Either (1) our consciousness "emerges" as a natural by-product of the complexity/architecture of our brains, or (2) it originates in a soul bestowed by God, and the spiritual soul controls our physical being/choices.

I was assuming option 1 for our discussion, since option 1 allows for God's existence (and equivalently, the existence of "spirituality" or "souls")...but it also allows for the existence of no god (and no "souls"). It is, therefore, the more general case. In option 1, consciousness is a part of the physical universe, whether by design, or by evolution, or both. If that is the case, than humanity should be able to create it using technology, by creating the necessary and sufficient conditions for consciousness to emerge. So, we can create consciousness in our AI's.

If, however, option 2 is true, and consciousness is bestowed through ensoulment (a Divine Act for each individual), then the answer to whether AI can be conscious is really unknowable, as we are left to the whims of the Creator as to whether He decides to ensoul our creations.