Lots of questions... If Only I had Some Answers...

Wilber's Theory of Consciousness brought a lot of 'philosophical' questions to mind. The power of the mind seems quite amazing to me and I was wondering in what way Consciousness related to the mind's ability to heal the body. The fact that most of the answers to the Big questions in life can beanswered with notions that don't tend to be based in scientific evidence, a placebo, if you will and most people happily swallow this pill and never give it a second thought. A placebo works for the mind and the body, so what does that tell us about consciousness? If we believe it, then it is consequently true?
At what point in life does consciousness begine? And when exactly does it cease? Is there consciousness at the time of death? Is it totally egocentric of us to believe that we exist outside of our physical body? That some part of us is in fact immortal? There is a man who works in my office, a born again fundamentalist Christian who fully believes that animals have no soul and that God put them here entirely for our use, exploitation and enjoyment. How self-centered do you have to be to believe that animals have no soul but that humans have a special place reserved for their souls up in the clouds with all of their family and friends?? It seems people will believe anything that makes them feel good and disregard anything they don't like, even if it is grounded in factual evidence!
Ok, on to more questions borne from Wilber's Theory... Is evolution physical or subconscious as well? Is human nature evolving? What do you call it when there is consciousness but we do not know we are conscious? Childhood for example...At what age can the concept of existence and consciousness be grasped? Is it an actual stage in biological development (connected to the brain- incapable of processing the concept before a certain stage of development)?
I appreciated the thoroughness of Wilber's all quadrant theory. I also liked that he never fully dismissed or discredited any of the other schools of thought, finding them all to be integral pieces in the puzzle of consciousness.