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 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.
Nor do we know that they "needed" to. But we do know that they did, and by doing so made themselves more survivable.
> There is a life "force", without doubt,
Thank you Qui Gon, but I think a bit more information than that is needed before we can say "without doubt."
I like to say that life is no more or less an accident than gravity.
No one seems to get the significance of it, but I am certain that you would.