What is the Difference Between AD, BC, BCE, and CE in Identifying Historical Dates?
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In one respect, there really is no difference between an AD/BC and BCE/CE system when it comes to historical dates. The year 23 AD is exactly the same as the year 23 CE, and 4004 BC is also 4004 BCE. References to historical dates under either classification shouldn't create confusion in a researcher's mind. Major historical dates such as 1492 AD, 1776 AD or 1941 AD would still be rendered as 1492 CE, 1776 CE and 1941 CE.
The AD/BC method of identifying historical dates can be traced back to Catholic historians working in the early Middle Ages. Identifying historical dates until that point was often a complicated proposition, since different historians worked under different calendars. A Roman historian such as Josephus would have used the Roman AUD notation, in which Year Zero was the largely symbolic founding of Rome. Converting historical dates to the standard Gregorian calendar would not have been easy. Using the birth of Jesus Christ as a central point made more sense to the religious historians.
The term BC is short for "Before Christ". Historical dates before the birth of Christ become smaller as they approach the theoretical but non-existent Year Zero. Historical dates after the birth of Christ are classified as AD, short for the Latin phrase Anno Domini, or "in the year of our Lord". Contrary to popular belief, AD does not stand for "After Death". The BC/AD system for identifying historical dates has been in continuous use ever since the earliest part of the Middle Ages, at least.
Several centuries after the AD/BC identification of historical dates became popular, a new movement developed among scientists, historians and some religious leaders. The time following the birth of Christ was now referred to as the "Vulgar Era" in some circles. The meaning of the word vulgar actually meant 'common' at that time, not distasteful or obscene. Eventually many areas of the Western world adopted the less Christ-centered term "Common Era". Historical dates occurring before the year 1 CE would be considered BCE, short for "Before Common Era".
The relatively new BCE/CE reference for historical dates has had its share of supporters and critics. Critics view the new system as an attempt to remove the religious significance inherent in the BC/AD system. The BCE/CE method of assigning historical dates also fails to fix the BC/AD system's lack of a practical Year Zero. Modern scholars believe the actual birth of Christ would fall around 7 to 4 BC, which renders the actual year of 1 AD relatively meaningless historically.
Supporters of the BCE/CE method of identifying historical dates say the removal of Christian references works as a bridge between different religions and cultures. The BC/AD system appears to endorse Jesus Christ as the superior world religious figure, which could be viewed as disrespectful of other religions and belief structures. Although the birth of Christ is still used as a reference in the BCE/CE system, the Christian influence is not as apparent.
Some have argued that the religious significance of the BC/AD method has already been largely forgotten, so the need for change is not readily apparent. The use of BCE/CE is still quite limited, although some experts see it becoming the dominant means of identifying historical dates within a century or two.
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BCE = Before Christ Existed...
Ha! Christianity still wins! - anon33291
how can you convert:
bc into ad? bce into ce? ad into bce? be into ce? - anon32310
2009 is Anno Domini; the Christian way of counting the years.
2009 of Common Era is a fascist method of actually *forcing* other religions to adopt Christianity by using the "*common*" term! - anon32206
Wow, I can't believe most of you people. Removing Christianity from the world? You've *got* to be kidding me!
If you want to be Christian, then be Christian and stop harassing other people and criticizing their religions. Who knows what is right. Are you saying that you know all that God knows? The bigger point is this: is it killing anyone to refer to the 7th century AD as the 7th century CE? No. I can't believe that a change in recording historic dates is frustrating you all so much. It is quite obvious that most of you know nothing of history. If you did, your eyes would be much more open. Our country is engulfed in the ways of close-minded Christians so this demonic change is nothing compared to what other religions have to face in the US. The Bible teaches to love and respect. So if you really are Christian, respect others! - anon32092
If the reason for removing the term AD/BC in historical dates is to respect other *religions* and cultures, then how does *before common era* show respect to *Muslims*!?
- anon30647
Rosh Hashanah is in honor of our Father God and is required by some. God Bless You, God Loves You.
- jleigh1054
According to Hunter Miller's notes, "the Barlow translation is at best a poor attempt at a paraphrase or summary of the sense of the Arabic" and "Article 11... does not exist at all."[15]
- jleigh1054
BCE has to do with anti-Christianity.
Anything that wants to remove respectful recognition of God, *is* *anti-Christianity*, and leaves our children with less and less examples of "it is the right thing to do", by our country. We are to teach others about God. Not throw God out the window for someone else's god. - jleigh1054
I just received a book published 2009 The Art of Being Human for a humanities class and they use B.C.E. Americans and/or Christians need to start thinking globally instead of as the one almighty. We don't use a Buddhist calendar, or the Chinese, or the Muslem's.
