What is Consciousness..??

1. The state or condition of being conscious.

2. A sense of one's personal or collective identity, including the attitudes, beliefs, and sensitivities held by or considered characteristic of an individual or group.

3. Special awareness or sensitivity.

4. In psychoanalysis, the conscious.

5. The state of being conscious; knowledge of one's own existence, condition, sensations, mental operations, acts, etc.

6. Immediate knowledge or perception of the presence of any object, state, or sensation.

Can this issue be discussed within the frame work of humanity and without it being a discussion about God?

I'm looking for alternative theories on the subject, not a debate on religion.

I guess conciousness is the state where you perceive your basic reality to be.
It's a very hard word to define as reality itself is open to question.

It can be discussed within the realms of humanity if you take it scientifically and look at things like electric impulses within the brain that differ from those whilst asleep but only within a framework where reality is perceived to be a constant for everyone.

Awareness...awareness...awareness