Time for another crazy story about my interactions with the Animal Kingdom. This story is about when a dog’s soul passed over me. Seriously.
When I moved to Los Angeles, I rented a room from a friendly couple that I found on Craig’s List. However, they had a little dog named Chuck (yes, “Chuckles” is based on Chuck in name and appearance). Chuck hated everyone except for his owner, Caryn, who saw Chuck as one of her children. She decked Chuck out with this neck-bling so that he sounded like a prancing box of chains, and he never stopped moving. Even when he was still he twitched with rage. He would run circles around the kitchen table and bark for no reason except the voices in his insane little head. He rarely was not at least growling at something.
He hated me. He never warmed up to me. I want to be careful how I word this, because I know that Caryn will probably read this, but I was not real fond of the dog either. I was fond of Caryn though, and I was presented with a dilemma… I couldn’t stand Chuck, but I knew he was precious to Caryn, and I knew that if anything ever happened to Chuck I would have a very hard time not showing the relief and the joy it would bring me to no longer have to deal with that rabid little creature every day.
So after a good year or so living as room mates with Chuck, our relationship never changing from day one, I end up having a dream one night. In the dream, I walk into the house and Chuck comes running up to me wagging his tail with uncontainable glee. He jumps into my arms, licks my face frantically and almost whines with love. Similar to those videos you see on YouTube where a soldier returns from military service and his dog is over joyed to see him. It was as if Chuck really loved me and had been holding it in, and he finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. I was shocked.
Then I woke up. Of course it was a dream. I walked out of my room, on my way to use the bathroom, and Caryn is standing out there crying. She explains that she took Chuck in to the vet for a routine check up. It turned out he’d had a severe medical problem that was causing him intense pain and it was so far along that the only real humane option was to put him down right then and there. Up to that point we all thought he was healthy, we had no clue he was going to be gone so soon.
Chuck died while I was dreaming about him.
I am a believing Christian, so that puts me in the kooky club off the bat for some people, but if you know me, you know I am a skeptical person and a researcher. For my beliefs I walk uphill, I read, I reason, I wrestle. I never in a million years would make something like this up. To me, it would sound like total crazy talk… and it does even as I say it now. All I can say is that it happened, and it gave me a better response than a fist pump when Caryn told me the news. I told her about the dream. It was uncanny. I had one sweet memory with that dog, and I still wonder to this day if he was stopping by to straighten things out on his way to dog heaven. To let me know that somewhere behind is devil-rat disposition he loved me. I really don’t know, but it was one of the more fascinating and mystifying things that has ever happened to me.
So, I dedicate this page to the memory of Chuck. Rest in peace ya little devil rat!
Ethan
I have been waiting for this project for a long time. Bears are awesome. Axe Cop is awesome. Combining the art of Axe Cop and Bears is super awesome. I was sent here by Chris Hastings. Super excited about this story.
Double Awesome! Thanks for coming over, Chris is a good friend and I look forward to our next Axe Cop/McNinja cross over. Malachi, Chris and I had an awesome breakfast together in San Diego.
Ah, do animals have souls? A classic question. I bet that YOU know that C. S. Lewis has even written about it. Christian-kooky-club high-five!
indeed. It’s been a while since I read his views on that. I like when people explore those issues, no matter how hard to fathom they are. High five.
Of course dogs have souls…souls are the life force.
I never liked dogs, growing up. But since the age of 19, ive always had dogs. Anyone who’s lived with (and understood) dogs for any length of time shouldn’t even question that.
Now, I know plenty of beings that walk around on 2 legs that call themselves “human”… many of them do NOT have souls. Maybe they sold them long ago.
I agree that pain can make any animal/being grumpy, even mean. Poor thing suffered, I’m sure.
And yes, I’m a skeptic as well. I’m spiritual but not religious. However, I’m not egotistical enough to proclaim if there’s a higher being that is all knowing. I’m just a lowly being… how could -I- know beyond a shadow of a doubt if there’s one god, 50, or none? I may find out once I enter the Great Mystery that happens to us all when our hearts stop.
But if there’s a God, and a heaven, there damned well better be dogs there, or I’m leaving. ?
Chuck(les) reminds me of my pain in the ass dog, right down to the anus.
Dogs can get nasty if they are in chronic pain- perhaps that’s what was wrong with him the whole time. That’s a moving story.
