[Slyfox]

Easy Peasey - It was the guy on the right:

[SubMareener]

The only way complex life can come into existence is to have a Creator create the plans for things the same way as a computer programmer creates the Object Types in a computer program. Then the Creator instantiates the types as real objects. The two creation stories in Genesis describe this process. Note: When the Object Types are created, they are ALWAYS GOOD! ;-)

[ClearCase_guy]

Given enough time and the chemical opportunity, living cells self-assemble.

A wild assumption with absolutely no basis for belief. It's like saying, "And then a miracle happened!"

Which is actually fine if you are both a Believer and a Scientist. But secular humanists, who see only a material world, should not be allowed to "do science" on the basis of "And then a miracle happened!"

[Red Badger]

Given enough time and the chemical opportunity, living cells self-assemble.

BS.

[ZULU]

“It has become axiomatic that life naturally evolved out of nonliving materials billions of years ago. Given enough time and the chemical opportunity, living cells self-assemble.”

Try “God”

[exnavy]

I believe the reply is “God”.

[BipolarBob]

Imagine this. We go to a planet and find a working computer with a complex program running it. is the first thing scientists postulate is that these materials just self assembled and started working on its own?

[Gamecock]

God.

Next question.

[libh8er]

Given enough time and the chemical opportunity, living cells self-assemble.

How do cells self assemble to form an intelligent system ? Lets take the circulatory system for example. How do cells "self assemble" to form a pump with multiple chambers, a set of pipes and a cpu that triggers the pump's action with precision and without failing for decades and a volume of fluid that is maintained within limits so it can keep circulating through the system within design loads. Apparently no knowledge of hydraulics was required to design this; just the possibility that cells would "self assemble" in the right manner. What idiots.

[ctdonath2]

As an engineer, I’m interested in the answer to the legitimate question.
And “because I said so” doesn’t answer the question.

[fivecatsandadog]

[ealgeone]

In the beginning.....

[RegulatorCountry]

What Caused Life to Come Into Existence?

Nothing. Because that's ever so much more compelling from a scientific basis than something. Especially when that something involves a deity. When design inevitably becomes unavoidable, cue up the space aliens guy because that's what it'll be then.

[I want the USA back]

VERY good article! Absolutely right.

[Sopater]

It has become axiomatic that life naturally evolved out of nonliving materials billions of years ago. Given enough time and the chemical opportunity, living cells self-assemble.

Really? "Axiomatic" yet never once observed? This article begins with a strong, false assertion.

[Buttons12]

“living cells self-assemble”

It’s true! I do it every morning. Takes about two hours.

[Nifster]

Simple answer...God

[Sopater]

It has become axiomatic that life naturally evolved out of nonliving materials billions of years ago.

It is only axiomatic to the atheist because the alternative is unacceptable.

[MosesKnows]

What Caused Life to Come Into Existence?

There are two basic approaches; the universe always existed or someone created the universe. I subscribe to the latter; creation by plan, not accident.

Many atheist and agnostics have publicly revised their thinking after becoming acquainted with the DNA language.

[aquila48]

“When Craig Venter’s team created the first synthetic cell, they didn’t assemble a cell from scratch; they replaced a living cell’s DNA with a modified version. In other words, they replaced the molecular software of an already existing computer. The hardware already existed. While I greatly admire Venter’s efforts and consider it to be one of the most important and promising developments of this century, it is important to point out they did not create life from nonliving materials.”

Even if they had, the only thing it would have proved is that an INTELLIGENT human can DESIGN and assemble a cell, not that random events guided by forces of nature did it.