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This might be too controversial for this forum, but what do ya’ll think about switching from BC/AD to BCE/CE? I’m trying to keep an open mind, but it seems like a waste of time to me. Also, what is "common" supposed to mean and why would it start the same year that Jesus was born?
BCE/CE is mainly used in academia, certainly in archaeology.
I'm fine with it but I use BC/AD in everyday conversation, after all, the Christian worldview is dominant in Western society. Everyone, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, atheist, etc. understands it.
The use of the word 'common' is to refer to the manner of reckoning time that is 'commonly agreed upon'.
ABQ - that is a good answer. Still, seems like it would be easier just to drop the “AD” if that is a problem for the individual. Nice to know that we can all agree on something, though.
BCE/CE is mainly used in academia, certainly in archaeology.
I'm fine with it but I use BC/AD in everyday conversation, after all, the Christian worldview is dominant in Western society. Everyone, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, atheist, etc. understands it.
The use of the word 'common' is to refer to the manner of reckoning time that is 'commonly agreed upon'.
Jews do NOT use BC or AD....... It is Christian pure and simple.......
Personally, I think it's a waste of time and just makes things more confusing. I kinda understand them changing A.D., but I prefer B.C. over B.C.E., because it's honest about what is used to determine the "common era".
CE/BCE is standard in academic history, archaeology etc.
Why would anyone use "before christ" to describe the history of peoples to whom christ was either rejected, or unknown? Its kind of silly.
I make it a habit of using CE/BCE.
I dont get offended if someone uses BC/AD out of ignorance. I also dont mind their use in discussing specifically the history of christian peoples.
When someone who knows better makes a point of using BC/AD for the history of non-christians, or someone makes a stink about not liking the use of BCE/CE, I tend to think they have some kind of agenda, and it tends to alienate me.
The point at which mankind started keeping track of time in a manner that was universally accepted was a completely random event and had nothing whatsoever to do with the birth of Christ. No one is able to document that Christ ever even existed let alone that his date of birth (which is also unknown) was when everybody decided to syncronize their watches (oh wait, they didn't have any) and calendars and to universally declare that this was the first year. Also, the only reason that we refer to a date as BC is because we're referring to a time in which the concept of adopting a system of tracking the passing of the years in order to create a historical record of events had never been thought of.
The point at which mankind started keeping track of time in a manner that was universally accepted was a completely random event and had nothing whatsoever to do with the birth of Christ. No one is able to document that Christ ever even existed let alone that his date of birth (which is also unknown) was when everybody decided to syncronize their watches (oh wait, they didn't have any) and calendars and to universally declare that this was the first year. Also, the only reason that we refer to a date as BC is because we're referring to a time in which the concept of adopting a system of tracking the passing of the years in order to create a historical record of events had never been thought of.
No matter how often I try to reiterate that they did not deal with time linearly as we do . . . it fails to be understood, Montana. We are so deeply conditioned to time it is an impermeable gestalt that colors every aspect of our thoughts and reason as "given in the inner consciousness" . . . it just is the way it is for everyone . . . "naturally."
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