Atheists argue that evolution, driven by random mutation, disproves the existence of a divine designer (God), but many philosophers challenge the idea that chance and design are incompatible. The atheist view misunderstands what chance actually means.

Reflecting from a philosophical and theological perspective, philosophers like Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas reveal that chance is not a force that causes things to happen; rather, it describes what happens when different purposeful actions intersect unexpectedly. Chance is the unexpected result of purposeful actions intersecting. For example, running into someone at the store is a chance event, but it stems from intentional actions by both individuals.

We can learn from St. Thomas Aquinas that God is the source of all causes, and even events that appear random to us are included in his providential plan. What seems like chance from our perspective is fully intentional from God, because he is the ultimate cause behind all things. What seems random to us is still part of his providential plan. Thus, evolution and chance don’t disprove God’s existence. Chance presupposes an ordered system, which points to a divine designer.

All power of any agent whatsoever is from God, as from the first principle of all perfection. Therefore since all operation is consequent to some power, it follows that God is the cause of every operation.

St. Thomas Aquinas

We live in a world with order and purpose, governed by natural laws, living organisms, and biological processes. All of these reflect God’s design. Mutations follow patterns and constraints, which point to underlying design.

The presence of chance in evolution actually points us toward God, as he is the one who created order and design, and chance would not be possible without them. Evolution and divine design are not at odds. God can work through natural processes, including what we call chance, to fulfill His purposes.

Karlo Broussard from Catholic Answers explains these arguments in depth in an article from Catholic Magazine.
Click here to read it (Catholic.com)