hebrew word used to mean "Day" in many places in the O.T.
For professing believers to consider:
Outside of getting into the science debate, (since the options given in the poll really were Christian and theological in nature), it does in a sense come down to whether the Christian is going to TRUST God's Word or NOT trust God's Word. (Or even if said person believes the Bible to BE God's Word).
If you cannot accept that the Word of God says what it means and means what it says when it says that God created the heavens and the earth in 6 literal days and rested on the 7th, then how can you trust it when it talks about Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross?
People who hold to this "Old earth" view seem to want to pick and choose WHICH portions of the Bible to accept literally and which portions of the Bible to accept figuratively. You cannot do this, for the Word of God is not open to private interpretation (see 1 Peter 1:20).
So again, if you believe it is not important that a literal understanding of Genesis be held, then on WHAT basis can you trust anything the Bible says about Christ's sacrifice and His atonement for your sins? Everything is up in the air, and it would seem to me you'd be confused on a great number of topics.......