Yeah I would too. He was a Manchester Terrier so he was already basically a pint-sized doberman pinscer, so he had attitude, but I am sure the chronic pain amplified it.
That’s an awesome story, Ethan.
thanks ChrisW.
That was a crazy story, but I believe every word of it.
I like you.
Call me a cynic, but coincidences happen. I’m afraid I just can’t believe that.
I’m a cynical man myself and coincidence would be one of the top three or four possibilities I would consider. I just give the other possibilities equal or greater validity because I have not shut them out by sticking to a worldview based completely on nature alone. I think a world created accident out of colliding particles where I have this experience is not only just as crazy as if the world were made by a god… but crazier. It makes less sense and takes a greater leap of faith to deny the possibility of a creator when life seems to not be complete chaos.
I came over here day one from Axe Cop and love the comic. But I like reading your blog posts just as much. Another Kooky Christian high-five!
Thanks, and high five back at you. I love having the freedom to blog here as I see fit. I try to keep Axe Cop more focused because I think people go to Axe Cop to escape into being a kid again. Here we can have fun but still be grown ups.
As an atheist and a skeptic, I think however you interpret the dream is valid. When it comes to matters of the spirit, where there can be no empirical evidence to prove the existence of metaphysical phenomena, I think what matters is what the dream means to you.
This comment is directed at your comment and not at you personally, but to say any interpretation is valid, is to say no interpretation is valid. Religious people are often accused of basing their beliefs on pure sentimentality. Well, the view you express here is purely sentimental, not based in empiricism and is by your own definition invalid. Not trying to insult you, only trying to point out that the very nature of atheism pretty much shuts off the validity of any matter of the spirit. This is one reason I can’t go atheist, because the spiritual is a massive part of human existence and I can’t throw it out and pretend it is not there.
Take THAT relativism!
like.
Oh wait this isn’t Facebook.
*Like* as well. I was a little bit like “Oh no, not a relativism debate,” but like Ethan said, everything has stayed civil. Relativism really is full of holes. Like the relativistic statement “There is no absolute truth.” (as we Christians claim ((I prefer to say I have a relationship with God, as the Christian label has such a bad rap these days)) ) Anyways, making the statement that there is no absolute truth IS an absolute truth statement. So, it’s self defeating, as is much of the argument of relativism.
Just own it!
Ethan, that was pretty amazing. You’re totally right when you say “to say any interpretation is valid is to say no interpretation is valid.” That’s what I am REALLY implying whenever I tell people that their interpretation, and any interpretation, is valid. It’s akin to saying “it’s all just make-believe so believe what you want.” It’s not enlightened, it’s just as condescending as the worst of religious attitudes can be.
Just wanted to let you know that you’ve made me re-examine my own attitudes. Losing that smug sense of superiority really takes the fun out of a way of thinking lol. Oh, and I have some crazy experiences too that I don’t believe and yet have to believe at the same time. Stuff that, if someone else told me had happened to them, I would absolutely call BS on.
That’s an impressive reply, you show a lot of character and I’m honored you found something in what I said. Thanks for letting me know. Gave me a warm fuzzy.
Atheism doesn’t necessarily require a lack of spirituality. There are sects of Buddhism for instance, which lack the belief in any sort of “god” but are still spiritual and still have beliefs in different mysticisms. I don’t put much stock in it myself, since I’m an atheist of the more orthodox persuasion, but atheism and lack of spiritualism aren’t necessarily mutually inclusive. Hell, I’ve known theists who lack any sort of “spiritualism.”
Despite my esoteric story about a dog spirit, I am probably more like one of those less spiritual Christians. I’m actually not proud of it, I wish I was a little more spiritual. But I’d be interested to understand how an atheist can really believe in a spiritual realm when they don’t believe there is a God. That seems like a real “have your cake and eat it too” kind of belief system.
Everyone’s free to interpret events around them however they please, but it doesn’t mean souls really exist. I’m going to stay in the atheist camp until someone figures out how to detect a soul in a way that doesn’t rely on feeling like there’s something else out there. Feelings aren’t evidence.
The main problem with most spirituality is that it gives people an excuse to do whatever they feel like doing because “God’s on their side.” It’s interesting how almost nobody things God disagrees with them about what’s right and what’s wrong even though even religions have major disagreements about right and wrong.
