The first rule of bible interpretation is called the "Golden Rule of Interpretation". When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning, unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.

The first 5 books of the bible are written as historical text. I see no reason not to take them essentially literally. My only point of contention with the definition for the golden rule that I typed out above is "common sense". I don't believe there is such a thing. I prefer to use the term "good sense", which, at least in this day and age, is a relatively rare commodity. Good sense is not common.

To quote the mother of the water boy in the movie by that name, I believe that the theory of evolution is "one of the many tools of the devil".