Charliehall, is that joke or just a bad, failed, and yet often used excuse? Rashi is discussing the Pasuk of Bereishis and says that the term Bereishis can’t be coming to say that Shamayim and Aretz were first.
This thing with non-literal is way off track. But that’s how things work. Gadola Machlokes Shemegia Ad Kisei Hakavod. First they start with sources to disregard Chazal; then comes Torah Shebichsav.
The Rambam is far, far from what his words are being used to protect.