"If Genesis 1 is allegory why must we believe that the very first verse is
real???? That is inconsistent."
Not necessarily. Myths often start with a statement that is true ("The sky
is blue."), then offer a story to explain why ("It is the blood of the
slain sky demon painted on the dome of the earth."). Genesis would not be
any different.
Kevin L. O'Brien
"Good God, consider yourselves fortunate that you have John Adams to abuse,
for no sane man would tolerate it!" William Daniels, _1776_