Who are the world painters?

"It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it." A classic statement by the #23 greatest stand-up of all time (according to Comedy Central) Steven Wright. The thing is that short of this, there are few ways that you can "change the
world." Yet, most beauty pageant contestants state this as one of their goals.
This begs the question "who has painted the world?" Or whose actions have effected the world on a level near that of painting the place?
The first two candidates that spring to mind are near polar opposites of each other. However, each has left an impact far beyond that of mere paint. First, is Jesus Christ. Regardless of what he actually did, and what is elaboration, he
has made a lasting impression on our planet. There are people that fight for and against his beliefs every day. There has been more bloodshed in the name of religion than any other cause since the One Ring. One might say that his followers and those diametrically opposed to them have painted the world time and again
in blood.
The second is Hitler. Personally responsible for condemning MILLIONS of individuals to death. However, one could argue that his actions were yet again those of a passionately religious man who was following what he believed to be the wishes of his God, and possibly said God's illegitimate son.

There are plenty of others whose actions have made ripples throughout the collective history of our species, largely for religious reasons. However, this brings us to a couple of individuals whose impact cannot go unnoticed, however whose
actions were for reasons beyond religion. . . maybe.
First up is the patron saint of bed-heads, Albert Einstein. 20 percent of Americans get their power from sources built on the shoulders of this man. However,
his ideas also led us to the scariest Mexican standoff in the history of the world. Of course, we wouldn't have gotten there without the help of, the often overlooked, J. Robert Oppenheimer, who after seeing the destructive nature of his
creation said of himself, "I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." Someone out there could make the argument that Ol' Al was a worshiper of the church of science. He said "All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree." Einstein may have done the bidding of science as it's prophet, but he did not do it out of difference to God. He did it while searching for a relationship with God that worked in his scientific world.
Lastly, there is Bill Gates. His impact is felt the world over, his status as the world's richest man should punctuate that. In a 1995 interview with PBS Bill Gates said "I'm not somebody who goes to church on a regular basis. The specific elements of Christianity are not something I'm a huge believer in. There's a lot of merit in the moral aspects of religion. I think it can have a very, very positive impact." and "I don't know if there's a god or not." There could be arguments made that he is a worshiper in the church of technology, or that of money, either of which could very well be true. There are those that believe that he is not a moral man; lying, cheating and stealing his way to where he is. However, there is also proof that he is a good man who wishes to use his money for the betterment of mankind. One need only look at his record of charitable contributions to see this. However, the question remains, "Is Bill Gates trying to buy his salvation?"
Here are four men who have made an impact on the world. While none of them painted it, they have created legacies which will likely last long after the paint would have faded and chipped.

Bill Gates will be remembered when the giant computer that his company builds becomes self-aware and starts building robots to destroy the weak and virus-like humans for the sake of the planet.

Einstein will be remembered for his contributions to physics, time travel, and the ominous threat of nuclear annihilation that hovers over us. . . Well, that and his hair.

Hitler will be remembered for taking what the voices in his head said a little too literally and attempting genocide.

Jesus will be remembered for . . . talking. For chatting with a couple people and saying things that made sense. For encouraging people to be good and to not be selfish. Then, they told two people, and they told two people . . .

Of all the ways to paint the world, I think that Jesus had it right, whoever he really was. Let's talk.