Common Era 6088 226070917 2008-07-16T18:22:16Z 84.62.207.132 /* Usage */ inserted 2 "[sic]" tags to signify that the substitution of the letters "L-rd" for the word "Lord" is in the original text {{redirect|BCE}} {{redirect|Era Vulgaris|the Queens of the Stone Age album|Era Vulgaris (album)}} '''Common Era''' (also known as '''Christian Era''' and '''Current Era'''; <!-- // BEGIN 3 refs for meanings & alternate synonyms of Current Era --><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/history/history_2.shtml|url2=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/history/history_print.html|title=History of Judaism 63BCE-1086CE|quote=Year 1: CE – What is nowadays called the 'Current Era' traditionally begins with the birth of a Jewish teacher called Jesus. His followers came to believe he was the promised Messiah and later split away from Judaism to found Christianity|date=2005-02-08|author=BBC Team|work=BBC Religion & Ethics|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2007-09-08}} </ref><ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-the-western-islamic-and-jewish-calendars.htm|title=What is the Difference Between the Western, Islamic, and Jewish calendars?|year=2007|author=[http://www.wisegeek.com/who-is-wisegeek.htm wiseGEEK]|accessdate=2007-09-07}} </ref><ref> Dictionaries: Common Era<br /> *{{cite encyclopedia |title=Common Era|encyclopedia=Collins Dictionary of the English Language|year=1980|publisher=Collins|location=London & Glasgow|id=ISBN 0 00 433080-3|quote=Com+mon E·ra n. another name for Christian Era.}} *{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Common%20Era|title="Common Era"|publisher=Dictionary.com ''The American Heritage® Science Dictionary.'' (© 2002). Houghton Mifflin|quote=Common Era – The period beginning with the year traditionally thought to have been birth of Jesus.|accessdate=2007-09-09}} *{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common%20era|title=Common Era|encyclopedia=Merriam Webster Online Dictionary|year=2003|publisher=Merriam-Webster|quote=Main Entry: Common Era – Function: noun – Date: 1846 – : christian era|accessdate=2007-12-13}} *{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Common%20Era|title="Common Era"|publisher=Dictionary.com ''The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.'' (2004). Houghton Mifflin|quote=Com·mon Era – n. Abbr. C.E. – The period coinciding with the Christian era.|accessdate=2007-09-09}} *{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Common%20Era|title="Common Era"|publisher=Dictionary.com ''Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1).'' (© 2006). Random House|quote=Common Era – –noun Christian Era.|accessdate=2007-09-09}} *{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/common%20era|title="common era"|publisher=Dictionary.com ''WordNet® 3.0.'' (© 2006). Princeton University|quote=common era – adverb – 1. of the period coinciding with the Christian era; preferred by some writers who are not Christians; 'in 200 CE' [syn: CE] — noun – 1. the time period beginning with the supposed year of Christ's birth [syn: Christian era]|accessdate=2007-09-09}} </ref><!-- // END 3 refs for meanings & alternate synonyms of Current Era // BEGIN 1 ref for meanings of abbreviation CE --> abbreviated '''CE''')<ref>Dictionaries: CE<br /> *{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/CE|title="CE"|publisher=Dictionary.com ''The American Heritage® Science Dictionary.'' (© 2002). Houghton Mifflin|quote=CE – Abbreviation for Common Era.|accessdate=2007-09-09}} *{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://merriam-webster.com/dictionary/CE|title=CE|encyclopedia=Merriam Webster Online Dictionary|year=2003|publisher=Merriam-Webster|quote=Main Entry: CE – Function: abbreviation – 3 Christian Era —often punctuated; Common Era —often punctuated|accessdate=2007-12-13}} *{{cite encyclopedia|title=C.E.|encyclopedia=Collins Dictionary of the English Language|year=1980|publisher=Collins|location=London & Glasgow|id=ISBN 0 00 433080-3|quote=C.E. 5. Common Era.}} *{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/C.E.|title="C.E."|publisher=Dictionary.com ''American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition.'' (© 2005). Houghton Mifflin|quote=C.E. – 4. Common Era|accessdate=2007-09-09}} *{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/C.E.|title="C.E."|publisher=Dictionary.com ''Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1).'' (© 2006). Random House|quote=C.E. – 5. common era.|accessdate=2007-09-09}} *[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ce "ce"]<!-- also accessdate=2007-09-09-->{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/c.e.|title="c.e." |publisher=Dictionary.com ''WordNet® 3.0.'' (© 2006). Princeton University |quote=ce, c.e. – adverb – 1. of the period coinciding with the Christian era; preferred by some writers who are not Christians; 'in 200 CE' [syn: CE]|accessdate=2007-09-09}} – ''WP editorial note: the source does not mention any suffix like "[syn: CE]" for entry "ce" as shown for entry "c.e.".'' </ref><!-- // END CE refs --> is a designation for the period of time beginning with year 1 of the [[proleptic Gregorian calendar]]. An earlier date is then designated '''BCE''', described as "'''Before the Common''', '''Christian''', or '''Current Era'''".<!-- // BEGIN BCE refs... --><ref>Dictionaries: BCE<br /> *{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/BCE|title="BCE"|publisher=Dictionary.com ''The American Heritage® Science Dictionary.'' (© 2002). Houghton Mifflin|quote=BCE – Abbreviation for before the Common Era.|accessdate=2007-09-11}} *{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/BCE|title=BCE|encyclopedia=Merriam Webster Online Dictionary|year=2003|publisher=Merriam-Webster|quote=Main Entry: BCE – Function: abbreviation – 3 before the Christian Era —often punctuated; before the Common Era —often punctuated|accessdate=2007-09-09}} *{{cite encyclopedia|title=B.C.E.|encyclopedia=Collins Dictionary of the English Language|year=1980|publisher=Collins|location=London & Glasgow|id=ISBN 0 00 433080-3|quote=B.C.E. ''abbrev. for'' Before Common Era (used, esp. by non-Christians, in numbering years B.C.}} *{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/B.C.E.|title="B.C.E."|publisher=Dictionary.com ''American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition.'' (© 2005). Houghton Mifflin|quote=B.C.E. – Before the Common Era|accessdate=2007-09-11}} *{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/B.C.E.|title="B.C.E."|publisher=Dictionary.com ''The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition.'' (2005). Houghton Mifflin|quote=B.C.E. – An abbreviation sometimes used in place of b.c. It means 'before the Common Era.' – [Chapter:] ''Conventions of Written English''|accessdate=2007-09-11}} *{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/B.C.E.