Trying to detect a soul would be like trying to detect reality – it’s just *there*. C. S. Lewis said “You don’t have a soul. You ARE a soul; you HAVE a body.” Also, “feelings” include your senses, which are required to acknowledge evidence.
“It’s interesting how almost nobody thinks God disagrees with them about what’s right and what’s wrong” – I know, right? It’s almost like they proceed based on assumptions. Seriously, more religious people should stop and question whether they’re really following their god before they act on it.
About a year ago I was still in college and living far from my parents’ house.
One night/morning I had this dream of my family dog dying. I woke up very late in the morning and, though the dream intrigued me, I dismissed it because I was late for classes. That night I called my mom to say hello and I asked about our dog, and I told her my dream. She told me our dog died that morning… while I was dreaming about it. He was with us for sixteen years.
So. Welcome to the club, I guess.
Wow, I no longer feel so alone in the world!
As a fellow member of the kooky Christian club, can I offer an alternative explanation? God obviously knew of your struggles with the dog; perhaps He provided the dream as a way of softening your heart so you could console Caryn in her time of need…
I actually lean more toward this explanation than I do the dog’s spirit actually visiting me.
Thanks for sharing this. It’s kind of tough to go out on a limb like that. I’m usually pretty reserved with stuff like that for that reason, so I really respect this.
I’m not too worried about religion and such, so i won’t comment on that. but, GAH DOGBUTT!
It’s all subliminal. Dog Butt backwards is Ttub God. Do you worship the Ttub God?
Is Ttub God anything like Tubgirl? I hope not.
All I can hear is the metal gear “!” sound right now.
A friend of mine shared this on facebook so I decided to give it a shot (even though I should NOT be reading more webcomics). I have to say if it keeps up like this, I will definitely be hooked!
Awesome, thanks for checking it out!
Hi Ethan, that is an awesome story. As a christian as well, I do hope that this was the dog’s spirit or God sending you a message of sorts. It could all be just a coincidence but I would like to believe otherwise. What is more awesome is that you are responding to so many comments. I can’t think of anything cooler then a comic creator/artist responding to fans like this. I love the comic so far and keep it coming!
Thanks. Part of it is I LOVE this new website and how the comments are laid out. I really wish Axe Cop was like this (someday that site will get an overhaul). This is much more personal, I like being able to reply directly to individual comments. Also, Bearmageddon is brand new and I have a lot of gratitude toward anyone who comes here, and especially takes the time to post. I want to make sure people know I appreciate them stopping by. It’s sort of like I opened my own little general store and am standing at the door excited for each customer who walks in… and not because of money (because Bearmageddon is only costing me money right now) but the excitement of creating something and getting a response. Besides, this is the internet… if you can’t interact while you partake in the comic, why not just read a book. I love the interactive aspect of web comics.
Such a great first panel!
(special thanks to Google SketchUp on that one)
Ethan, this is awesome so far. The comic is great, and now I know for a fact that I’m not the only one who is attacked by a dog on a regular basis. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of this. And my condolences for the dog, man. Losing any kind of loved one is rough stuff. – A fellow “Kooky Christian”
I mean, even if YOU didn’t happen to like the dog. But remember, man, it’s not just about you, and stuff. It’s deep stuff, man.
haha thanks Ken. You are right. I think if I had to choose who this experience was meant for, it was probably Caryn, but it definitely had some kind of effect on me as well. Fascination at life to say the least.
I have a very similar story about my Grandmother dying, that every time I tell someone, I feel half insane and wonder if they’re wanting to slowly back away from me.
Nice on putting the story up…
Wow. Yeah I guess I didn’t think I was being brave, I thought people already assumed I was a weirdo because I was drawing a comic about bears with tentacles. I hope your Grandmother experience helped soften the impact of her passing. I had a dream I had one last conversation with my best friend who drowned when I was 15. It really helped me out in dealing with that.
oh, sure. no, as a fellow kooky-christian myself, i have had more than one experience like this, involving both animals and people. they are very profound, i think.
also, my husband informs me that we are birthday-twins. so, happy birthday! 😀
Happy Birthday! And maybe you should do a reality show if you are having lots of these kinds of visions and dreams that correspond with reality. I’d watch it if it was on NetFlix Instant. I’m almost out of American Pickers episodes, so I need something new. Get on it!
