The massive flood it references is actually believed to be traced to a major flood in the middle east in a place called "The cradle of Life". This is based on the fact that the earliest civilizations all trace back to this area. It was also VERY fertile because of this flood plane and surrounded by a desert wilderness, much like the garden is described in the first book. Yes I'm a Christian and yes I do belive in evolution. Reasoning it is never said HOW EXACTLY man was creates and made sentiant. It says he formed us from clay, fun fact the survivors of the last mass extinction were mammals that burrowed into the wet earth a d feed off of roots and grubs. The more you know!!!