|title="B.C.E."|publisher=Dictionary.com ''Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1).'' (© 2006). Random House|quote=B.C.E. – 4. before (the) Common (or Christian) Era.|accessdate=2007-09-11}} *[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bce "bce"]<!-- also accessdate=2007-09-11-->{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/b.c.e.|title="b.c.e."|publisher=Dictionary.com ''WordNet® 3.0.'' (© 2006). Princeton University|quote=bce, b.c.e. – adverb – of the period before the Common Era; preferred by some writers who are not Christians; "in 200 BCE" [syn: BCE]|accessdate=2007-09-11}} – ''WP editorial note: the source does not mention any suffix like "[syn: BCE]" for entry "bce" as shown for entry "b.c.e.".'' </ref><!-- // END BCE refs ---> The numbering of years is identical to the numbering in the [[Anno Domini]] system, neither system using a [[year zero]].<ref>Two separate systems that also do not use religious titles, the [[Astronomical year numbering|astronomical system]] and the [[ISO 8601]] standard do use a [[year zero]]. The year 1 BCE (identical to the year 1 BC) is represented as 0 in the astronomical system, and as 0000 in ISO 8601. </ref> Originating among Christians in Europe at least as early as 1615 (at first in [[Latin]]),<ref name=VulgarisAerae1 /> Common Era notation has been adopted in several non-Christian cultures, by many scholars in religious studies and other academic fields,<ref name=Irvin> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=C2akvQfa-QMC&pg=PR11&dq=before+%22common+era%22+christian&lr=&sig=J5x3M_bx6EXYYxL57m08w5OYzWk |title=History of the World Christian Movement |accessdate=2008-01-11 }} {{cite book |title=History of the World Christian Movement |first=Dale T. |last=Irvin |coauthors=Sunquist, Scott |year=2001 |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |isbn=0567088669 |pages=page xi |quote=The influence of western culture and scholarship upon the rest of the world in turn led to this system of dating becoming the most widely used one across the globe today. Many scholars in historical and religious studies in the West in recent years have sought to lessen the explicitly Christian meaning of this system without abandoning the usefulness of a single, common, global form of dating. For this reason the terms ''common era'' and ''before the common era'', abbreviated as CE and BCE, have grown in popularity as designations. The terms are meant, in deference to non-Christians, to soften the explicit theological claims made by the older Latin terminology, while at the same time providing continuity with earlier generations of mostly western Christian historical research. }}</ref><ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-VLt0uQrzXMC&pg=PA18&dq=before+common+era+christian+non-christian&lr=&sig=rl3B9VZmkG8RtbP6WZifd9iCJ2A |title=Get Set for Religious Studies |accessdate=2008-01-11 }} {{cite book |title=Get Set for Religious Studies |first=Dominic |last=Corrywright |coauthors=Morgan, Peggy |year=2006 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=074862032X |pages=p 18 |quote=Also note where AD (from the Latin 'in the year of our Lord') and BC (before Christ) are used in datings, for although the numerical calculation of this system is now the international convention, the terminology used in religious studies is CE (common era) and BCE (before the common era), which are more neutrally descriptive terms }}</ref> and by others wishing to be sensitive to non-Christians,<ref name="cst"> {{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060527/ai_n16436633|title=BCE date designation called more sensitive|author=Andrew Herrmann|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|date=[[2006-05-27]]|accessdate=2007-06-15||quote=Herrmann observes, "The changes — showing up at museums, in academic circles and in school textbooks — have been touted as more sensitive to people of faiths outside of Christianity." However, Herrmann notes, "The use of BCE and CE have rankled some Christians}}. </ref> since Common Era does not explicitly make use of religious titles for Jesus, such as ''Christ'' and ''Lord'', which are used in the AD/BC notation.<ref>''Anno Domini'' (which means ''in the year of the/our Lord''){{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Anno%20Domini|title=Anno Domini|encyclopedia=Merriam Webster Online Dictionary|year=2003|publisher=Merriam-Webster|quote=Etymology: Medieval Latin, in the year of the Lord|accessdate=2008-02-04}} Translated as "in the year of (Our) Lord" in Blackburn, B & Holford-Strevens, L, (2003), ''The Oxford Companion to the Year'', Oxford University Press, 782. </ref><ref name=Irvin /><ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/ce_info1.htm#wce |title=Historical background of the use of "CE" and "BCE" to identify dates |publisher= Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance |quote=According to David Barrett et al, editors of the "World Christian Encyclopedia: A comparative survey of churches and religions - AD 30 to 2200," there are 19 major world religions which are subdivided into a total of 270 large religious groups, and many smaller ones. The vast majority do not recognize Yeshua of Nazareth as either God or Messiah. Expecting followers of other religions to imply this status for Yeshua can create ill feeling.}} </ref><ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/heustis/070909 |title=Common Era and the culture war |first=Reer R, Jr. |last=Heustis |date=2007-09-09 |publisher=RenewAmerica |quote=referred to as ''Year of our Lord'', which is an unmistakable reference to the Lord Jesus Christ....Not every person believes that Jesus is the Lord, they argue, and therefore, he should not have to acknowledge Christ's ''Lordship''...Make no mistake about it: Jesus Christ is not only the Lord of Christians — He is also the Lord of all.}} </ref> The use of BCE and CE has been criticized by some (who favor the BC/AD system) as being in their view "the result of secularization" and "political correctness".<ref>[http://www.sbcannualmeeting.org/sbc00/Res.asp?ID=1295130456 Southern Baptist Convention 2000, Resolution 9] </ref> <!-- Please maintain the Common/Current/Christian Era names & "Before..." + their abbreviations CE & BCE within the FIRST paragraph (the only one shown by preview for readers having such enabled by their user javascript page) --> The Gregorian calendar is the calendar system with most widespread usage in the world today. For decades, it has been the unofficial global standard, recognized by international institutions such as the [[United Nations]] and the [[Universal Postal Union]]. The abbreviation BCE, just as with BC, always follows the year number. Unlike AD, which traditionally precedes the year number, CE always follows the year number (if context requires that it be written at all).