Betty Boop, there is no evidence - none - that matter had to 'get smart', whatever that means, in order for life to evolve. 'ID theorist' is a misnomer; no one pushing ID is doing theory at any level a real scientist would recognize. There are no particularly worrisome gaps in the modern theory of evolution, barring the gap at the very beginning of life. The 'ideas being developed in physics, information science, and other fields', to which you refer, are as evanescent and as out-on-the-fringe as they've ever been. Most of the stuff about extended coherent states and biophotons I've seen posted on FR would be dismissed in five minutes by any competent condensed matter physicist.
And your portrayal as mainstream biological scientists as a 'cult' frankly discredits only yourself and those who might take you seriously.
I feel frankness deserves reciprocal frankness. Merry Christmas.
There are no particularly worrisome gaps in the modern theory of evolution, barring the gap at the very beginning of life. Yep, that's the one, Prof. Evolutionary theory seems to be lacking a method to get to the bottom of that question.
Merry Christmas to you too!