However, I still would like to comment that, IMHO, when people start allegorizing portions of the Bible, eventually the gospels will be subject to the same interpretation. THIS is where the danger lies.
We see the contents of the Gospels being understood by some as symbolical as early as the 3rd century, but the Church has prevailed, and indeed, it shall continue to prevail.
As for Genesis 1 – 11, we have several options:
1. We can ignore the immense difficulties that it poses to any kind of a literal interpretation and simply and ignorantly say that it is true because it is the word of God.
2. We can carefully and prayerfully study it and seek to understand it.
3. We can allow it to destroy our faith in God and the Bible.
4. We can ignore the Old Testament and cling to the New Testament.
5. We can believe that Genesis 1 -11 is based on oral traditions from a number of different oriental sources and lay it aside and not concern ourselves with it.
6. We can deal with Genesis in any number of other ways.
As for me and my house, we choose option #2.