My family has a similar story regarding my grandfather. My mother and uncle dreamed he was sitting on the foot of their bed on the night he died.
+1 Ichthys
wow, they both had the same dream? That is wild.
That story actually made me tear up a little, thinking about my dog.
Love it. Can’t wait for more.
Nice! I’m digging the Clutch bumper sticker on the car.
They are one of the only vaguely heavy bands I listen to these days. I love the originality and the crazy lyrics and the bluesy direction they continue to go.
CLUTCH Rules! Keep up the great work.
CLUTCH & Bearmageddon seem so fitting
WHOO! Best philosophical /theological/ veterinary comment board on an apocalyptic bear-centric web comic EVER!
I’m hoping that becomes an Eisner category so I have one locked!
Thanks for sharing, Ethan. I think I fall into the skeptical Christian category as well. Maybe that’s why some of your comics resonate with me so much. 🙂
There’s an echo in there. 🙂
Loving each and every blog entry and new panels. So good.
Thanks Steven. My only concern with Skeptical Christians is that these days Skepticism is kind of the trendy and a lot of younger Christians wear it as a badge. I have definitely been guilty of this. As long as your doubts are real and you are really seeking out answers I think you are in a good position. It is when you find comfort in having doubts and stagnate there that I think is dangerous (and that goes for any belief system. )
I guess I should lowercase “skeptical”. I definitely wouldn’t wear it as a badge. I believe all the basic essentials of the faith…I just believe there are a lot of legitimate questions and issues in the Bible that are not easily addressed even by theologians. I was raised in the church and had my crisis of faith when I was much younger.
I’m at the point in my life were I truly believe God is good and that He loves me even as horribly imperfect as I am.
One of my top ten books of all time is The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. 🙂
SUCH A GOOD BOOK. I can’t put The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters in a definitive order of greatness, but Screwtape is probably my favorite just because its is so darn entertaining, as well as insightful.
Wow… a lot of God and Atheism talk and not a single flame war. Let’s keep it up, you are some awesome readers. I’m really impressed by the tone of the comments today. It feels good to be the Bearmageddon guy.
Yaay! 😀 Re: (Atheism + God) – FlameWar
Applause for a lack of flame wars. I hope it stays this way. But I’d be ready to filter out comments if I were you. Ratfist had a good open discussion until someone unfortunately got offended enough to recruit trolls to back him/her up. Now the pages of thought-provoking discussion are gone. Only the pictures and author’s comments are left.
BTW everyone, despite the current lack of comments, http://ratfist.com is an awesome, recently finished web comic that I really enjoyed. I hear there might even be a hard copy of it coming out before long.
Love this story. I’m part of the kooky club as well. I had similar experiences when both my dad’s parents died. My grandmother died when I was young young. I don’t remember being extremely upset, because you know, I knew she was in heaven. But one night I was asleep and I had a very lucid dream of her. All we did was talk. It wasn’t for very long. She was basically just checking in on me. Seeing how I was doing.
My grandfather died when I was in college, so only a few years ago. He was battling illness and in the hospital for quite a while, so my dad asked my brothers and I to move into his house to keep an eye on it (and so it wouldn’t look empty and ripe for the breaking-intos). I accepted. I was up late one night reading in my favorite rocking chair of his, around 1am I think. All the sudden I felt like I was being watched. Freaked me out. I looked out the curtains but didn’t see anyone, but I was weirded out enough to say ‘screw it, i’m going to bed’. The next day I found out my grandfather had passed in the night. Around 1am actually. I think what I felt was him making a fly-by of the house.
The first one I could pass off as maybe just a dream since it was a while after she’d died, but the second one is a little harder to brush off. He’d been in the hospital before and come home, so I had no reason to think he’d die that night.
To end this long ramble (sorry) I’ll just say I’m glad you got some closure and were able to console your friend.
P.S. Love the comics! Keep it up!
Regardless as to why you had the dream or what it really was, the important thing is that it helped both you and Caryn deal with the situation. I’d like to think religious and non-religious alike could both appreciate that.
