The word ‘day’ has several meanings: It means light, as opposed to darkness. It means a full day (morning and evening). And it also means a longer period of time (in our day). That the six days of creation in the Bible were very different from ordinary days is clear by the non-existence of the sun until the fourth day. The account of creation in Genesis is like a poetic literary device. As well as the repetitive rhythm, notice also the parallels between the two sets of three days; between days 1, 2 and 3 where things are formed, and days 4, 5 and 6 when they are populated. Three days of forming followed by three day of filling:

The formless earth was formed at God’s command. The empty earth was populated at God’s command. The picture painted in Genesis 1 is of the one true God as the creator of order and life, and Christians believe the evidence we have supports this. So science and the belief in God and Christianity are not necessarily at odds with one another. Indeed, the absolute intricate precision and fine-tuning of the universe makes more sense if there is a God than if there isn’t.