Life is a divine construct. Non-life can not assemble itself into a living, self-replicating organism, so like you I believe there was a moment in which the precursor life form was Created. Be it likely a self replicating RNA with the capacity over time to gain in complexity and radiate out into an infinite number of expressions. At the moment of Creation the essence of all possibilities was known by the Creator. So it could be said that every living creature, past, present and future, was Created in that instant. Not in form but in potential. Nothing has ever evolved that was not conceived in the beginning.
As for Darwin and evolution. If it was not Darwin it would have been Wallace, or Joe Bloggs. Evolution might sit easier with you if it was called, 'God's machine for the gradual increase in bio-molecular complexity leading to speciation and a sentient being who will be capable of understanding that a Divine Essence instigated every vibrating atom and force in the universe.' But that just doesn't roll off the tongue.
Evolution is Creation in action. A discovery not an invention. Darwin did not invent it because he got all twisted up inside.
CliveH has pointed out the brutal facts as they stand today. It's hard to argue the merits of religion without having an alternative world without religion to see if we would be any better off.
In taking a human animal, with all its wild, self preservation at all cost instincts and develop that animal into a empathic, caring, sharing, philanthropic being is no easy task. This is the role of religion and I don't believe any other process would have developed this within us. Our social fabric was built by religion. Now of course this is a work in progress and the journey has just begun.
Our present standing leaves a lot to be desired, but. We have nursing homes, hospitals, a share of wealth for the sick or unemployed, law, police protection for the weak, education for the masses, improvement in the rights of women etc, etc. Most of these driven by religious belief.
Sure, you can rip into that statement, and the only defence I can offer is that it is a work in progress.
Once again nine lives - a well thought out piece. I agree that religion is not so much the cause but the rallying point for errant human behaviour. This occurs mostly when a religion has past its used-by-date. I believe there is a time allotted to each religion. History clearly shows us when that time period has elapsed.
As for Dawkins - it goes to show that even the very brightest academically among us may not possess insight. I have found that those who rail the hardest against religion for example, tend to be fighting something in themselves that is powerfully drawn to the very thing they are fighting against. Dawkins just needs one single confirmation and he will tumble like a house of cards.
Apathy is infinitely more distant from spiritual belief than atheism.
