The Gregorian calendar serves as the global standard for time measurement. Originating from Western Christian tradition, its use has expanded globally, transcending religious, cultural, and linguistic boundaries.
As widely recognized, the Gregorian calendar is structured around the presumed birth year of Jesus Christ. Years following this event are counted upwards, denoted by AD or CE, while preceding years count down, marked as BC or BCE.
But what exactly distinguishes AD from CE, or BC from BCE? Do these pairs signify the same periods, and if so, which designations are preferable? This article aims to clarify these dating systems.
Decoding AD and BC: A Christian Foundation
The concept of numbering years from the birth of Jesus Christ was initially proposed in 525 AD by Dionysius Exiguus, a Christian monk. Standardized under the Julian and Gregorian calendars, this system gradually spread throughout Europe and the Christian world in the subsequent centuries. AD stands for Anno Domini, a Latin phrase translating to “in the year of the Lord,” while BC is an abbreviation for “before Christ.”
Exploring CE and BCE: A Neutral Perspective
CE represents “Common Era” or “Current Era,” and BCE stands for “Before the Common Era” or “Before the Current Era.” These abbreviations are more recent than BC and AD, emerging at least by the early 18th century. They gained traction among Jewish academics over a century ago and became more broadly adopted in the latter half of the 20th century, replacing BC/AD in several fields, particularly in science and academia.
Why Choose BCE/CE? Religious Neutrality and Accuracy
A key motivation for adopting BCE/CE is to achieve religious neutrality. Given the Gregorian calendar’s global dominance, individuals from non-Christian backgrounds may find the explicitly Christian basis of BC and AD objectionable. AD, in particular, with its meaning “in the year of the Lord,” directly implies Jesus Christ as the Lord, which can be a sensitive point for those of different faiths.
Religious neutrality was a primary reason for Jewish scholars to adopt BCE/CE and remains the most commonly cited justification. Additionally, some argue against the BC/AD system due to historical inaccuracies. It’s widely accepted that Jesus was likely born at least two years before AD 1. Therefore, linking years directly to a potentially incorrect birthdate of Jesus is seen as arbitrary or misleading. BCE/CE avoids this issue as it doesn’t explicitly reference Jesus’s birth, thus sidestepping some of the inherent baggage associated with the traditional dating system while still acknowledging the conventional starting point at 1 CE.
The Ongoing Debate: Pushback and Perspectives
The shift towards BCE/CE hasn’t been universally embraced, and BC/AD remains more prevalent, even though BCE/CE has been in mainstream use since the 1980s. Reactions against the adoption of BCE/CE, in favor of BC/AD, have occurred, notably in 2002 when the UK National Curriculum transitioned to CE/BCE. In 2011, Australian education authorities had to refute claims of planned changes to national school textbooks amidst similar controversy fueled by media reports.
Resistance is often strongest among those who perceive the adoption of BCE/CE as an attempt to erase the Christian influence from history. They contend that the Gregorian Calendar is inherently Christian, so attempts to conceal this fact are unnecessary. Others question the need to replace a well-established and functional system, arguing that the existence of two sets of abbreviations could create confusion.
Conversely, some argue that BCE/CE is paradoxically less religiously inclusive than BC/AD. They suggest that BCE/CE elevates the significance of Christ’s birth by marking the start of a new “common era,” whereas BC/AD is simply a direct reference to the event itself.
Navigating the Systems: Usage and Style Guide Recommendations
Most style guides do not express a definitive preference for either system, although BC/AD is still more common in journalistic contexts. Conversely, academic and scientific texts often favor BCE/CE. Given the valid arguments for both and their regular usage, neither system is officially recommended over the other. Writers are generally free to choose based on personal preference or audience consideration, but consistency is crucial. Mixing BC with CE or AD with BCE should be avoided. There are also specific typographical conventions to consider:
- BC is placed after the year number, while AD precedes it.
1100 BC, AD 1066
- BCE and CE are both positioned after the year number.
1100 BCE, 1066 CE
- As with many initialisms, periods are optional after each letter.
1100 B.C., A.D. 1066, 1100 B.C.E., 1066 C.E.
- Some style guides suggest using small caps for BC, AD, BCE, and CE.
AD 2024
Often, the choice is unnecessary. The BCE/CE (or BC/AD) distinction is typically only needed in historical contexts. It is generally understood that an unspecified year within the last few centuries is CE (or AD). Thus, dates within recent centuries are rarely marked with CE (or AD).
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