Who is the most influential person in history?

[Anadarsia]

In terms of his ideas and life path changing the course of history.

I'd wager Jesus Christ is. Not only did he play a critical role in turning Abrahamic faiths into the overwhemingly majoritary denominations in the world when combined, but also could be said to be the main person in the most printed non-fiction book of all time, the Bible, as shown by the Guiness Records:
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/wor ... on-fiction


Agree? Disagree? And if so who would you say has been the most influential individual in this world?

[Risottia]

Galileo Galilei.

His experimental method made science and scientific progress possible. Which means that nowadays some seven billion people are alive - and on average living on better living standards than in Galilei's time - ultimately thanks to him.

most printed non-fiction book of all time, the Bible

The Bible isn't unanimously considered "non-fiction", you know.

[Ifreann]

Ogg, who made fire.

[Vassenor]

Thomas Midgley Jr.

Between inventing leaded petrol and developing the use of CFCs as refrigerants I'd say no-one has done more to utterly destroy the planet than him.

[Balkenreich]

John Moses Browning.

Leveled the playing field.

Almost literally.

[Herskerstad]

Galileo Galilei.

His experimental method made science and scientific progress possible. Which means that nowadays some seven billion people are alive - and on average living on better living standards than in Galilei's time - ultimately thanks to him.

most printed non-fiction book of all time, the Bible

The Bible isn't unanimously considered "non-fiction", you know.

I'd pick Francis Bacon if one was to go that route.

But as in overall most influential. I'd imagine the top three in order being Jesus Christ, Muhammad and Confucius.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Napoleon. Father of Liberalism, dude who was bad ass.

Alternatively, Martin Luther for that whole Protestant Reformation thingy.

[The Serbian Empire]

Thomas Midgley Jr.

Between inventing leaded petrol and developing the use of CFCs as refrigerants I'd say no-one has done more to utterly destroy the planet than him.

Along with the fact he invented the device that ultimately killed him when it malfunctioned.

[Jetan]

I'd say Constantine the Great. Regardless of what one thinks of religion in general and christianity in particular, christianity is the largest religion on the planet and has influenced innumerable things and events since it's rise to prominence. I'd argue it would never have risen to the heights it did if it never became the state religion of the Roman Empire. Hence, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus.

In terms of his ideas and life path changing the course of history.

I'd wager Jesus Christ is. Not only did he play a critical role in turning Abrahamic faiths into the overwhemingly majoritary denominations in the world when combined, but also could be said to be the main person in the most printed non-fiction book of all time, the Bible, as shown by the Guiness Records:
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/wor ... on-fiction


Agree? Disagree? And if so who would you say has been the most influential individual in this world?

Bible can hardly be considered non-fiction.

[The Princes of the Universe]

I'd say Constantine the Great. Regardless of what one thinks of religion in general and christianity in particular, christianity is the largest religion on the planet and has influenced innumerable things and events since it's rise to prominence. I'd argue it would never have risen to the heights it did if it never became the state religion of the Roman Empire. Hence, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus.

Constantine only legalised it. Theodosius was the one to make it the state religion.

[HUElavia]

Jesus Christ in terms of Religion
Napoleon in terms of Politics
Albert Einstein in terms of Science

[Ostroeuropa]

The first, I guess.

Maybe the last, since they have some control over how it all ends, presumably.

[Jetan]

I'd say Constantine the Great. Regardless of what one thinks of religion in general and christianity in particular, christianity is the largest religion on the planet and has influenced innumerable things and events since it's rise to prominence. I'd argue it would never have risen to the heights it did if it never became the state religion of the Roman Empire. Hence, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus.

Constantine only legalised it. Theodosius was the one to make it the state religion.

Fair point. I'd argue the legalisation (and conversion by reigning emperor) is the tipping point after which christianity becoming the state religion is nearly inevitable though.

[Socialist Nordia]

Possibly Muhammad, for reaching an extremely influential level in religious and political affairs simultaneously. Not everyone gets a chance to found the second largest faith and create a powerful influential empire in the same lifetime.

Genghis Khan might get it just for being bad ass and creating the largest contiguous land empire in history, practically uniting Eurasia, setting the stage for a new golden age of trade and interregional interaction.

Yes, I did just kill the thread's Eurocentrism. You're welcome.

[Socialist Nordia]

In terms of his ideas and life path changing the course of history.

