This is a very standard line used equally by those who lean towards theistic evolutionism and those trying to defend creationism. But as soon as you start arguing for 'biblical interpretation' you can can interpret all sorts of things.



As a side philosophical point I'll have to agree with this but question how sensible that makes the arguments between the theories. An argument often given by the religious who are prepared to discuss their beliefs is that there 'had to be' a creator.

This is where a key attitude towards evolutionary theory needs to change. From a philosophical perspective it really doesn't matter that much whether it's true or not. It just has to be possible. If evolution is possible - and the theory is possible, if not fully justified - then the argument that there 'had to be' a creator cannot be used to justify religious belief as it's not true.

But quite aside from that. Saying that God created the earth doesn't solve the problem. People seem reluctant to accept that at some point something just has to exist - without being created. Whether this is an omnipotent deity or some cosmic goo from whence we came... is by the by. There's no more reason for it to be one than to be the other.