- anon28428
Thanks for the explanation pertaining to the difference. I am doing research that deals with thousands of years of history and some researchers use bc/ad while others use bce/ce. This provided very clear and useful information for me. I can make up my own mind as to which I prefer to us when writing my dissertation.
- anon28054
The Bible says that the love of money, not money itself, is the root of all evil. "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. 6:10) It is appropriate to have "In God We Trust" on our money to show that the Lord is the source of all our liberty and prosperity. As for Christians forcing things on others -- if people don't like the person whose birthday is being celebrated, they don't need to eat his cake and open his presents. As for being offended by Christians, who pray in public, why are they offended? Is it because they are ungrateful to the One who has shown them everlasting kindness and are uncomfortable to see others thanking the Lord for all he does for them? If they are so offended at the Lord, they should stop walking on his planet, eating his food, and breathing his air.
- aes7878
Being "offended" at the Lord is a disease that
likes to hide under the guise of "tolerance." Ingratitude is ingratitude. Nobody likes to keep giving things to those who are unthankful, and neither does the Lord. Those who truly honor the Lord are the ones who are allowing his blessings to come upon this nation. "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." (Matt. 11:6) - aes7878
I don't understand why everyone, Christian Claimants, feel the need to force their beliefs and views of Christianity on the world. As a Christian myself, I am aware that God and God alone is the one to judge. No one here knows who or what is correct and right as you were not around during the times of Jesus to know. All you have is a basis from a book, The Bible, which has been translated so many times, who knows what the true Bible really says. Doesn't common sense and history tell you that stories are passed down through time and everyone is guilty of adding and taking away from what was originally intended to be the main focus. The main focus being, believe in God the Creator of all, believe that God sent his only Son to teach his good word and die for our sins in which all one needs is to have faith and believe that this happened. America has fallen so far away from the basic principles of God's word which are the 10 Commandments and which in essence say "be a good person, treat *everyone* as you would want to be treated, Love *everyone* regardless of their shortcomings.....Take a moment and sit back, think about America "The Great" and think about how far from God we've fallen...Everything this country stands for is Evil, Money, Greed; Everything has to be bigger and better than everyone else. Do you really think God is happy about us being this way? Do you really think God is happy about putting his name on money which is the root of all evil according to the Bible? Before anyone can comment or complain on the simple meaning of initials, AD/BC - CE/BCE, sit and think about what your place is in God's greater scheme of things and what you can do to better yourself and not focus so much on the minute speckle of dust that you are in this huge universe of God's creation. I think that a lot of people have a huge misunderstanding of the word and meaning of Christianity and need to read a little more before knocking anyone else's faith and beliefs. Realize *you* and *you* alone answer for your own sins, not Me answering for yours and you for mine. I know where my place is in this world and where my place is with God, Do you truly know yours?
- anon27626
Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart 'there is no God'". Yes folks, this IS yet another attempt to remove God and Jesus Christ from our world dialog. I just have one question for my fellow Christians--How come the only voices that are heard today are the voices of those who are anti-God, anti-decency, anti-freedom, and anti-America? Why are we allowing our beliefs to be gradually eliminated while a small yet vocal minority continues to successfully remove all that is good, pure, and decent and replace them with perversion, lies, hatred, and fascism. Jesus Christ came to save all mankind from Hell. How can you hate and be against someone who loved you enough that he sent his only son to die for you? (John 3:16) These people who say that the system of BCE/CE is not anti-Christ are either drinking the kool-aid, clueless, or they are outright liars themselves. In an effort to "not offend anyone," we are selling our souls to Satan.
I find it interesting that every time a scientist tries to prove there is no God, he/she always ends up proving the existence of God!
- anon25246
In short it is George Orwell 1984 and NWO.
Next will be Fahrenheit 451. Then Animal Farm Then Soylent Green Finally Planet of Ape's As documented in the Old and New Testament, the end will be AD. Thy Will Be Done.... - anon24137
I just have to say that the Declaration of Independence clearly states: "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." Note that the founding fathers are RELYING on the protection of God. This is not the statement of someone who thinks God will not act on his behalf. Not only did the founding fathers of this nation believe in God (who is Jesus Christ), but they relied on his help to rescue them out of the hand of the oppressor, just as the Israelites relied on him to deliver them from the Egyptians. Let me ask you ... England was the power of the day. How then, did the Americans gain the victory? It was through the divine providence of their God, Jesus Christ, in answer to their prayers. It is supremely ungrateful to accept the Lord's help and then turn your back on him after he has delivered you. All those who claim this is not a Christian nation are despising their deliverer who granted them liberty and justice.
