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Today, in a symbolic act, Iranians set fire to the flags of Israel and the United States, as well as an obelisk and a statue of Baal—which they described as a symbol of Satan—in various cities across Iran in response to the release of the Epstein documents.
Thanks for the context. It was also iffy because it gives credence to the implication that Iran is burning Ba'al because he represents Yaweh and therefore Zionists can say "Iran is antisemitic".
I did a little more research and found a Reddit thread where everyone really just seems to make random stuff up https://www.reddit.com/r/DebateReligion/comments/hu3gvu/yahweh_and_baal_the_same_deity/
But even there the seeming most sensible comment says that Baal and Yaweh were two different deities.
The biggest connection people seem to find is that one is called "The Lord" and the other one "God" but it still all feels like a very large stretch to me. Thanks for your input though I don't really feel like spending more time on this subject but I might check out the Youtube channel in the future.
You're welcome, and thank you for that reddit post! It's quite fascinating and largely aligns with my current understanding. Part of the reason for yhwh allowing the conquering and exiles of the Jewish people was for "whoring after other gods" and Baal was one of several. In this context, the "covenant" between yhwh and his people meant "marriage" so the Hebrews worshipping other gods was adultery, punishable by death, so conquering, exile, and occupation was indicative of G-d's mercy on his people, because of his love and compassion.
If you do a deeper dive, some of the Hollywood movies begin to make more sense, and even deeper will change your understanding of the various names of G-d, akin to the Brahmans' saying, "Brahma is one, the faces of Brahma are many." Deeper still and you learn how modern Christianity also corrupted the common understanding of souls, the tree of life (and tree of death), the shattering of the vessels (mazel tov!) and so. much. more!