I have thought about this a fair bit. I tend to believe that consciousness is evidence that there is something in us that is beyond the physical. In observing animals it certainly appears to me that mammals at least, have a sense of self or consciouness even though it seems less highly developed than our own. I think they will be in the next life with us.
There are so many more questions than there are answers. When I get to heaven I'm definitely going to all the lectures.
Everybody is entitled to my opinion.