I'd wager Jesus Christ is. Not only did he play a critical role in turning Abrahamic faiths into the overwhemingly majoritary denominations in the world when combined, but also could be said to be the main person in the most printed non-fiction book of all time, the Bible, as shown by the Guiness Records:
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/wor ... on-fiction


Agree? Disagree? And if so who would you say has been the most influential individual in this world?

but also could be said to be the main person in the most printed non-fiction book of all time, the Bible,

non-fiction book of all time, the Bible

Literally what?

[Anadarsia]

]
Literally what?

If you'd bother checking the link, just like the other people asking the same pointless question, you'd see:

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/wor ... on-fiction
Best-selling book of non-fiction

Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the Bible is the world's best-selling and most widely distributed book. A survey by the Bible Society concluded that around 2.5 billion copies were printed between 1815 and 1975, but more recent estimates put the number at more than 5 billion.

[Uxupox]

]
Literally what?

If you'd bother checking the link, just like the other people asking the same pointless question, you'd see:

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/wor ... on-fiction
Best-selling book of non-fiction

Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the Bible is the world's best-selling and most widely distributed book. A survey by the Bible Society concluded that around 2.5 billion copies were printed between 1815 and 1975, but more recent estimates put the number at more than 5 billion.

The Bible shouldn't be sold as a commodity. It should be free.

[Anadarsia]

Possibly Muhammad, for reaching an extremely influential level in religious and political affairs simultaneously. Not everyone gets a chance to found the second largest faith and create a powerful influential empire in the same lifetime.

Genghis Khan might get it just for being bad ass and creating the largest contiguous land empire in history, practically uniting Eurasia, setting the stage for a new golden age of trade and interregional interaction.

Yes, I did just kill the thread's Eurocentrism. You're welcome.

Jesus Christ wasn't European nor did he find Europe to be particularly superior in any way.

[Anadarsia]

I'd say Constantine the Great. Regardless of what one thinks of religion in general and christianity in particular, christianity is the largest religion on the planet and has influenced innumerable things and events since it's rise to prominence. I'd argue it would never have risen to the heights it did if it never became the state religion of the Roman Empire. Hence, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus..

In your opinion Constantine the Great is the most important figure because he made a step to give more public space to Christianity, the largest influence civilizationally that you can recognise. Following that logic, wouldn't the person that is the founder as well as main subject of said religion be of higher importance than the person who improved the legal status of it in Western Eurasia? After all Christianity was already blossoming in numbers prior to the Edict of Milan.

[The Princes of the Universe]

If you'd bother checking the link, just like the other people asking the same pointless question, you'd see:
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/wor ... on-fiction
Best-selling book of non-fiction
Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the Bible is the world's best-selling and most widely distributed book. A survey by the Bible Society concluded that around 2.5 billion copies were printed between 1815 and 1975, but more recent estimates put the number at more than 5 billion.

The Bible shouldn't be sold as a commodity. It should be free.

While I do agree that the Bible ought not be considered a commodity, it doesn't print itself.

[Uxupox]

The Bible shouldn't be sold as a commodity. It should be free.

While I do agree that the Bible ought not be considered a commodity, it doesn't print itself.

Very true.

[Ashmoria]

Buddha.

[Anadarsia]

I'd pick Francis Bacon if one was to go that route.

But as in overall most influential. I'd imagine the top three in order being Jesus Christ, Muhammad and Confucius.

I'd say Buddha comes ahead of Confucius, but it's of course debatable. Agreed for the rest.

[Dushan]

- Abraham
- Alexander the Great
- Mohammed
- Genghis Khan
- Tamerlane
- Karl Marx
- Adolf Hitler

[Jetan]

I'd say Constantine the Great. Regardless of what one thinks of religion in general and christianity in particular, christianity is the largest religion on the planet and has influenced innumerable things and events since it's rise to prominence. I'd argue it would never have risen to the heights it did if it never became the state religion of the Roman Empire. Hence, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus..

In your opinion Constantine the Great is the most important figure because he made a step to give more public space to Christianity, the largest influence civilizationally that you can recognise. Following that logic, wouldn't the person that is the founder as well as main subject of said religion be of higher importance than the person who improved the legal status of it in Western Eurasia? After all Christianity was already blossoming in numbers prior to the Edict of Milan.

You mistake influence for importance. Ofcourse jesus is more important for christianity than constantine. What I'm saying though, is that I think constantine had more influence on the world at large.