<ref name=Wilson>{{cite web |url=http://www.bartleby.com/68/20/120.html|title=The Columbia Guide to Standard American English – A.D., B.C., (A.)C.E., B.C.E.|year=1993|author=Wilson, Kenneth G.|accessdate=2007-06-16}} </ref> Thus, the current year is written as {{CURRENTYEAR}} in both systems (or, if further clarity is needed, as {{CURRENTYEAR}} CE, or as AD {{CURRENTYEAR}}), and the year that [[Socrates]] died is represented as 399 BCE (the same year that is represented by 399 BC in the BC/AD system). The abbreviations are sometimes written with small capital letters, or with [[full stop|periods]] (e.g., "<span style="font-size:87%;">BCE</span>" or "C.E.").<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/about15_rules.html|title=Major Rule Changes in The Chicago Manual of Style, Fifteenth Edition|year=''15th ed.:'' 2003|publisher=University of Chicago Press|quote=Certain abbreviations traditionally set in small caps are now in full caps (AD, BCE, and the like), with small caps an option.|accessdate=2007-09-12}}</ref> <!-- {{reflist}} --> ==Origins== {{seealso|Anno Domini}} The year numbering system for the Common Era was devised by the monk [[Dionysius Exiguus]] in the year 525. He attempted to number years from the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|Incarnation]] of [[Jesus]]<ref>Pedersen, O., (1983), "The Ecclesiastical Calendar and the Life of the Church" in Coyne, G.V. et al. (Eds.) [http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/book/grc../1983//0000001,001.html ''The Gregorian Reform of the Calendar''], Vatican Observatory, p. 50.</ref> "although scholars generally believe that Christ was born some years before A.D. 1."<ref>Doggett, L.E., (1992), [http://charon.nmsu.edu/~lhuber/leaphist.html "Calendars"] in Seidelmann, P.K., ''The Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac'', Sausalito CA: University Science Books, p. 579.</ref> Dionysius labeled the column of the Easter table in which he introduced the new era "''Anni Domini Nostri Jesu Christi''"<ref>Pedersen, O., (1983), "The Eccleesiastical Calendar and the Life of the Church" in Coyne, G.V. et al. (Eds.) http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/book/grc../1983//0000052.000.html ''The Gregorian Reform of the Calendar''], Vatican Observatory, p. 52.</ref> Numbering years in this manner became more widespread with its usage by [[Bede]] in England in 731. Bede also introduced the practice of dating years before the supposed year of birth of Jesus, and the practice of not using a year zero. In 1422, [[Portugal]] became the last [[Western Europe]]an country to [[Spanish era|switch to]] the system begun by Dionysius.<ref name=CathEncy-Chron>{{cite web |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03738a.htm |title=General Chronology|author=New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia|year=1908|pages=Vol III|publisher=Robert Appleton Company, New York|accessdate=2007-12-12}} </ref> The term "Common Era" is traced back in English to its appearance as "Vulgar<ref>It is relatively recently the word ''vulgar'' has come to mean "crudely indecent"</ref> Era" (from the Latin word ''vulgus'', the common people, i.e. those who are not royalty), to distinguish it from the [[Regnal year|Regnal dating]] systems typically used in national law. The first use of the Latin equivalent (''vulgaris aerae'')<ref name=VulgarisAerae0>In Latin, ''Common Era'' is written as ''Vulgaris Aerae''. It also occasionally appears as ''æræ vulgaris'', ''aerae vulgaris'', ''aeram vulgarem'', ''anni vulgaris'', ''vulgaris aerae Christianae'', and ''anni vulgatae nostrae aerae Christianas''. </ref> discovered so far was in a 1615 book by [[Johannes Kepler]].<ref name=VulgarisAerae1> {{cite web |url=http://worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/62188677 |title=Earliest-found use of "vulgaris aerae" (Latin for Common Era) (1615) |accessdate=2008-01-12 }} {{cite book |quote=anno aerae nostrae vulgaris |author=[[Johannes Kepler]] |title=Joannis Keppleri Eclogae chronicae: ex epistolis doctissimorum aliquot virorum & suis mutuis, quibus examinantur tempora nobilissima: 1. Herodis Herodiadumque, 2. baptismi & ministerii Christi annorum non plus 2 1/4, 3. passionis, mortis et resurrectionis Dn. N. Iesu Christi, anno aerae nostrae vulgaris 31. non, ut vulgo 33., 4. belli Iudaici, quo funerata fuit cum Ierosolymis & Templo Synagoga Iudaica, sublatumque Vetus Testamentum. Inter alia & commentarius in locum Epiphanii obscurissimum de cyclo veteri Iudaeorum. |publisher=Francofurti : Tampach |language=Latin |year=1615 }} </ref> Kepler uses it again in a 1617 table of [[Ephemeris|ephemerides]].<ref name=VulgarisAerae2> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=nBQGGgAACAAJ&rview=1 |title=Second use of "vulgaris aerae" (Latin for Common Era) (1617) |accessdate=2008-01-12 }} {{cite book |title=Ephemerides novae motuum coelestium, ab anno vulgaris aerae MDCXVII[-XXXVI]... |quote=Part 3 has title: Tomi L Ephemeridvm Ioannis Kepleri pars tertia, complexa annos à M.DC.XXIX. in M.DC.XXXVI. In quibus & tabb. Rudolphi jam perfectis, et sociâ operâ clariss. viri dn. Iacobi Bartschii ... Impressa Sagani Silesiorvm, in typographeio Ducali, svmptibvs avthoris, anno M.DC.XXX. |author=[[Johannes Kepler]], Jakob Bartsch |publisher=Johannes Plancus |year=1617 }} *Translation of title (per 1635 English edition): ''New Ephemerids for the Celestiall Motions, for the Yeeres of the Vulgar Era 1617-1636'' </ref> A 1635 English edition of that book has the title page in English - so far, the earliest-found usage of ''Vulgar Era'' in English.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=TIl2GwAACAAJ&dq=%22vulgar+era%22 |title=Earliest so-far-found use of ''vulgar era'' in English (1635) |accessdate=2007-12-18 }} {{cite book |title=Ephemerides of the Celestiall Motions, for the Yeers of the Vulgar Era 1633... |author=Johann Kepler, Adriaan Vlacq |published=1635 }} </ref> <!--- *A much later instance in Latin is in a 1762 book by [[Giovanni Lorenzo Berti|Joanne Laurentio Berti]], entitled ''Ecclesiasticae historiae breviarium. Editio, post secundam venetam. Pars prima quae compectitur Chronologiae Rudimenta. Pars secunda quae progreditur usque ad unnum Vulgaris Aera''; See book title at http://www.antiqbook.de/boox/haker/207860.shtml - see Catholic Encyclopedia article on its author at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02522a.htm ---> A 1701 book edited by John LeClerc includes "Before Christ according to the Vulgar Æra, 6".<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=jakGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA5-IA4&dq=%22vulgar+era%22 |title=''vulgar era'' in English (1701) |accessdate=2007-12-14 }} {{cite book |title=The Harmony of the Evangelists |editor=John LeClerc |authorlink=[[John LeClerc]] |location=London |publisher=Sam Buckley |digitized=2007-02-21 |pages=p 5 |date=1701 |quote=Before Christ according to the Vulgar AEra, 6 }}</ref> A 1716 book in English by Dean [[Humphrey Prideaux]] says, "before the beginning of the vulgar æra, by which we now compute the years from his incarnation."