In a fascinating conversation with acclaimed writer and director Taylor Sheridan, Joe Rogan found himself surprised by a decades-old prophecy that seems to have predicted today’s societal breakdown with eerie accuracy.
The prediction came from an unlikely source – a 1965 radio broadcast by Paul Harvey that Sheridan referenced during their wide-ranging discussion.
The conversation began with Rogan praising Sheridan’s work, particularly the historical drama “1883,” which led to a deeper exploration of how society has changed over time. But it was when Sheridan brought up Paul Harvey’s famous “If I Were the Devil” broadcast from April 3, 1965, that the discussion took a remarkable turn.
Harvey’s prediction, delivered nearly 60 years ago, outlined a systematic plan for undermining American society that reads like a blueprint for modern cultural conflicts. In the broadcast, Harvey spoke from the perspective of the devil, describing how he would “subvert the churches first” and “begin with a campaign of whispers.” He predicted the promotion of moral relativism, telling people “what’s bad is good and what’s good is square.”
Most striking was Harvey’s prediction about education: “If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions… until before you knew it, you’d have to have d**g-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.” This forecast proved remarkably prescient given today’s school security measures and educational challenges.
Harvey also predicted the breakdown of traditional institutions, saying he would “substitute psychology for religion and deify science” and would “lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money.” He foresaw the commercialization of sacred holidays and the promotion of gambling as a path to wealth.
Perhaps most chilling was his prediction about creating division: “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.”
Rogan was visibly struck by how accurately Harvey’s 1965 broadcast seemed to describe contemporary America’s struggles with institutional trust, cultural division, and moral confusion.
