What has had the greatest effect upon you, upon your generation, upon the human race?
Historians, social scientists, anthropologists, and philosophers all weigh in with their opinions. They calculate in terms of number of people affected, how significant the effect is, and whether it is a unique event or not. By these measures all four of the items in the illustration are significant.
Some are obvious. The smart phone has radically changed the way that people relate to one another. A large number of marriages (and subsequent children) have grown out of connections made through the internet rather than more traditional methods of meeting.
Some are both obvious and not obvious. The historical significance of Hiroshima is huge and the actual physical damage is tangible, but less obvious is the effect it MAY have had upon me: My father fought in the Pacific Theater in WW II and MAY have survived to become my father because he wasn’t called upon to invade the Japanese stronghold islands.
Some are conjectural. How many people lived because of Penicillin or Small Pox vaccination? Are my own children and grandchildren here because of that Penicillin shot I got after those rosebush scrapes became infected when I was five?
The crucifixion of Christ has affected every human being and to an incalculable degree – though it isn’t obvious. Christ Atoned for the sins of each one of us and has reconciled us to our Creator. It wins on all counts – number of people affected (everyone), significance of the effect (eternal life vs. eternal death), and yes it is unique.
We observe the season of Lent partly to reawaken to the significance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.