Undoubtedly, the concept of a young earth poses a stumbling block to many Christians. Many do not find it hard to reject evolution, particularly with the fossil record showing distinct categories of plants and animals with no hint of any basic category changing into another. God surely created, they say, "but couldn't He have done it over millions and billions of years?"

In our modern work-a-day world, we may be tempted to wonder what things would have been like in Eden. Did Adam and Eve have a life of luxury, simply wandering from tree to herb to tree again, selecting their daily food? Was everything effortlessly provided for them?

Up until fairly modern times, people in western countries have basically believed that the Bible was God's Word, and, by and large, believed what it said.