While I do agree that things such as life appearing where there was only inanimate matter before seem implausible, simply saying that because such things are implausible, they couldn't have happened unless there was some higher being/intelligence controlling this progression seems like an easy way out, and not really answering the question of how they came to be here in the first place. There are some ways that life could form without said outside influence. Before the atmosphere was fully formed, radiation from the sun and other sources could cause changes that led to life. Take into consideration the huge time span that we are dealing with. This progression to life did not take place rapidly. Even simple life forms are much too complex for that. And for those who say, well, where did the sun come from? Where did that initial energy come from? I ask, where did your god come from? Everything has to start somewhere. Why not with the sun? Why not with a huge release of energy from some giant supernova that created the universe in what is known as the big bang?