<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1DQHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA5&vq=vulgar&dq |title= Prideaux use of "Vulgar Era" (1716) |date=1799 reprint |quote2=reckoning it backward from the vulgar era of Christ's incarnation |accessdate=2007-12-14 |digitized=2007-03-26 }} {{cite book |title=The Old and New Testament Connected in the History of the Jews and Neighbouring Nations |author=Humphrey Prideaux, D.D. |authorlink=Humphrey Prideaux |publisher=D. Schaw & Co. |location=Edinburgh |original=from Oxford University Press |quote=This happened in the seventh year after the building of Rome, and in the second year of the eighth Olympiad, which was the seven hundred forty-seventh year before Christ, i. e. before the beginning of the vulgar æra, by which we now compute the years from his incarnation. |pages=p 1 Vol 1 |year=1716 |reprint=1799 (1716 edition not online, 1749 online is Vol 2) }} </ref><ref> Merriam Webster accepts the date of 1716, but does not give the source. {{cite web|url=http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/vulgarera|title=Merriam Webster Online entry for ''Vulgar Era''|accessdate=2007-12-12}} </ref> A 1796 book uses the term "vulgar era of the nativity".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=nK6IPj-Wk-kC&pg=PA10&dq=%22vulgar+era+of+the+NATIVITY%22 |title="vulgar era of the nativity" (1796) |original=from the University of Michigan |digitized=2006-03-13 |accessdate=2007-12-18 }} {{cite book |title=Analysis of Researches Into the Origin and Progress of Historical Time, from the Creation to ... |author=Rev. Robert Walker, Isaac Newton, Thomas Falconer |published=1796 |publisher=T. Cadell Jr. and W. Davies |pages=p10 |location=London |length=446 pages |quote=Dionysius the Little brought the vulgar era of the nativity too low by four years. }}</ref> The first so-far-discovered usage of "Christian Era" is as the Latin phrase ''aerae christianae'' on the title page of a 1584 theology book.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/123471534 |title=1584 Latin use of ''aerae christianae'' |accessdate=2008-01-13 }} {{cite book |title=De Eucharistica controuersia, capita doctrinae theologicae de quibus mandatu, illustrissimi principis ac domini, D. Iohannis Casimiri, Comites Palatini ad Rhenum, Ducis Bauariae, tutoris & administratoris Electoralis Palatinatus, octonis publicis disputationibus (quarum prima est habita 4 Apr. anno aerae christianae 1584, Marco Beumlero respondente) praeses Iohannes Iacobus Grynaeus, orthodoxae fidei rationem interrogantibus placidè reddidit ; accessit eiusdem Iohannis Iacobi Grynaeus synopsis orationis, quam de disputationis euentu, congressione nona, quae indicit in 15 Aprilis, publicè habuit. |first=Johann Jacob |last=GRYNAEUS |coauthors=BEUMLER, Marcus |type=Microform |language=Latin |location=Heidelbergae |publisher=Typis Iacobi Mylij |year=1584 |edition=Editio tertia |topic=Irenical theology |oclc=123471534 |quote=4 Apr. anno aerae christianae 1584 }} </ref> In 1649, the Latin phrase ''æræ Christianæ'' appeared in the title of an English almanac.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/18533017 |title=1649 use of ''æræ Christianæ'' in English book - 1st usage found in English |accessdate=2008-01-13 }} {{cite book |title=Speculum uranicum, anni æræ Christianæ, 1649, or, An almanack and prognosication for the year of our Lord, 1649 being the first from bissextile or leap-year, and from the creation of the world 5598, wherein is contained many useful, pleasant and necessary observations, and predictions ... : calculated (according to art) for the meridian and latitude of the ancient borrough town of Stamford in Lincolnshire ... and without sensible errour may serve the 3. kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. |last=WING |first=Vincent |year=1649 |location=London |publisher=J.L. for the Company of Stationers |quote=anni æræ Christianæ, 1649 }} </ref> A 1652 ephemeris is the first instance so-far-found for English usage of "Christian Era".<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qDaKGAAACAAJ&dq=%22christian+era%22 |title=first appearance of "Christian Era" in English (1652) |accessdate=2007-12-19 }} {{cite book |title=A celestiall glasse, or, Ephemeris for the year of the Christian era 1652 being the bissextile or leap-year: contayning the lunations, planetary motions, configurations & ecclipses for this present year ... : with many other things very delightfull and necessary for most sorts of men: calculated exactly and composed for ... Rochester |author=Sliter, Robert |year=1652 |publisher=Printed for the Company of Stationers |location=London }} </ref> The English phrase "common Era" appears at least as early as 1715 in a book on astronomy, used synonymously with Christian Era and Vulgar Era.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ze8ehe65hwcC&pg=RA2-PA252&dq=%22Common+Era%22+%22before+chrift%22++chriftian+common+era |title=first so-far-found use of ''common era'' in English (1715) |quote=Some say the World was created 3950 Years before the common Æra of Christ |pages=p252 |accessdate=2008-01-05 }} {{cite book |first=David |last=Gregory |title=The Elements of Astronomy, Physical and Geometrical |coauthors=John Nicholson, John Morphew |year=1715 |publisher=printed for J. Nicholson, and sold by J. Morphew |location=London |genre=Astronomy |library copy=University of Michigan |volume=v. 1 |digitized 2006-04-13 }} ''Before Christ'' and ''Christian Era'' appear on the same page 252, while ''Vulgar Era'' appears on [http://books.google.com/books?id=ze8ehe65hwcC&pg=RA2-PA250&dq=%22Vulgar%22 page 250] </ref> A 1759 history book uses ''common æra'' in a generic sense, to refer to the common era of the Jews.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=tn0EAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA130&dq=%22Common+aEra%22+%22chrift%22 |title=1759 use of common æra |accessdate=2008-01-12}} {{cite book |title=An Universal History: From the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time By George Sale, |first=George |last=Sale |coauthros=Psalmanazar, George; Bower, Archibald; Shelvocke, George; Campbell, John; Swinton, John |year=1759 |quote=at which time they fixed that for their common era |publisher=C. Bathurst [etc.] |location=London |volume=v 13 |pages=v 13, p 130 |digitized=2007-07-09 }} In this case, ''their'' refers to the Jews. </ref> ''Common era'' and ''vulgar era'' are used as synonyms in 1770, in a translation of a book originally written in German.