The worst man who ever lived

Who’s the worst man that ever lived? Historians tend to measure that by the leader who caused the most death and destruction. Perennial candidates for this ignominious distinction include Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Tamerlane, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Pol Pot, Ivan the Terrible, and Vlad the Impaler.

If we were politically incorrect, we’d include architects of abortion policy like Justice Brennan.

There is, however, a very promising candidate for the worst of the worst who doesn’t normally make the cut. I mean Muhammad. He founded a false world religion that men kill for and die for (die for in the process of killing). When you consider the cumulative body count, century upon century, which he set in motion, I expect that greatly outstrips the other villains on the list.

This isn’t an incidental consequence of Islam. Not a mistaken interpretation. Rather, by precept and personal example, Muhammad led the way.

I’m not suggesting that he was especially sadistic, or more wicked than the moral monsters I cited above. Rather, I’m considering the long-range effects of his mission and message. The resultant lives destroyed over the centuries, in the Islamic meat-grinder.