[Porsche-O-Phile]

The chemical compounds that are the basis of life (amino acids and other organic compounds) are easily synthesized and occur naturally. It's not a very far leap from a "primordial soup" rich in these types of compounds to a longer, more complex molecule that self-replicates. The exact mechanism of this self-replication is not yet fully understood, but to believe that it's solely and exclusively due to some sort of divine intervention is pretty ridiculous, IMO. An explaination will certianly be found - probably in the near future.

Also, I believe the first self-replicating molecule is believed to have been rudimentary RNA (not DNA). It existed in molecular forms for a long time before prokaryotes evolved and true "cells" as we understand them came into being.

I think most people are simply not able to comprehend the time scales of evolution - we're talking roughly 3.5 BILLION years. That's 3.5 thousand thousand thousand. It's a very big quantity. Doubt most people here have ever seen 3.5 billion of ANYTHING. It's a staggering amount of time. Certainly enough to facilitate some amazing things and amazing chemical reactions given the right conditions.

Sorry, but I think we're mostly the accidents of very basic chemical processes, given a very very long time to become more complex and sophisticated. Much as we like to assign significance and nobility and divinity to our own existence (or perhaps egos) - the evidence simply does not support it. The prospect of being small, insignificant and accidental in a vast, cold and lonely universe is a difficult concept for most people to accept, so they invent wonderful and poetic stories to ease the pain. Not entirely a bad thing, but it should not be confused with reality either.