Paul Harvey

Jeff Olson

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Saw a post on Facebook that I thought was quite interesting and as we all know if it was on the internet it must be true but I checked Snopes to find out its validity anyway. There had been a few embellishments over the years but the following is the closest actual article. Nostradamus who?


The oldest genuine Paul Harvey version of this piece we’ve found so far appeared in his newspaper column in 1964:

If I Were the Devil

If I were the Prince of Darkness I would want to engulf the whole earth in darkness.

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.

So I should set about however necessary, to take over the United States.

I would begin with a campaign of whispers.

With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whispers to you as I whispered to Eve, “Do as you please.”

To the young I would whisper “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that “man created God,” instead of the other way around. I would confide that “what is bad is good and what is good is square.”

In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be “extreme” in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct.

And the old I would teach to pray — to say after me — “Our father which are in Washington.”

Then I’d get organized.

I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull, uninteresting.

I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vice-versa.

I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing, less work. Idle hands usually work for me.

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 would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions; let those run wild.

I’d designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I’d get preachers to say, “She’s right.”

With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to vote against God and in favor of pornography.

Thus I would evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, then from the Houses of Congress.

Then in his own churches I’d substitute psychology for religion and deify science.

If I were Satan 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. Then my police state would force everybody back to work.

Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in slave-labor camps.

If I were Satan I’d just keep doing what I’m doing and the whole world go to hell as sure as the Devil.
 

Jeff Olson

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
I was talking about the earliest version, I just thought it was quite amazing how he saw the future of the US unfolding.


Contrasting that 1964 version of the essay with Paul Harvey’s 1996 newspaper version shows that, although the concept and structure of the essay remained the same across the decades, its content evolved quite a bit over the years:

If I were the prince of darkness, I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness.

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 would set about however necessary to take over the United States.

I’d subvert the churches first, and I would 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 the children that man created God instead of the other way around. I’d 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 are in Washington …”

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 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 intellect but neglect to discipline emotions. I’d tell teachers to let those students run wil. And before you knew it, you’d have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

With a decade, I’d have prisons overflowing and judges promoting pornography. Soon, I would evict God from the courthouse and the schoolhouse and them from the houses of Congress.

In his own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I’d lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money.

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.

What’ll you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich?

I’d convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun and that what you see on television is the way to be.

And thus, I could undress you in public and lure you into bed with diseases for which there are no cures.

In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.






The following clip (often mistakenly identified as a broadcast from 3 April 1965) captures Paul Harvey’s radio equivalent of his 1996 newspaper version referenced above:
 

Greg Reimer

Well Known Member
It seems that God always sends a prophet to any land that He loves to warn the people and steer them from a deviant course without hope in the end. As far as the falsely so called authority of the devil, there was a battle in the universe between darkness and light. It was decided upon the cross of Christ. The passion, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ was creation's darkest moment. Darkness thought it won. That was before the Resurrection. For every Good Friday, there's an Easter Sunday. For every lie of the enemy, there's a promise of a future. For every braggadocius loudmouth lie, there's the truth of the Word of God. A word delivered to a group of Christians in a large meeting assured them that when darkness stretched out Christ's hands and crucified him, it was for their salvation, healing, and deliverance from darkness. It also went on to say that when they drove the last nail through His feet to nail Him to the cross, that last nail penetrated the head of the serpent. When Christ came off that cross and out of that grave in the fullness of His resurrection and glorified eternal life, the serpent was left still nailed to the cross. Darkness lost. The Light won then, now, and forevermore. Just remember who is greater, don't let life discourage you, there is a higher power far greater than the left in this country.
 
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Greg Reimer

Well Known Member
Funny you should say that. When I was 19, I really felt called to Christian ministry. I started studying and serving in various capacities, got licensed by the local church we served in, did Juvenile Hall ministry, then was a high school youth pastor for 8 years, the church ordained me, was on the deacon board, a pulpit search committee, accumulated units at Life Bible College in Los Angeles,we left that church,found a new place to be where I got involved again, played on the worship team, went there 4 years, than changed again to a nice little place of like minded people where I want to involve myself again, but as far as making a profession of full time Christian ministry, it never seemed to quite open up to me. That's all OK with me, I had a great day job and never needed to go into it full time. I would do it again next time for nothing, I'm retired and don't need the income, besides, I feel the best ministry is what you give away,anyway. I love to read, think, discern situations and act on that, and try and spread the word and make people's lives a little better for having been there. At 63, the drive and desire has never left me.
 

Jeff Olson

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Not a regular in our church but that doesn't mean I do not believe, I also am not saying I have a problem with organized religion but I do believe there are instances it is exploited.
I do believe however that God is happy to visit with me whether or not it is Sunday, in a designated house of worship or out in the garage beating something into submission. I guess that is the joy of believing, you can do it anywhere.
 

Greg Reimer

Well Known Member
Once upon a time i believed there was No God. Then i came to believe there was a God and he hated me. Then i realized I Was God. Finally i came to believe in God and realize he Always believed in me. Good for you Greg.
You know, I thought of something else this past weekend. Your experience is quite real. In Romans 8:31,Paul wrote"What shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who shall be against us?" The darkest dirtiest lie from out of darkness is that there is no use, God is a myth, He doesn't care,etc.etc.,but this verse disproves that lie from hell or the left once and for all.
 

wristpin

Well Known Member
Without evil how would one know good. Without good how do we know evil. Without light there cannot be dark. Until i Really Believe There is God I tried but failed to be Perfect. Now i just need to get out of His way.
 
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