Emergence Explained, From Atoms To Humans

God of the gaps (or a divine fallacy) is a logical fallacy that occurs when believers invoke Goddidit (or a variant) in order to account for some natural phenomena that science cannot (at the time of the argument) explain. This concept resembles what systems theorists[1] refer to as an "explanatory principle".[2] "God of the gaps" is a bad argument not only on logical grounds, but on empirical grounds: there is a long history of "gaps" being filled and the remaining gaps for God thus getting smaller and smaller, suggesting "we don't know yet" as an alternative that works better in practice; naturalistic explanations for still-mysterious phenomena always remain possible, especially in the future where research may uncover more information.[3] (link)

Click on the link below for a counter-apologetic video presenting a concise and complete rebuttal to this ubiquitous attempt to justify belief in a god. It centers around the well-known natural phenomenon of emergence in nature:

Answers to Questions for Atheists

Consciousness And Emergence

Most scientists agree that consciousness (awareness of self and the world; ability to reflect) within humans (? also higher animals) is one of the greatest challenges in science to explain.  Following are links in support of consciousness being a natural emergent property not only in advanced animals, including humans, but in swarms of animals.

Emergence Explains It

To religious apologists:  the word is 'emergent", examples of which are all around us.  No supernatural positing is necessary.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2015/07/are-we-just-molecules-in-motion-2/
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