Has Hitler influenced the Human Race more than anyone who has ever lived?

Question

Please don`t say Jesus.. I asked "anyone that has actually lived".. not a fictional character. Ta

I think Iwans could have a point.. about the invention of TV.

Answer 1

You know your going to get some stupid answers here don't you mate. Hitler, or rather Nazi ideology, has had a massive influence on today's planet. But more than anyone before him, no it's to much of a loaded question which can't be answered accurately because of all the variables. For example, people could point to the teachings of Plato/Aristotle which helped construct the first ever democratic state (Athens). Military figures, well Ceaser, Alexander the Great, Napoleon and many others all contributed just as must, if not more, to constructing national boundaries. The god squad on here will point to Jesus as more of an influence, but that for me is open to interpretation.

AFTER NOTE: see (Jay). BTW there is historical proof that a man called Jesus actually lived in Jerusalem around 2,000 years ago, what they can't prove is that he was the son of God. And it was Logie Baid that invented the TV but then what about other inventions, the phone, aeroplanes, sliced bread, blow up doll's all important to mankind

Answer 2

First of all, I'm not a Christian. Second, most historians agree that Jesus was an actual historical person. I think he probably was too; although I don't swallow most of what is written about him (miracles, etc.) I think the gospel accounts were probably based on an actual person rather than just totally made up.

That being said, I have to give Yeshua of Nazareth my vote as the most influential person in history. Hitler was certainly a major factor; the whole world would be very different today, a mere 73 years after he came to power, than it would have been otherwise. But there is so much of our civilization, some of the most basic things we take for granted like our western alphabet (from the Roman alphabet, which after the fall of Rome was only preserved by Christian monks) that would not exist today or would exist in a very different form had Jesus not lived.

And to all the muslims out there stewing because I credited Jesus and ignored Mohammed, he was heavily influenced by Christianity when he made up his little cult that later became Islam. Maybe Mohammed might have lived if Jesus had never been, but he probably would have come up with something different, or maybe nothing at all.

Don't like it? Fly a plane into my house.

Of course, if you argue that Moses was an historical person (the subject of a lot more debate than the existence of Jesus) you could say, no Moses, no Jesus.

Either way, Hitler doesn't top the list. Among others ahead of him, I would include:

Julius Caesar
Augustus
Charlemagne
Martin Luther
Napoleon

Answer 3

No, because his influence is already waning. It only seems as though he had a major impact on the human race, because his exploits occurred so recently. But true influence can only be judged over time, and I think that he will be viewed as a marginal (but evil) figure in the grander scheme of history.

If you think about where the human race is today, it owes a lot more to the influence of people such as Aristotle, Euclid, Constantine, Confucius, Gutenberg, Martin Luther, Isaac Newton, Leonardo da Vinci, Adam Smith, etc...

Answer 4

No F'n Way! Hitler didn't influence a way of living, if anything he affirmed how we shouldn't live. Murderous dictators sprout up all the time - they never show us how to live but rather force us to reaffirm how we should be living. I guess that is the good that comes from the bad. If you are looking for "influential" people - you need to look for those who take us UP to another level of social consciousness and behavior. In recent times I would argue that King (Martin Luther) was the best example of that. Think Sister Theresa not Osama Bin Ladin. Think Gorbachev not Stalin. Etc. and so forth. And by the way, whether you believe Jesus is the Messiah or not - he actually DID exist. He's not fictional.

Answer 5

No, not Hitler.

1. Bill Gates.
2. Winston Churchill.
3. Me, as far as I'm concerned, for me.
4. The first Marathon runner.

Answer 6

So you're saying that our calendar is based on the birth of a fictional character and people were thrown to lions because of the figment of someone's imagination? Hitler hasn't achieved any of that.

Homer Simpson has had more of an influence than Hitler.

Answer 7

.Aren't you confusing infamy with fame? A better case could be made for Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, or Mohamed, or for that matter, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, or Galileo. All Hitler left behind was a legacy of hatred and the charred remains of Europe.

Franklin Roosevelt, on the other hand, has influenced American politics and left his mark on many institutions Americans now take for granted--Social Security, for example.

Answer 8

He was not as influencial as Jesus though time may change that. More people obey the laws of Jesus than all the other laws combined. He has maintained his position for 2000 years and still running. That is a world record.

Answer 9

He has influenced us with the horrors of ethnic cleansing. He was a brilliant public speaker who came to power when the German people were at their most desperate. We have learned our lesson from that on how to manage a defeated country. The biggest tragedy for the Germans was that if were not for his twisted nature, he would have one of history's greatest leaders, one they could be proud of.

Answer 10

No, he couldn't have because there were 20 centuries before him and not even a full one after him. His influence was limited and small in the scheme of things.