soul-7
Explanation
In this comic, a person prays to God asking why humans were given a soul "nestled inside a meat machine that barely works." God explains that there is only one thing in the universe with the properties needed: self-awareness, free will, and an immortal soul. That thing turns out to be a dog -- for a dog, they get 10 to 15 years of "pure joy," with "every moment treasured" because there is "nothing to regret, no more to want." But for humans, it had to be "much worse" to work.
In the final panel, God (appearing as a red-haired figure) reveals he is "just checking in" on Earth and asks why humans have so many pet dogs. The answer: "To keep the existential torment company."
The joke operates on multiple levels. First, it inverts the typical theological expectation by suggesting dogs are the truly blessed beings with souls, and humans got a raw deal. Second, it plays on the observable contrast between a dog's seemingly carefree, joyful existence and the human experience of existential anxiety. The punchline ties it together beautifully: humans keep dogs not just as pets but as a coping mechanism for the suffering that comes with consciousness. It is a darkly funny take on the human-dog bond, reframing our love of dogs as evidence of our cosmic misery.