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Controversy over the use of the
"CE/BCE" and "AD/BC" dating notation

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Overview:

Unfortunately, "CE" has two unrelated meanings. One is "CE Marking" which is a compulsory marking found on many products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA).

"CE" found in this web site refers to the other meaning, the "Common Era." This meaning for "CE" is a synonym for "AD." The latter is an abbreviation for "Anno Domini" in Latin or "the year of the Lord" in English. Both measure the number of years since the approximate birthday of Yeshua of Nazareth (a.k.a. Jesus Christ) a little over two millennia ago. CE and AD have the same value. That is 1 CE = 1 AD, and 2016 CE = 2016 AD. The word "common" simply means that it is based on the most frequently used calendar system: the Gregorian Calendar.

BCE stands for "Before the common era." BC means "Before Christ," or "Before the Messiah." Both measure the number of years before the approximate birthday of Yeshua/Jesus. Designation of a particular year in BC and BCE also have identical values. For example, Yeshua is believed to have been born circa 4 to 7 BCE, (a.k.a. 4 to 7 BC).

Many people assume that Yeshua/Jesus was born a few days before the end of December, during 1 BCE. However, most theologians and religious historians estimate that Jesus was born in the fall of some year between 7 and 4 BCE. We have seen estimates as late as 4 CE and as early as the second century BCE. The fall date is reasonably firm, because the birth of John the Baptizer (a.k.a. John the Baptist) is known accurately from the transitions among the chief priests in the Jeruaslam Temple as mentioned in the Bible. The birth of Jesus is known approximately relative to his cousin John's birth.

Of course, one has the option of interpreting the letter "C" in CE and BCE as referring to "Christian" or "Christ's," in place of "common." "CE" then becomes "Christian Era." "BCE" becomes "Before the Christian Era." The Abbreviations Dictionary does exactly this. ₁ The "C" has also been interpreted as "Current."

Topics covered in this section:

Introduction: Groups in favor and opposed to CE/BCE. Visitors' comments. Our decision

	Religious calendars. Meaning of 1 BCE & 1 AD. History of the AD/BC & CE/BCE notation
	Justification for the use of CE/BCE. Trends

References:

The following information source was used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlink is not necessarily still active today.

1. R.S. Wachal, "Abbreviations Dictionary: A Practical Compilation of Today's Acronyms and Abbreviations," Houghton Mifflin, (1999). Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store

Copyright © 1999 to 2016 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2018-JUN-04
Author: B.A. Robinson