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=gBETAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=%22Common+Era%22+%22vulgar+Era%22+date:1-1800 |title=''common era'' and ''vulgar era'' as synonyms in English (1770) |accessdate=2008-01-05 }} {{cite book |last=Hooper |first=William |coauthors=Bielfeld, Jacob Friedrich |title=The Elements of Universal Eurdition (v. 2) |year=1770 |publisher=G. Scott, printer, for J Robson, bookseller in New-Bond Street, and B. Law in Ave-Mary Lane |location=London |pages=p 105, 63 |quote=in the year of the world 3692, and 312 years before the vulgar era.... The Spanish era began with the year of the world 3966, and 38 years before the common era (p63) }}</ref> The 1797 edition of the [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] uses the terms ''vulgar era'' and ''common era'' synonymously.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=W3xMAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA228&dq=%22vulgar+era%22 |title="vulgar era" in 1797 EB |quote=St Peter died in the 66th year of the vulgar era |pages=p 228 v.14 pt.1 P (Peter) |date=1797 |accessdate=2007-12-14 }} <br/> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=W3xMAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA50&dq=%22common+era%22 |title="common era" in 1797 EB |pages=p 50 v.14 pt.1 P (Paul) |quote=This happened in the 33rd year of the common era, fome time after our Saviour's death. |date=1797 |accessdate=2007-12-14 }} <br/> {{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica: Or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature (Third Edition in 18 volumes) |date=1797 |pages=v.14 pt.1 P |editor=George Gleig |location=Edinburgh |digitized=2007-09-12 }} </ref> In 1835, in his book ''Living Oracles'', [[Alexander Campbell (Restoration movement)|Alexander Campbell]], wrote: "The vulgar Era, or Anno Domini; the fourth year of Jesus Christ, the first of which was but eight days",<ref> {{cite book |url=http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/acampbell/tlo4/TLO400L4.HTM | title=The Living Oracles, Fourth Edition |date=1835 |author=[[Alexander Campbell (Restoration movement)|Alexander Campbell]]|pages=pp 16-20|accessdate=2007-12-12}} </ref> and also refers to the ''common era'' as a synonym for ''vulgar era'' with "the fact that our Lord was born on the 4th year before the vulgar era, called Anno Domini, thus making (for example) the 42d year from his birth to correspond with the 38th of the common era..."<ref> {{cite book |url=http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/acampbell/tlo4/TLO400L3.HTM | title=The Living Oracles, Fourth Edition |date=1835 |author=[[Alexander Campbell (Restoration movement)|Alexander Campbell]]|pages=pp 15-16|accessdate=2007-12-12}} </ref> The ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' uses the sentence: "Foremost among these [various eras] is that which is now adopted by all civilized peoples and known as the Christian, Vulgar or Common Era, in the twentieth century of which we are now living."<ref name="CathEncy-Chron"/> During the 19th century, "Vulgar Era" came to be contrasted with "Christian Era", and "vulgar" came to mean "crudely indecent", thus no longer a synonym for "common". The phrase "common era", in [[lower case]], also appeared in the 19th century in a ''generic'' sense, not necessarily to refer to the Christian Era, but to any system of dates in common use throughout a civilization. Thus, "the common era of the Jews",<ref> {{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?as_brr=1&id=GMfyJ2PeD-cC&q=%22common+era+of+the+jews%22&pgis=1|title="common era of the Jews" (1874)|quote=the common era of the Jews places the creation in BC 3760|accessdate=2007-12-12}} {{cite book|title=Conversations Lexicon|work=The Popular Encyclopedia|publisher=Oxford University Press|editor=A. Whitelaw|year=1874|pages=Volume V p 207|volume=V}} </ref><ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=e6oCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA176&dq=%22common+era+of+the+jews%22|title="common era of the Jews" (1858)|quote=Hence the present year, 1858, in the common era of the Jews, is AM 5618-5619, a difference of more than 200 years from our commonly-received chronology.|accessdate=2007-12-13}} {{cite book|title=The first and second Advent: or, The past and the future with reference to the Jew, the Gentile, and the Church of God|author=Rev. Bourchier Wrey Savile, MA|year=1858|pages=p 176|publisher=Wertheim, Macintosh and Hunt |location=London}} </ref> "the common era of the Mahometans",<ref> {{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4WEBAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22common+era+of+the%22&q=%22common+era+of+the+Mahometans%22&pgis=1 |title="common era of the Mahometans" (1856)|quote=Its epoch is the first of March old style. The common era of the Mahometans, as has already been stated, is that of the flight of Mahomet.|accessdate=2007-12-13}} {{cite book|year=1856|title=Practical tables for the reduction of Mahometan dates to the Christian calendar|pages=p 4|author=Johannes von Gumpach|publisher=Oxford University}} </ref> "common era of the world",<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=bXIAAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA354&dq=%22common+era+of+the%22 |title="common era of the world" (1801) |accessdate=2007-12-14 }} {{cite book |title=The Theological, Philosophical and Miscellaneous Works of the Rev. William Jones |author=William Jones |year=1801 |location=London |publisher=Rivington }} </ref> "the common era of the foundation of Rome".<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=6FKHIeUQ2J0C&pg=PA284&dq=%22common+era+of+the+foundation+of+rome%22|title="common era of the foundation of Rome" (1854)|accessdate=2007-12-13}} {{cite book|title=Universal History: From the Creation of the World to the Beginning of the Eighteenth Century|author=Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee|publisher=Fetridge and Company|location=Boston|year=1854|pages=p 284}} </ref> When it did refer to the Christian Era, it was sometimes qualified, e.g., "common era of the Incarnation",<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=HKgMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA711&dq=%22common+era+of+the+incarnation%22 |title="common era of the Incarnation" (1833) |accessdate=2007-12-13 }} {{cite book|title=The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature |location=New York|publisher=Henry G. Allen and Company|date=1833|edition=9|volume=V|pages=9th edition, Vol V, p711}} </ref> "common era of the Nativity",<ref> {{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=um44AAAAMAAJ&dq=%22common+era+of+the+Nativity%22&q=%22common+era%22+%22of+the+Nativity%22&pgis=1 |title="common era" "of the Nativity" (1864)|quote=It should be observed, however, that these years correspond to 492 and 493, a portion of the annals of Ulster being counted from the Incarnation, and being, therefore, one year before the common era of the Nativity of our Lord.