Consciousness is separate from fluid intelligence, and has zero benefits for survival. Look around us and see how most people don't have self awareness. They're living completely like robots so much so that they have lower mental capabilities than many animals.

It is there to realise one's own free-will. There's also no faith without consciousness. It can make one question existence, to struggle against the tide and makes one strive for good around one's environment.

It must come from somewhere good. Now, where does good come from?

There's infinite darkness in existence, however the opposite is also true. Goodness exists. Peace exists. And evil alone couldn't have created good itself because it wouldn't know how to.

PS: Abiogenesis is the only thing they have regarding the origins of life, and even after countless tries, haven't been able to be replicated. Alas, people think it is a fact.