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So if life started on this planet shortly after it was formed, it must mean that life did not begin through the random combination of molecules. That something else happened to create life, whether it was transported from outer space or divine intervention.

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By 'shortly', you mean ~650 million years? I'm not sure I'd consider that 'shortly', especially given that it's only been that long since the Cambrian explosion.

from the article :

>just 340 million years after the formation of the plant

Also when you consider that the earth was uninhabitable for most of those first few hundred million years. This was a time when our planet was still getting bombarded by asteroids and oceans would have boiled away into steam. Temperatures were hot and the surface was volcanic. It was barely habitable at this point.

That would would qualify as shortly by most estimates. Life began as soon as it was possible.

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