|accessdate=2007-12-13}} {{cite book|title=St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, A Memoir of his Life and Mission|author=James Henthorn Todd|year=1864|pages=pp 495, 496, 497|publisher=Hodges, Smith & Co, Publishers to the University|location=Dublin}} </ref> or "common era of the birth of Christ".<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=PGdCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PR16&dq=%22common+era+of+the%22 |title="common era of the birth of Christ" (1812) |accessdate=2007-12-14 }} {{cite book |title=Annotations on the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles (2nd edition) |author=Heneage Elsley |year=1812 |edition=2nd |publisher=A. J. Valpy for T. Payne |location=London |pages=p xvi}} </ref> Some Jewish academics were already using the ''CE'' and ''BCE'' abbreviations by the mid-19th century, such as in 1856, when Rabbi and historian, [[Morris Jacob Raphall]] used the abbreviation in his book, [http://books.google.com/books?id=r7CbDH5hTe8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=CE+BCE ''Post-Biblical History of The Jews''].<ref>The term ''common era'' does not appear in this book; the term ''Christian era'' [lowercase] does appear a number of times. Nowhere in the book is the abbreviation explained or expanded directly. {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=r7CbDH5hTe8C&pg=PA75&vq=era |title=Search for ''era'' in this book.}} </ref> ===Other associations=== An adapted translation of ''Common Era'' into Latin as ''Era Vulgaris'' was adopted in the 20th century by some followers of [[Aleister Crowley]], and thus the abbreviation "e.v." or "EV" may sometimes be seen as a replacement for AD.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.egc.org.uk/egc/egc_thelema.shtml|title=What is Thelema?|accessdate=2007-12-07}} </ref> ==Usage== The terms "Common Era", "''Anno Domini''", "Before the Common Era" and "Before Christ" can be applied to dates that rely on either the [[Julian calendar]] or the [[Gregorian calendar]]. Modern dates are understood in the [[Western world]] to be in the Gregorian calendar, but for older dates writers should specify the calendar used. Dates in the Gregorian calendar have always used the Common Era, but over the millennia a wide variety of eras have been used with the Julian calendar. Although Jews have their own [[Hebrew calendar]], they often find it convenient to use the Gregorian Calendar as well. The reasons for some using Common Era notation are described below:{{quotation|Jews do not generally use the words "A.D." and "B.C." to refer to the years on the Gregorian calendar. "A.D." means "the year of our L-rd," [sic] <!-- this is the way it appears in original quote, please do not change original quotes--> and we do not believe Jesus is the L-rd [sic]. Instead, we use the abbreviations C.E. (Common or Christian Era) and B.C.E. (Before the Common Era).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/calendar.html#Years | title=Jewish Calendar: Numbering of Jewish Years | publisher=Jewish Virtual Library | accessdate=2007-09-02}}</ref>}}Indeed, Common Era notation has also been in use for Hebrew lessons for "more than a century".<ref name="Gormley">{{cite news | author=Michael Gormley | date=[[24 April]] [[2005]] | title=Use of B.C. and A.D. faces changing times| publisher=[[Houston Chronicle]] |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2005_3864650 |accessdate=2007-08-30 | page=A&ndash;13}} (Registration required.)</ref> Some American academics in the fields of [[education]] and [[history]] have adopted CE and BCE notation, although there is some disagreement.<ref>See, for example, the Society for Historical Archaeology states in its more recent style guide "Do not use C.E. (current era) ... or B.C.E.; convert these expressions to A.D. and B.C." {{cite web | url = http://www.sha.org/publications/style_guide.htm#V-d | title = Style Guide | accessdate=2007-08-29 | author = Society for Historical Archaeology | month = December | year = 2006 }}. Whereas the [[American Anthropological Association]] style guide {{cite web | url = http://www.aaanet.org/pubs/style_guide.pdf | title = AAA Style Guide | accessdate=2006-09-09 |format=PDF | author = American Anthropological Society | month = January | year = 2003 }} takes a different approach. </ref> The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, which is the leading publishing body of the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], uses CE and BCE exclusively in its publications.<ref> [http://www.google.co.uk/search?as_q=BCE&hl=en&num=100&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=watchtower.org%2F&as_rights=&safe=images] [http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=100&hl=en&as_qdr=all&q=BC+site%3Awatchtower.org%2F&meta=] Also see, for example, comment "In this publication, instead of the traditional 'AD' and 'BC', the more accurate 'CE' (Common Era) and 'BCE' (before the Common Era) are used." in ''The Bible — God's Word or Man's?'', p. 16 footnote, published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.</ref> More visible uses of Common Era notation have recently surfaced at major museums in the English-speaking world: The [[Smithsonian Institution]] prefers Common Era usage, though individual museums are not required to use it.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/field_trips/standards/world_history_standards.html | title = World History Standards | accessdate=2006-09-09 | author = Smithsonian Institute | work = Smithsonian Education}}</ref> Furthermore, several style guides now prefer or mandate its usage.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.egyptstudy.org/ostracon/guidelines.html | journal = The Ostracon &mdash; Journal of the Egyptian Studies Society | title = Submission Guidelines for ''The Ostracon'' | quote = For dates, please use the now-standard "BCE-CE" notation, rather than "BC-AD." Authors with strong religious preferences may use "BC-AD," however. | accessdate=2006-09-09}}<br>- {{cite journal | url = http://chass.colostate-pueblo.edu/natrel/pom/pomstyle.html | journal = The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies | title = Contributer Guidelines | quote = All dates should be in the format BCE/CE, unless in quoted material. |accessdate=2007-08-10 | format = {{Dead link|date=June 2008}} &ndash; <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3AContributer+Guidelines&as_publication=The+Pomegranate%3A+The+International+Journal+of+Pagan+Studies&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup> }}<br>- {{cite journal | url = http://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/american_journal_of_philology/guidelines.html | journal = American Journal of Philology | title = Author Guidelines | quote = Eras and dates. The journal prefers B.C.E., C.E. |accessdate=2007-08-10 }}<br>- {{cite web | url = http://www.sagepub.com/journalManuscript.aspx?pid=10754 | journal = Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha | title = Manuscript Submission Guidelines | quote = we prefer BCE, CE |accessdate=2007-08-10 }}<br>- {{cite journal | url = http://www.yorku.ca/topia/docs/styleguide | format = DOC | journal = Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies | title = Style Guide | quote = Please use BCE (Before Current Era) and CE (Current Era) rather than B.C. and A.D. | accessdate=2007-08-10 }}</ref> Even some style guides for Christian churches prefer its use: for example, the Episcopal Diocese ''Maryland Church News''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ang-md.org/mcn/style_guide.pdf | title = Maryland Church News Submission Guide & Style Manual | accessdate=2006-09-09 | work = Maryland Church News | format = PDF | date= 2005-04-01}}</ref> In the [[United States]], the usage of the BCE/CE notation in [[textbook]]s is growing.<ref name="Gormley"/> Some publications have moved over to using it exclusively. For example, the 2007 World Almanac was the first edition to switch over to the BCE/CE usage, ending a 138-year usage of the traditional BC/AD dating system. It is used by the [[College Board]] in its history tests,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/history_world/topic.html?worldhist | title = AP: World History | accessdate=2006-09-09}}</ref> by the [[Norton Anthology of English Literature]], and by the [[United States Naval Observatory]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/calendars.php | title = Introduction to Calendars | accessdate=2006-09-09 | publisher = U. S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department | date= 2004-10-15}}</ref> Others have taken a different approach. The US-based [[History Channel]] uses BCE/CE notation in articles on non-Christian religious topics such as [[Religious significance of Jerusalem#Jerusalem, Jews and Judaism|Jerusalem and Judaism]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=50287&display_order=3&mini_id=1051 | title = Jerusalem Timeline | accessdate=2006-09-09 | publisher = History Channel}};{{cite web | url = http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=992&display_order=2&mini_id=1051 | title = Jerusalem: Biographies | accessdate=2006-09-09 | publisher = History Channel}}</ref> Whereas, in June 2006, the Kentucky State School Board reversed its decision that would have included the designations BCE and CE as part of state law, leaving education of students about these concepts a matter of discretion at the local level.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tffky.org/articles/Press%20Releases/prs%2006-14-06%20MC.html| title = State School Board reverses itself on B.C./A.D. controversy| accessdate=2006-10-04 | publisher = Family Foundation of Kentucky}} </ref><ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.kctcs.edu/todaysnews/index.cfm?tn_date=2006-06-16#5119|title=School board keeps traditional historic designations |author=Joe Biesk|publisher=Louisville Courier-Journal |date=2006-06-15|accessdate=2007-12-13}} </ref><ref> {{cite web |url=http://cpe.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5F08162C-899F-47FE-9367-1DDD82DE74E6/0/6_CommissionerofEdReport.pdf |title=Kentucky Board of Education Report|publisher=Kentucky Board of Education Report|date=2006-07-10|accessdate=2007-12-13 |format=PDF}} </ref> In some formerly [[Communism|Communist]], predominantly Christian societies, the designation ''New Era'' (or ''Our Era'') was encouraged by Communist authorities to replace BC and AD. In [[Bulgaria]], for example, ''пр.н.е.'' (''преди новата ера'', before the new era, or ''преди нашата ера'', before our era) and ''н.е.'' (''от новата ера'', of the new era, or ''от нашата ера'', of our era) are still widely used by atheists/agnostics instead of traditional ''пр.Хр.'' (''преди Христа'', BC) and ''сл.Хр.'' (''след Христа'', after Christ), which were unofficially reinstituted after the Communist period.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Chinese use the term "[[Chinese era name#How the Era System worked|Common Era]] (公元)." ==Arguments for and against usage of CE/BCE notation== A range of arguments have been presented both for and against the use of CE and BCE in place of AD and BC. ===Support=== <!-- PLEASE NOTE: While there are undoubtedly several better arguments than the ones that exist here, for entries to stay here they need to be properly sourced --> Supporters of Common Era notation promote it as a religiously neutral notation suited for cross-cultural communication due to compatibility with [[religious toleration]] and [[religious pluralism]]. '''Arguments for using the Common Era designation include:''' * Use of BCE and CE shows sensitivity to those who agree to use the same calendar, but are not [[Christianity|Christian]].<ref name=RelTolrnc>{{cite web | url = http://www.religioustolerance.org/ceintro.htm | title = Comments on the use of CE and BCE to identify dates in history | accessdate=2008-07-11| publisher = ReligiousTolerance.com}}</ref> * AD and BC have not lost their religious significance, they are not 'neutral'. Many of those arguing to retain the BC/AD abbreviations are doing so for explicit religious reasons. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention resolved, in 2000, to retain the traditional abbreviations as "a reminder of the preeminence of Christ and His gospel in world history."<ref> [http://www.sbcannualmeeting.org/sbc00/Res.asp?ID=1295130456 Southern Baptist Convention 2000, Resolution 9]</ref> * The label ''Anno Domini'' is almost certainly inaccurate; "scholars generally believe that Christ was born some years before A.D. 1, the historical evidence is too sketchy to allow a definitive dating."<ref>{{cite book| last=Doggett| first=L.| chapter=Calendars| title=Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac| year=1992| publisher=University Science Books| location=Sausalito, CA| isbn=0-935702-68-7| editor=P. Kenneth Seidelmann| pages=579}}</ref> * Both BCE and CE are used as suffixes, unlike BC/AD where BC is used as a suffix and AD is used as a prefix or suffix. This can be beneficial for computer usage.<ref name=espenak>{{cite web | url=http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/dates.html | title=Year dating conventions | author=Fred Espenak | publisher=[[NASA]]| accessdate=2008-02-25}}</ref> * "[T]he Christian calendar no longer belongs exclusively to Christians. People of all faiths have taken to using it simply as a matter of convenience. There is so much interaction between people of different faiths and cultures - different civilizations, if you like - that some shared way of reckoning time is a necessity. And so the Christian Era has become the Common Era."