Great historical figures can often be classified into two broad categories: heroes or villains, angels or demons, good or evil. Over the centuries, countless representative figures have emerged on both sides. Yet undeniably, there are two icons that, in the minds and emotions of many—particularly those of us in the Western Hemisphere—carry the banner of absolute good and absolute evil: Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler.

Both are my favorite historical figures—not because of personal religious or political leanings, but because it is undeniable how, through their rhetoric, persuasive power, leadership, and defiance, they were able to change the course of history forever. They moved entire continents and reshaped the social and political map of the Western world. I believe there are no other two individuals in history whose ability to influence the masses—for better or worse—has resonated so deeply across time and continues to do so even today.