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.

Usage

Jewish and Christian scholars have developed the BCE/CE terms for the benefit of cross-cultural dialogue.http://www.torontoareamennonites.ca/danforth/dmc_notes/witmer10.htm. Some Islamic scholars and others outside the Judeo-Christian religious traditions have used the system. Some Christians have used the term CE to mean 'Christian era'. Many non-religious academics in the fields of history, theology, archaeology and anthropology have also in recent decades begun using the system.

Related Topics:
Judeo-Christian - History - Theology - Archaeology - Anthropology

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More visible uses of common era notation have recently surfaced at major museums in the English-speaking world: Canada's Royal Ontario Museum adopted BCE/CE in 2002 http://www.rom.on.ca/ossuary/ossuary_intro.html, and the Smithsonian Institution also prefers common era usage, though individual museums are not required to use it.http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/field_trips/standards/world_history_standards.html As well, many style guides now prefer or mandate its usage. http://www.egyptstudy.org/OstraconGuidelines.htmlhttp://chass.colostate-pueblo.edu/natrel/pom/pomstyle.htmlhttp://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/american_journal_of_philology/guidelines.htmlhttp://www.sagepub.com/journalManuscript.aspx?pid=10754http://www.yorku.ca/topia/docs/styleguide Some style guides for Christian churches even mandate its use; for example, that of Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.(pdf)

Related Topics:
Royal Ontario Museum - Smithsonian Institution - Episcopal

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