Common Era

The Common Era (CE), also known as the Current Era and sometimes the Christian Era, is the period beginning with the year 1 onwards. The term is used for a system of reckoning years that is chronologically equivalent to the anno Domini (AD) (Latin for "in the year of Lord") system, but with less overt religious implications. Although common era was a term first used by some Christians in an age when Christianity was the common religion of the West, it is now a term preferred by some as a religiously neutral alternative. It has its equivalents in other languages. For example, Chinese uses its literal translation, g?ngyuán (??), for date notation.

External links

Usage

• Chicago Manual of Style on usage of CE/AD in the United States (see eleventh question)

Commentary

• Whatever happened to B.C. and A.D., and why? (United Church of Christ)
• The use of "CE" and "BCE" to identify dates (Religious Tolerance.org)
• Political correctness advocates rail against the Western calendar (Global Language Monitor, second article)
• The 'Common Era' - a Secular Term for Year Definition (h2g2 - BBC)

Controversy over use in schools

United Kingdom

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• AD and BC become CE/BCE, Evening Standard, 19 February 2002
• History has to be rewritten as school bans BC and AD, News.Telegraph, 13 December 2002

Australia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Before Christ replaced in books, The Courier-Mail, 2 March 2005
• NSW Govt accused of rewriting history over BC ban, ABC, 2 March 2005
• Before Common Era Use in Schools - Question in New South Wales Legislative Council, 2 March 2005
• Comment in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 2 March 2005