When did death come into it?

There are two other weighty objections to reading the creation accounts in any other way than a literal one. The first is the explanation of the origin of death (Gen 2:16-17, Rom 5:12). If death only became a reality after the Fall then the long period of history that modern evolutionary science assumes simply did not take place. Secondly, the justification for the Sabbath is rooted in the seven day pattern of creation. (Exodus 20:8, 11).

These are impressive arguments but they have not convinced everyone. Three main questions marks have been raised against this interpretation of Genesis. These relate to the purpose of Genesis, its genre - i.e. the type of literature it is and the relationship between human knowledge and scripture. These will be picked up later as the other two approaches to the creation/evolution debate are discussed, but one further point needs be noted. Some who hold the literal reading of Genesis do so ‘with an unbecoming belligerence which threatens with the name apostate those who step out of line.” (from translator’s foreword, In the Beginning: the Opening Chapters of Genesis - Henri Blocher)

Further Reading
Three Views on Creation and Evolution – edited by J P Moreland & John Mark Reynolds
Over 25 Questions on Creation/Evolution and the Bible - Ken Ham
In the Beginning: The Opening Chapters of Genesis - Henri Blocher

to be continued...