- aes7878
I find it frustrating how misunderstood the founding of our country is today. The founding fathers took special care to NOT make the U.S. a "Christian" nation. Most of the founders were deists, in that they believed the universe had a creator, but one that does not concern himself with the daily lives of humans and does not directly intervene in human affairs (creator is essentially nature). In the 1796 treaty w/ Triploi, Article 11 clearly states the the U.S. is " is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion". This was written under Washington and signed under Adams. The U.S. was founded to be friendly and open to ALL religions and even those who (GASP) chose to not believe in a supernatural being.
- anon23657
Pure and simple: BC Means--before Christ-no matter how you want to delude it --!!! Only those who are afraid of a higher being (Jesus Christ) are the ones who can not except that they can not save themselves. Only Jesus Christ gave his life for their misguided ways! DJG
- anon21545
OK, so now when I see a piece of art work dated 250 BCE, I can just assume they mean 250 Before Christ. Or if an event in history happened in 1500 AD, I and assume this was after Christ's death. I'll still refer to Christ regardless since I'm not offended by his existence.
- anon20204
I don't care either way if it is about removing Christ or not. To me, its just confusing. I had to look this up online right now because my Early World Civilizations class uses a book that has the newer BCE/CE in it and I was getting confused. Further more, if you are gonna change something, then change it. This darn book is using both BCE and BC on the same page. And not just once, a bunch of times in just the Preface of the book alone. I can't imagine how confused I'm gonna get with dates now.
- anon18958
anon17239 for your info you dont get days off for rosh hashanah christmas break was changed to winter break for obvious reasons mainly being there are more than christmas during this time. america was not founded on christian beliefs we are entitled to our own religion and if were worried about offending other religions than why pick rosh hashanah?
- anon17654
I absolutely feel that this is simply another way to remove Christianity from the playing field. I just came back from a trip to Washington D.C. and got to see for my own eyes that our founding fathers were Christians! "We are endowed by our CREATOR with certain inalienable rights..."(The Declaration of Independence) "GOD who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of GOD? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that GOD is just. That his justice cannot sleep forever."(Inside the Thomas Jefferson Memorial) "Almighty GOD hath created...[he is] the holy author of our religion..." (Inside the Thomas Jefferson Memorial) America has been very blessed by God in our short period of existence but one has only to look at history to know the future of a country who forsakes God. The bible states that "...when the righteous are in power the people rejoice but when the wicked rule the people mourn." As Christians we need to make our voices heard in this election year! Just as Esther, we have been placed here for such a time as this!
- txgypsyrose
In the Koran, Christ IS recognized as one of the prophets.
No need to get so worked up about the CE/BCE system, it wasn't some new invention from White Americans, it was invented "Several centuries after the AD/BC identification of historical dates became popular, a new movement developed among scientists, historians and some religious leaders." - anon17537
This really is just yet another way to remove Christianity from plain view in this country, isn't it? I didn't encounter this "B.C.E." thing until my Humanities class yesterday, and it made me sick. But not surprised, sadly. This country was founded on Christian beliefs and now we are trying to erase any signs of it. I wish it wasn't happening, but it is. Slowly, but surely. God has blessed America. It's time for America to bless God now.
- anon17426
i believe the term BCE is just another way to omit Christ in society. i first encountered this abbreviation in my childs public school planner, i had to "google" it in order to find out the definition of it. we can celebrate Rosh Hashanah, and call it just that, however Christmas break is now "winter break" and Before Christ is Before Common Era. as Americans we are always worried about offending other religions when this country was founded on Christian beliefs.
- anon17239
Changing the classification of dates still does *not* change the fact that they are measured by the birth of Christ. So why is it a good idea to call it something other than what it really is?
- anon16915
Why would anyone get offended by suffixes after a date? The only people I've ever heard complain about them are white Americans. Haven't really heard any Jews, Muslims or any other ethnic/religious groups get so defensive.
- anon14860
I do believe this is another way to reduce the Christian influence and put all the religions on the same plain. If we have used BC/AD since the Middle Ages, why the need to change it now?? I hear it a lot on the History channel and it really "bugs" me. Christ was and is a central religious figure as well as Mohammed, and the others. If we recognize them why can't they recognize Christ???
- anon13997
Ah, this isn't new you know. It's been around since the 1600s. Someone just wants some press.
- anon9456
It absolutely has everything to do with taking Christianity out of everything. The world wants to accept everyone so badly that they are willing to shove Christianity down the drain to do so. Thereby doing the exact opposite of what they claim to want. Bottom line, they need to get Saved.
- anon6578
Do you think that the change to BCE has to do with the wave of anti-Christianity that seems to be sweeping the American media and American academia?
- anon6567
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