Is the creation story to be taken literally?

Answer 1

According to the best scientific evidence, no religious creation story can be taken literally in its entirety. Some people may interpret parts of their religious traditions as being consistent with scientific findings, but a thorough comparison usually shows significant conflicts.

Answer 2

Yes, according to Young-Earth creationism.

1) In repudiation of Evolution, Young-Earth Creationism holds that God created the universe and living things relatively recently without the use of Evolution.

2) In order to reconcile Creation with Evolution, Old-Earth Creationism holds that God made the universe and then guided Evolution over long epochs.

See also:

Is there evidence for Creation?

Can you show that God exists?

Seeing God's wisdom

Answer 3

I will let the early Church Father, Origen, answer this, from On First Principles, 3.1.1: "Now what man of intelligence will believe that the first and the second and the third day, and the evening and the morning existed without the sun and moon and stars? And that the first day if we may so call it, was even without a heaven? And who is so silly as to believe that God, after the manner of a farmer, planted a paradise eastward in Eden, and set in it a visible and palpable 'tree of life' ..."