You know what I appreciate? All these backgrounds. Backgrounds take time and effort, especially when you shift perspective. But even with backgrounds usually taking a backseat to the characters, I love the little details that you make sure to include, like license plate numbers, sales signs and accessories in stores, and different facial expressions/body language/clothes on the bystanders. I’m so lazy about those sorts of things that when I see someone consistently doing full backgrounds, I’m always impressed.
Also, I really like the choices your colorist is making for the colors, shades, and highlights for this comic. Awesome work, Noah Maas!
I only consciously noticed it now that someone mentioned it, but yeah, more than just the characters we’re currently focused on and their props are there. The pages look great, the line art, color, and dialog.
Awwww, thanks man! I am a big fan of Ethan’s work so it has been really fun getting to color his art.
Seriously good colorizationism goin’ on. 🙂
Hey I was creepy and internet searched for your arts and wound up on your Twitter (I think). I do BJJ, too! *brofist* Going to a Jean Jacques Seminar next weekend. I am going to be so tired and sore. (And if I looked at the wrong Twitter, or anyone else reads this post, dear God they are either going to be completely disgusted or rather intrigued.)
Nope, thats me… i hardly ever update the various internet things. I am suffering from two rib fractures at the moment from a recent tournament. I didn’t end up placing but technically came in 4th. Not bad for my first tournament as a white belt.
Two fractures? Ouch. Congrats on 4th in your first competition, though! You’ll be choking out grizzlies in no time!
Is it just me, or does Joel resemble a young Lincoln? Great job, Ethan; I’ve been an AC fan from the beginning and now I have something else to read!
thanks, and yes I purposefully chose to have him wearing a sort of light-Lincoln beard because he is supposed to be sort of trying to figure out if he wants to be a boy or a man in life, and I think Lincoln is a definite man.
Any chance of the next mystery bear wearing an ill-fitting hat? >=D
I draw enough hats in Axe Cop. I hate hats!
Ethan, ever read “The Right To Arm Bears” by Gordon R. Dickson? It is quite good!
no but that sounds amazing.
Great story, Eef. AndlLove the comic so far.
The dog’s face cracks me up. The way you drew it is great.
thanks, that’s one of my favorite drawings.
Wanted to add on to the appreciation of good flame-free dialogue and great art.
Bearmeggedon definitely has an epic film feeling to it. Have you begun fantasy casting in your head or does it only live as a comic for you right now?
I have thought about it, but I tend to not really pick actors for my characters. Joel looks a lot like my friend Brandon, and Gogs is reminiscent of my friend Eli when I was in high school. I don’t think either are great actors.
Hey, Ethan! A few things:
Christian kooky club high five
Axe Cop is awesome
Bearmageddon is also awesome
You are awesome
I’m too tired for eloquence right now, but suffice to say, I love what you do, and on top of that, you’re a real bang-up human being. Thanks for that.
thanks so much!
Ratfist inspired? 🙂
http://ratfist.com/07-page-64/
Love me the Ratfist now. Thanks for recommending. Looking forward to tomorrow’s BearMag strip.
No idea you were Xian, Ethan, that’s a really cool thing to find out today 🙂
That is so sweet. And super sad. It reminds me of an episode of the Dog Whisperer, where a dog wouldn’t eat and they didn’t know why. It had cancer and died a few months after the show. Just goes to show- if your dog has a serious behavioral problem, there might be an underlying medical cause.
I appreciate the dog butthole…and the Clutch bumper sticker! /thumbsup
I belong to the kooky club as well, thought I don’t think I’m skeptical so much as rejecting convention.
Panel 5 really makes him look totally psycho look he wants to kill the guy so badly
I love your art style man, every page that you draw is really a great piece of work. Also, major props to the Clutch sticker on the car.
I half wonder if Chuck wasn’t so violent because of the pain.
I think that dog’s butt is burnt into my retinas. Gah!
CLUTCH! I haven’t been able to decide what to listen to while working/reading Bearmageddon and that bumper sticker sealed the deal. Clutch it is. Hey Ethan, stop ruling so much. 🙂
Ethan,
I’m a diehard Axe Cop fan, as is my entire family. My youngest brother has been on a Bearmageddon kick, and so I’m giving this a whirl, too.
Your engagement with your readers here is great. As another Christian, the discussion here reminded me of one of Shane Claiborne’s sentiments: “We have to remind each other that we are not crazy, or that if we are crazy, then at least we’re not alone.”
What happened to Joel’s coat in this page?