For people who say “the Bible says” I ask them to use only the Bible to answer a simple question.

“Which came first? People or animals?”

We know from the geologic record that animals came first. This is backed up by Genesis 1:20-26. Man and woman were created at the same time.

So why does Genesis 2 get it so wrong?

Adam is created first (Genesis 2:7), then animals (Genesis 2:19), then Eve (Genesis 2:22).

The reason for this is that early editors of the Bible combined TWO creation myths together. Genesis 1 is the Elohist tradition, Genesis 2 (no 7 day creation) is the Yahwist tradition.

Of course, they don’t teach you that in Sunday school. ;)