[gavinlit]

Certainly our current forms of life would not have evolved if you did not have those preconditions but it's highly probably that others more suited would have. Of course you then find yourself mucking about trying to define what 'life' is.

Saying the probability of mutations working out is quite small and then being amazed is equivalent to seeing a number plate and saying to yourself 'wow - imagine odds of seeing that. One in _________. That's incredible'. Not incredible, just as likely or unlikely as seeing any other plate. No theory is perfect (including that of evolution) but some have less obvious holes than others and are yet to be disproved. I'd guess that many don't have 'faith' in the theory of evolution, it's just the currently accepted idea which may itself change or evolve, and if disproved, be replaced by something else. This is one of the differences between ideas of faith and scientific theories.

Edit - BTW, those questions posed are super funny. I'd say if in doubt - smite away. Makes me wonder about the saying 'to be smitten' by someone.