To elaborate on the casino metaphor: the chance that any one particular sequence of, say, fifty numbers shows up on a roulette table is approximately 3.9 * 10 to the power of -79. (1/37 ^ 50, to be exact.) That's what I would call, somewhat paradoxically, a 'fat chance'. Yet, if you walk into any casino, you'll find that an event with that chance has actually taken place. But that isn't very surprising
after the fact. The only thing that would stupify anybody, is for someone to have predicted
that particular sequence in advance. Evolution doesn't pretend to predict it's outcome, it merely explains the process by which the result, any result, can come about.
"[...]
the chances of evolution are about 1 in (10 to the exponent of 44,000) thats 44 thousand 0s."
I bet you didn't arrive at that number by yourself. So, I can only conclude that either your source is incredibly stupid, or you have been to lied to by them.
Also, creationists should finally wrap their minds around the following:
evolution didn't happen overnight. It isn't as if some chemicals were mixed together, some lightbolts were thrown in (a la Miller), and presto: a complete, functional rabbit was pulled out of the hat, as if by magic. Evolution is possible because it comes down to a very, very, VERY long sequence of small changes, each having a definite, non-zero (and not even very small) probability.
[This message has been edited by Parasomnium, 07-30-2003]