<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/News/ossg/sg/stories/articleFull.asp?TID=37 |title=Common values for a common era: Even as we cherish our diversity, we need to discover our shared values |author=Annan, Kofi A., (then Secretary-General of the United Nations) |date=1999-06-28 |accessdate=2007-12-21 |publisher=Civilization: The Magazine of the Library of Congress }}</ref> ===Opposition=== <!-- PLEASE NOTE: While there are undoubtedly several better arguments than the ones that exist here, for entries to stay here they need to be properly sourced --> Efforts to replace AD/BC notation with CE/BCE notation have given rise to opposition. '''Opposition arguments favoring AD/BC include''': * The year-numbering system most widely used in the world is the one based on the supposed year of the Incarnation of Jesus, and removal of all reference to him in the era notation for that system is perceived by some Christians as offensive.<ref> {{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20061202/ai_n16891064 |author=Whitney, Susan |title=Altering history? Changes have some asking 'Before what?' |publisher=The Deseret News |date=2006-12-02 |accessdate=2007-12-13 |quote=I find this attempt to restructure history offensive," Lori Weintz wrote, in a letter to National Geographic publishers.... The forward to your book says B.C. and A.D. were removed so as to 'not impose the standards of one culture on others.'...&nbsp;It's 2006 this year for anyone on Earth that is participating in day-to-day world commerce and communication. Two thousand six years since what? Most people know, regardless of their belief system, and aren't offended by a historical fact. }}</ref> * The alteration of BC/AD to BCE/CE partially effaces an important contribution of Christianity to Western civilization.<ref> {{cite news |url=http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49786 |title=BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS; Kentucky goes P.C. on B.C., A.D.; State board recommends textbooks include secular dating abbreviations |date=2006-04-18 |accessdate=2007-12-13 |publisher=World Daily News |quote=Martin Cothran, senior policy analyst with the [[The Family Foundation of Kentucky|Family Foundation of Kentucky]], opposes the recommendation. "Not only will this lead to confusion on the part of the students, but this is a not-so-subtle way of hiding the substantial influence of religion in the history of Western civilization." }} </ref><ref> Rodriguez, Nancy C. and Peter Smith, "Ky. school board to look at replacing A.D., B.C. in dates", The Courier-Journal, [[April 11]], [[2006]] {{Request quotation|date=December 2007}}</ref>{{Request quotation|date=December 2007}} * It is inconsistent to remove this religious reference and not remove other religiously-derived words such as the day names or month names derived originally from various pagan deities, such as January = [[Janus]]' month, Wednesday = [[Woden]]'s day (or Odin's Day), Thursday = [[Thor]]'s day, Friday = [[Freya]]'s day.<ref name=RelTolrnc/> '''Other arguments opposing the use of CE/BCE include''': <!-- PLEASE NOTE: While there are undoubtedly several better arguments than the ones that exist here, for entries to stay here they need to be properly sourced --> * The BCE/CE promotion distracts from the adoption of the system already used by astronomers, i.e. 0 for 1 BC, -1 for 2 BC, etc., which does resolve this problem and does not use any of the contentious acronyms.<ref>History Today, June 1999, p. 60, Darian Hiles, letter: "Of Dates and Decimals"</ref> *[[Kenneth G. Wilson (author)|Kenneth G. Wilson]] remarks, "If we do end by casting aside the A.D./B.C. convention, almost certainly some will argue that we ought to cast aside as well the conventional numbering system itself, given its Christian basis."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bartleby.com/68/20/120.html|title=The Columbia Guide to Standard American English|year=1993|author=Kenneth G. Wilson|quote=Most conservatives still prefer A.D. and B.C. Best advice: don’t use B.C.E., C.E., or A.C.E. to replace B.C. and A.D. without translating the new terms for the very large number of readers who will not understand them. Note too that if we do end by casting aside the A.D./B.C. convention, almost certainly some will argue that we ought to cast aside as well the conventional numbering system itself, given its Christian basis.|accessdate=2007-12-13}}</ref> * The substitution of BC/AD to BCE/CE is merely a [[euphemism]] that conceals the political implications.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ETOrkt7DeN0C&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=common+era+euphemism&source=web&ots=SD_-W5H1iK&sig=K_4v6oeAJ5htOwJPO4DoGGI883A |title=Investigating Culture: An Experiential Introduction to Anthropology |accessdate=2007-12-19 }} {{cite book |title=Investigating Culture: An Experiential Introduction to Anthropology |pages = p 86 |year=2004 |author=Carol Lowery Delaney |quote = I find CE a euphemism because the common era still begins with Christ's birth and,thus, conceals the political implications. |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |length=441 pages |isbn=0631222375 }} </ref><ref> {{cite web |title=Abraham on Trial: The Social Legacy of Biblical Myth |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=x8woAhT3jKAC&pg=PA267&dq=%22common+era%22+euphemism&ei=P5ZoR6jmE46IswP4nq2-Ag&sig=xVrbcvShT2i2ytyzlSPxfZqtNcw }}{{Cite book |title=Abraham on Trial: The Social Legacy of Biblical Myth |year=1998 |author=Carol Lowery Delaney |pages=p 267 |publisher=Princeton University Press |length=352 pages |isbn=0691070504 }}</ref> * The use of identifiers which have common spellings is more ambiguous than the use of identifiers with divergent spellings. Both C.E. and B.C.E. have in common the letters "C.E.", which is more likely to cause confusion than identifiers with clearly different spelling.<ref name=RelTolrnc/> ==See also== *[[Calendar reform]] *[[Before present]] ==Notes and references== {{reflist|2}} <!--- ==External links== Broken link: *[http://www.ucc.org/ucnews/jan03/asiseeit.htm Whatever happened to B.C. and A.D., and why?] (United Church of Christ) Broken link: *[http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050425-122707-1314r.htm Associated Press: P.C. scholars take Christ out of B.C.] --> {{Time Topics}} {{Chronology}} [[Category:Calendar eras]] [[Category:Chronology]] [[ar:قبل الميلاد]] [[be-x-old:Наша эра]] [[cs:Náš letopočet]] [[de:V. u. Z.]] [[el:Κοινή Χρονολογία (Χρονολόγηση)]] [[es:Nuestra Era]] [[eo:Komuna Erao]] [[fr:Ère commune]] [[it:Era volgare]] [[la:Aera Vulgaris]] [[nl:Gangbare jaartelling]] [[ru:Наша эра]]