Well, the answer to the question of how life began is obviously complex. Therefore, the only recourse we have is to assume that some intellignece created it by design. Obviously, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the only viable theory.
In nature, nothing occurs without a force, or forces, driving it.
We absolutely do not know what forces drove random molecules in a mud puddle towards the need to create protective shells, consume/store energy and reproduce.
There is a life "force", without doubt, that drives molecules to overcome other natural forces and achieve reproduction. What that is remains a mystery, but it will be as "natural" as any other force in nature, once it is understood.
We are all claymation creation's.
*snort*
It is far more irrational to suppose an unintelligent process randomly created something more intelligent than the creative process itself.
Consider that we now know at least 10 dimensions exist and our universe only appears in 4 of those dimensions (1 of them being time). Scientists readily acknowledge that those other dimensions may include orthogonal time dimensions, meaning that they would be "timeless".
Furthermore there may be far more intellignet beings in the other 6 dimensions than exist in our 4 (supposition, but logical and rational to postulate)).
Furthermore we know there are interactions and influences from those other dimensions into our 4 dimensions (as apparent in quantum electrodynamics, quantum mechanics research labs).
One thing is sure. If life is created in a lab, it will be the result of Intelligent design. ;-)
The 'Monster' god does fit the profile of the gods of knowledge.