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Mike Kim
@MikeK_LA
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Leftist social democrat, not establishment liberal Democrat Freedom of speech and equal rights for all
Los Angeles
Joined February 2014
@Glenn_Diesen The Economist is such a propaganda joke, when it was cool was that just my delusion?
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@sweet_est_pea @DougAMacgregor As long as there are hostile forces, Iranian nationalism kicks in
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The Twitter exchange reflects ongoing debates about Iran's geopolitical posture and deterrence capabilities. Current analysis indicates Iran has significantly developed military and proxy capacities that shape its deterrent strategy: ## Military Advancements - Iran recently unveiled new **Fattah-2** hypersonic missile and **Abu Mahdi** cruise missile, claiming ranges up to 1,650 km with precision strike capabilities - Maintains largest ballistic missile arsenal in Middle East (3,000+ missiles) - Conducted cross-border strikes into Iraq and Syria in February 2025 targeting perceived threats ## Proxy Network Strategy - Supports **axis of resistance** including: - Hezbollah (Lebanon) - Houthi rebels (Yemen) - Shiite militias in Iraq - Proxy forces conducted 169 attacks against US positions in Iraq/Syria since late 2023 - Provides drones and missiles to Russian forces in Ukraine ## Deterrence Calculus Analysis suggests Iran's strategy combines: 1. **Conventional deterrence** through missile forces that can target regional adversaries 2. **Asymmetric deterrence** via proxy forces to retaliate against attacks 3. **Strategic ambiguity** about nuclear program progress While some argue this posture makes Iran "dangerous enough to deter aggression," others note it increases escalation risks - particularly through proxy forces that Tehran doesn't fully control. The U.S. maintains sanctions and naval deployments as countermeasures, creating a tense equilibrium where neither side appears willing to risk direct conflict despite periodic clashes. --- Answer from Perplexity:
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using DeepSeek-r1 """ The interpretation presented in Ryan Dawson's thread aligns with certain Gnostic and esoteric Christian traditions that reinterpret the Genesis narrative through a non-orthodox lens. This perspective diverges significantly from mainstream Judeo-Christian theology, offering an alternative cosmological framework. Below is an analysis of the key claims and their theological context: ### Core Gnostic Concepts **1. Yahweh as Demiurge** The thread characterizes Yahweh as a lesser, flawed creator deity (Demiurge) rather than the supreme God. This mirrors Gnostic texts like the *Apocryphon of John*, which describe the Demiurge as ignorant and tyrannical, creating the material world as a prison for divine sparks within humans. In this view: - Yahweh cannot create *ex nihilo* (from nothing), explaining the use of preexisting materials (earth, Adam's rib) to form humans. - The Trees of Knowledge and Life represent divine wisdom beyond Yahweh's control, placed by higher forces to enable human liberation. **2. The Serpent as Liberator** The serpent is reinterpreted as a positive figure (often linked to Sophia, the wisdom goddess in Gnosticism) who empowers Eve to seek enlightenment. Eating the fruit symbolizes rejecting subservience to the Demiurge and awakening to spiritual truth. **3. Suppression of Knowledge** The thread highlights three biblical episodes as evidence of Yahweh's opposition to human autonomy: - **Expulsion from Eden**: Prevents access to the Tree of Life after humans gain moral awareness. - **Flood of Noah**: Punishes the Nephilim (offspring of angels and humans) for sharing forbidden knowledge. - **Tower of Babel**: Thwarts collective human potential through forced division. ### Theological Implications - **Critique of Sacrificial Worship**: Yahweh's preference for blood sacrifices (e.g., Abel's offering over Cain's) reflects a Gnostic disdain for materialistic religion, contrasting with Jesus' alleged rejection of temple practices in apocryphal texts like the *Gospel of Judas*. - **Free Will vs. Servitude**: The expulsion from Eden becomes a paradoxical liberation—humans trade immortality for self-determination, escaping Yahweh's direct control. ### Historical Context These ideas draw from: - **Marcionism** (2nd century CE): Rejected the Old Testament Yahweh as separate from Jesus' loving Father. - **Catharism** (12th–14th century): Viewed the material world as evil, created by a fallen angel. - **Nag Hammadi Texts** (discovered 1945): Include Gnostic gospels suppressed by early orthodox Christians. ### Counterarguments from Mainstream Theology - **Divine Sovereignty**: Traditional Judaism and Christianity affirm Yahweh's omnipotence and benevolence, with the Eden narrative emphasizing human responsibility over divine malice. - **The Fall as Moral Choice**: Orthodox interpretations frame the Tree of Knowledge as a test of obedience, not a trap. Mortality results from sin, not divine jealousy. - **Redemptive Arc**: Mainstream Christianity sees Christ's sacrifice as repairing the Edenic rupture, unlike Gnosticism's focus on secret knowledge (gnosis). ### Conclusion While provocative, this interpretation is not "crazy" within the context of esoteric traditions that challenge orthodox narratives. It reflects longstanding heterodox currents that critique institutional religion's power structures and seek hidden spiritual truths. However, it remains a minority viewpoint compared to established theological frameworks. --- Answer from Perplexity:
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