As for understanding the bible literally. Think about when the various authors of the various portions of the bible wrote the bible (over the period of thousands of years). There were numerous contributors who were all human living in various eras and locations on earth. Each wrote what the Holy Spirit inspired them to write and they wrote from the perspective that they understood life at their times in history. Even though there was a common message to tell, it needed to be understood by man, therefore needed to be in context of some manner. Over time that context changes and so does our understanding, unless we study life in the era that any message was written.
I don't understand the daily life of Socrates or Beetoven or Shakespeare, but that doesn't mean I cannot try to glean some meaning of the very important messages they were each trying to convey. I will not discount the validity of the message in whatever form it takes because it is not updated and as easy for me to read and apply to my life as the latest novel by my favorite author.
If you were given an inspiration to write out and your great great grandfather was given the same inspiration to write something; what similarities or differences do you suspect I would find in the finished products. Should one pick apart the truth of the matter you are writing about because of the differences observed? Maybe he would receive a vision of a helicopter and try his best to describe it from his world view and understanding. Your description of it would be much different, indeed. Similarly, if he was to describe daily life in his day and you wrote about daily life in your day, should someone three generations from now pick apart the validity of the stories because they vary so much? They may make no sense of various parts of both and find no satisfactory common thread. Meanwhile others may have the understanding to read the message that both stories were conveying and still others may be successful with a little help from someone who has studied up on both eras. Would you be able to write about something, as the human you are, encompassing the readability and personal application of future generations?
The understanding in the various bible authors' day until even semi recently in relation to the bible authors, was that the world was flat. As they were writing their portions of what the Lord required that man write, for the benefit of present and future generations and for the glory of God, they did write in the perspective of their understanding of life and the world. God did reveal to chosen people more than what the rest of the world knew during those eras.
It seems that you have read the bible, even if only the parts that your electronic search brought up for your result. I challenge you to read the actual bible, in a different light...God's message to us, the inspiration that was given to humans of various times throughout history, is timeless. Consider this while reading. I bid you enjoyment of reading.
Sorry to be so wordy. This is how I processed the answer in my head. I hope you can understand what I am trying to convey here.
Edited by Young Earthling, : No reason given.
™ Version 4.2
