Why is C. S. Lewis an influential person?
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He explained Christianity in ways that everybody can understand--both in plain terms (as in Mere Christianity) and using allegory (a story that symbolizes Christianity, like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Space Trilogy).
667111
john the baptist. he openly re-enacted the exodus and baptised those who would follow. that was a pretty bold move that showed not only his faith, but also successfully struck a political nerve. he demonstrated that he could get mass demonstrations that there were ppl that werent afraid to openly follow someone besides those in political power at the time.
1042159
Luther left behind a movement that quickly spread throughout the Western world. His doctrines, especially justification by faith and the final authority of the Bible, were adopted by other reformers and are shared by many Protestant denominations today. As the founder of the 16th - century Reformation, he is one of the major figures of Christianity and of Western civilization.
1103732
Confucius...In times of division, chaos, and endless wars between feudal states, he wanted to restore the Mandate of Heaven that could unify the "world" (i.e., China) and bestow peace and prosperity on the people. Therefore, Confucius is often considered a great proponent of conservatism, but a closer look at what he proposes often shows that he used (and maybe twisted) past institutions and rites to push a new political agenda of his own: rulers to be chosen on merit, not parentage, rulers who were devoted to their people, and rulers who reached for perfection. Such a ruler would spread his own virtues to the people instead of imposing proper behavior with laws and rules.\nOne of the deepest teachings of Confucius, one of the hardest to understand from a Western point of view, may have been the superiority of exemplification over explicit rules of behavior. His ethics may be considered one of the greatest virtue ethics. This kind of "indirect" way to achieve a goal is used widely in his teachings by way of allusions, innuendo, and even tautology. This is why his teachings need to be examined and put into context for access by Westerners.
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There is a difference between being grieved by pride and disliking it in others. Lewis was seeing it left and right with the higher thinkers he hung around with. "Oh, how I dislike that man's arrogance," one of them probably said. Lewis knew that the person saying it was just as arrogant. One thing I can tell about you, Irish, is that if you are concerned with being prideful, you probably have nothing to worry about. Seeing it in other people just means you are sensitive to it. But let God handle the prideful one and just ask the Lord to search your heart daily.
272029
Oh man, most influential actor.\n\nLaurence Olivier and Elizabeth Taylor come to mind.\n\nFor a bit more contemporary, Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts.\n\nThis is all just opinion, though.
293436
I would definately do David Hume. There is a great debate between scholars as to whether his writings depicted skepticism or naturalism. There is definately plenty of information to support either side. Not only are there his writings, but also the history of the time that would have 1) influenced his writing, and 2) affected the way people interpereted his writing. GOOD LUCK!
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Voltaire has influenced many modern ideas including the freedom of religion and the right to a fair trial. His ideas led to social reform in France.\n\nYou can find his works here:\nhttp://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/v#a913
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Henry Adams said, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." \nTeachers occupy a special place of privilege and responsibility, whether they are lecturing at a college, leading an honors seminar at a high school, beginning to acquaint children with the joy of learning at an elementary school, or instructing people in faith at a church. \n\nWe have paid insufficient attention to the roles that teachers play within the church, for good and for ill.
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Definitely...Lewis was a devout Christian, and his friend, Tolkien, was trying to convert him to Catholicism.  His books are majorly Catholic
922071
Christianity is the part of the world which has historically been influenced primarily by self-defined Christians.
632182
a HUGE impact. look at the da vinci code. even the author said it was completely fiction and people still took it seriously and started to question their ways of life and religion. or take the red book everyone carried in communist china. that little book ruled their lives (along with mao, but he was the author so it's all connected). there you go. it can change a person's whole point of view almost instantly
765205
This is the argument of Luther... We do not believe we need the Pope or other agents of the Church to have a direct and personal connection with God.  God, in the personage of Jesus is the great moderator...the connection between man and the Divine...through a relationship with Christ. we are able to have an intimate and personal relationship with God (though I personally feel you may connect directly with God in several ways).  \n\nPersonal relations with God dissipate the ability to blame the others for one's own discretion...Personal relation with God makes one personally responsible for ones actions...this the individual must perform self-reflection more truly and deeply....\n\nThis idea is the one of the causes of the Reformation...people got tired of paying for forgiveness (indulgences).
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Peer pressure influences everybody more than a single text, however sacred it claims to be.\n\nThe Bible was like any piece of writing a product of its sociopolitical context, and this was one where capital punishment of minority groups was much more accepted. Nowadays homophobia is generally more widely perceived to be wrong, and the strength of that pressure means that even something that is supposed to be set in stone is adapted. Quite right too - every idea has to adapt to changing circumstances if it is going to survive. There is no such thing as an Eternal Truth
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The First (<<<--- key word) Ecumenical Council of the Universal church was convened in 325 CE (ad) by Roman Emperor Constantine. \n\nThe bible was invented at that council because the council adopted the Nicene Creed and anything that disagreed with that creed was rejected, including Arianism.\n\nThe claim that Constantine had no influence on the invention of the Christian bible is ridiculous. He authorized and supervised the council that invented the Jesus is God myth.
658217
Yep, I know this. Although, just to be certain Benjamin Franklin is one of those guys in history who can be somewhat of an enigma on matters of religion. He went to dozens of churches and other religious groups in the colonies, including meeting with deists. He was a member of a church, too, in Philadelphia, yet because he was socializing at other religious groups meetings, well he didn't attend as often as most of those who went there. \n\nThomas Jefferson even went through the New Testament and took out all the stories of "miracles" that could not be scientifically proven. It's called the Jefferson Bible today and you can still purchase it.\n\nAnd the Constitution only religious line is "In the year of our Lord". The Declaration of Independence mentions Creator, etc, but never really tries to imply that they are directly refering to Christianity. They were very clever founders. And oddly the great many who go around claiming that America was founded as a Christian nation are often from denominations or groups that for the first part of our nation's history advocated a seperation of church and state...why? because they were being persecuted by the larger majority denominations of Christianity who saw them as a threat and wanted to put a stop to them. If it wasn't for our founder's wise vision...many of these groups would have disappeared, their religion (even though a denomination of Christianity) declare heretical and outlawed and practitioneers thrown in jail. No wonder they fought so hard for public opinion to favor the seperation of church and state!
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Personal relationship. By this I mean that in Islam, God's will (decree) is final and cannot be influenced in any way by the relationship a man has with Him (in fact it is debatable whether a man CAN relate in any way other than as a slave to God).\nIn both Judasim and Christianity, there is a sense in which a man (or at least some men) can actually exert their  relational influence upon God, and thus affect God's decision.\nIn Judasim, the assurance of that place is limited to certain men, and hardly attainable (Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Ezekiel, David, to name a few) by most people.\nIn Christianity, that place of relational influence is available to all believers, is assured/obtained by Jesus Christ in our behalf, and is the basis of the Christain faith.