“Saint Augustine, one of the most influential theologians of the Catholic Church, suggested that the Biblical text should not be interpreted literally if it contradicts what we know from science and our God-given reason. From an important passage on his “The Literal Interpretation of Genesis” (early fifth century, AD), St. Augustine wrote”:
“It not infrequently happens that something about the earth,
about the sky, about other elements of this world,
about the motion and rotation or even the magnitude and distances of the stars,
about definite eclipses of the sun and moon,
about the passage of years and seasons,
about the nature of animals, of fruits, of stones,
and of other such things, may be known with the greatest certainty by reasoning or by experience, even by one who is not a Christian.”
“It is too disgraceful and ruinous, though, and greatly to be avoided, that he [the non-Christian] should hear a Christian speaking so idiotically on these matters…”
“…and as if in accord with Christian writings, that he [the non-Christian] might say that he could scarcely keep from laughing when he saw how totally in error they are.”
“In view of this and in keeping it in mind constantly while dealing with the book of Genesis, I have, insofar as I was able, explained in detail and set forth for consideration the meanings of obscure passages, taking care not to affirm rashly some one meaning to the prejudice of another and perhaps better explanation.”
Footnote: The Literal Interpretation of Genesis 1:19–20, Book 1, Chapt. 19,
by Augustine, circa 408 CE.