Michael,

This quote from A.G. suggests an outdated distinction between living and nonliving matter:

"A.G.: Nonliving matter cannot manifest consciousness in the form of experience. This fundamental difference between life and non-life you have to reckon with."

What is the basis for such a distinction, since the discoveries of RNA, DNA, and protein structures have clearly elucidated the chemical basis of "living matter" on earth, and how it differs from "non-living matter".

And why does it make sense to limit purposive bahavior to humans or complex life forms alone? Most life forms engage in purposeful behaviour to seek energy (in the form of light or food) and mating opportunities. And even computer programs can be designed to operate with purposeful intent. (See my Medium article "A Computer Program That Exhibits Consciousness>")

It seems to me that religating consciousness to the realm of quantum mysteries is just a way of trying to avoid mechanistic mechanisms, using mysticism to avoid a comprehensible explication of the phenomenon.