"If I Were the Devil"

Paul Harvey was a friendly and familiar radio voice to millions of Americans. His famous segment "The Rest of the Story" premiered in 1976 and continued until his death in 2009. In 1964 Mr. Harvey shared with his radio audience an essay entitled "If I Were the Devil." It's an interesting, almost prophetic, piece that outlines the devil's plan to seize control of the United States. Over the years, Paul revised the essay to reflect the times. Below is a version of the essay he shared on the air over twenty years ago.

If I Were the Devil

"If I were the Prince of Darkness, I'd want to engulf the whole world in darkness, and I'd have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree - thee.

So, I'd set about however necessary to take over the United States. I'd subvert the churches first. I'd begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: "Do as you please."

To the young, I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what's bad is good and what's good is square. And the old, I would teach to pray after me, "Our Father which art in Washington..."

And then, I'd get organized, I'd educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I'd threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa.

I'd peddle narcotics to whom I could. I'd sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I'd tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the devil, I'd soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves and nations at war with themselves until each, in its turn, was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I'd have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions - just let those run wild. Until before you knew it, you'd have to have drug-sniffling dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

Within a decade, I'd have prisons overflowing. I'd have judges promoting pornography. Soon, I could evict God from the courthouse, and then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in his own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money.

If I were the devil, I'd make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the devil, I'd take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what'll you bet I couldn't get whole states to promote gambling as a way to get rich?

I would caution against extremes in hard work, in patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed, with diseases for which there is no cure.

In other words, if I were the devil, I'd just keep right on doing what he's doing." ~ Paul Harvey

Fellow citizens of America: "Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will exalt you" ~ James 4:7-8, 10

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

~ Proverbs 14:34

Grace, Peace and Jahspeed!