Outwitting the Devil Chapter 3 Questions

Question 1:

"My physical appearance? Why, my dear Mr. Earthbound,
I have no physical body. I would be handicapped by such an
encumbrance as those in which you earthbound creatures live.
I consist of negative energy, and I live in the minds of people
who fear me. I also occupy one-half of every atom of physical
matter and every unit of mental and physical energy. Perhaps
you will better understand my nature if! tell you I am the negative
portion of the atom. "

This is a very interesting spiritual (negative energy), psychological (in the minds of people) and scientific (the negative portion of the atom) view the Devil has of himself. In terms of the scientific view - could it be that we as human are metaphorically the neutral charges of an atom that get influenced by gaining a negative charge (electron) through such things as fear and doubt? Could we also drop an electron (negative thoughts) to become positively charged like an atom?

Question 2:

"I plant these fears in the minds of people so
deftly that they believe them to be their own creation. I accomplish
this end by making people believe I am standing just
beyond the entrance gate of the next life, waiting to claim them
after death for eternal punishment. Of course I cannot punish
anyone, except in that person's own mind, through some form
of fear-but fear of the thing which does not exist is just as
useful to me as fear of that which does exist. All forms of fear
extend the space I occupy in the human mind."

If fear is referred to as being planted in our minds, does that mean it can bloom and become much more than it originally was? The Devil also mentions that he cannot punish anyone except through a person's own mind. Do we sometimes punish ourselves through negative thoughts about ourselves or our situation?

Question 3:

"My next best friend is ill health. An unhealthy body discourages thinking. Then I have countless thousands of workers on earth who aid me in
gaining control of human minds. I have these agents placed in
every calling. They represent every race and creed, every religion."

Why are we more prone to discouraging thoughts when we feel sick? Th Devil also makes mention of his agents. Do humans plant seeds of fear and doubt in the minds of others and why do you believe they do this?

Question 4:

"Do you know I have millions of people, young and old, of
both sexes, who smoke two packages of cigarettes a day? That
means I have millions of people who are gradually destroying
their power of resistance.

One day I shall add to their habit of cigarette smoking
other thought-destroying habits, until I shall have gained control
of their minds.

Habits come in pairs, triplets, and quadruplets. Any habit
which weakens one's will power invites a flock of its relatives to
move in and take possession of the mind. The cigarette habit
not only lowers the power of resistance and discourages persistence,
but it invites looseness in other human relationships .

Once I get a young person to join my two-package-a-day club, I have no
trouble in inducing that person to take on the habit of liquor,
over-indulgence of sex, and all other related habits which
destroy independence of thought and action."

This, again, was written way before we knew about the dangerous addictive nature of cigarettes.The 1988 report, "The Health Consequences of Smoking: Nicotine Addiction: A Report of the Surgeon General" is what brought cigarette addiction to the public forefront. That's 50 years after this book.

What other habits do you believe weaken one's will power, discourages persistence and ambition, or lowers resistance?

Question 5:

"Right at the moment I am trying to bring about another world war. My
friends here in Washington are helping me to involve America
in the war. If I can start the world to killing on a wholesale
basis, I shall be able to put into operation my favorite device
for mind control. It is what you may call mass fear.

I used this device to bring about the other World War in 1914. I used it to
bring about the economic depression in 1929, and if my opposition
had not double-crossed me I would now be in possession
of every man, woman, and child in the world.

You can see for yourself how near I came to world domination-the thing I
have been struggling to attain for thousands of years."

Remember that this was written in 1938, a year before the start of WWII and it would still be two years until America joined the war. The Devil said he was already working on the World War and trying to use people in Washington to make the US join. Why is it that mass fear is so destructive? Is mass fear sometimes brought about by the fear of a few?