The Gregorian calendar, a system originating from Western Christian traditions, has become the global standard for time measurement. Its reach extends beyond religious and cultural boundaries, used worldwide to mark dates. Most people know that this calendar is anchored to the presumed birth year of Jesus Christ. Years following are denoted with AD or CE, counting upwards from that point, while preceding years, counting down, are marked BC or BCE. But what exactly distinguishes BC from BCE, and AD from CE? Are they interchangeable, and if not, which should we use? This article will clarify these dating systems, focusing on understanding What Is Bce and its significance.
Decoding BCE and CE: Common Era Explained
The practice of numbering years from the birth of Jesus Christ was initially proposed in 525 AD by Dionysius Exiguus, a Christian monk. This system, formalized under the Julian and Gregorian calendars, gained traction throughout Europe and the Christian world over 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.”
In contrast, CE stands for “Common Era” (or sometimes “Current Era”), and BCE represents “Before the Common Era” (or “Before Current Era”). These abbreviations are more recent than BC and AD, emerging in the early 18th century. Jewish academics adopted them widely over a century ago, and their usage became more prevalent in the latter half of the 20th century, gradually replacing BC/AD in various fields, notably in scientific and academic contexts.
BCE vs. BC: Why the Shift?
A primary driver for the adoption of BCE/CE is the principle of religious neutrality. As the Gregorian calendar became the dominant international dating system, individuals from non-Christian backgrounds sometimes found the explicitly Christian connotations of BC and AD objectionable. The term AD, specifically “in the year of the Lord,” directly implies that the “Lord” being referenced is Jesus Christ, which can be particularly sensitive for those of different faiths.
Religious neutrality was a key motivation for Jewish scholars when they began using BCE/CE over a century ago. It remains the most frequently cited justification for preferring this system. Furthermore, some argue against the BC/AD system due to its historical inaccuracy. Scholarly consensus indicates that Jesus was likely born at least two years prior to AD 1. Therefore, linking years directly to a potentially inaccurate birthdate of Jesus is seen by some as arbitrary or even misleading. BCE/CE sidesteps this issue as it avoids explicit reference to Jesus’s birth, thus removing some of the inherent religious baggage associated with the dating system, while still acknowledging the conventional starting point at 1 CE.
The Controversy and Acceptance of BCE
Despite its increasing use since the 1980s, the shift towards BCE/CE has not been universally welcomed. BC/AD remains more widely used in many contexts. There have been notable instances of backlash against adopting the newer system. For example, in 2002, the UK National Curriculum’s transition to BCE/CE faced significant opposition. Similarly, in 2011, Australian education authorities had to publicly refute claims of planned changes to national school textbooks amidst media-fueled controversy regarding the dating system.
Much of the resistance stems from the perception that adopting BCE/CE is an attempt to diminish the historical significance of Jesus Christ. Critics argue that the Gregorian calendar itself is rooted in Christian tradition, so attempts to obscure this fact are unnecessary. Others question the need to replace a long-established and functional system, suggesting that introducing two sets of abbreviations could lead to confusion.
Conversely, some have argued that BCE/CE is ironically less religiously inclusive than BC/AD. This perspective suggests that by designating Christ’s birth year as the start of a “common era,” BCE/CE inadvertently elevates its importance, whereas BC/AD is simply a direct reference to the event without claiming it as the epoch’s beginning.
Using BCE and CE: Style and Guidelines
Currently, most style guides do not express a definitive preference between BC/AD and BCE/CE. BC/AD is still more common in journalistic writing, while BCE/CE tends to be favored in academic and scientific publications. Given the valid arguments for both systems and their continued usage, neither is definitively recommended over the other. Writers can choose based on personal preference or audience context, but consistency is crucial. Mixing systems (e.g., using BC and CE together) should be avoided. There are also established typographical conventions to follow:
- BC follows the year number, while AD precedes it.
Example: 1100 BC, AD 1066
- BCE and CE both follow the year number.
Example: 1100 BCE, 1066 CE
- Periods are optional after each letter in the abbreviation.
Example: 1100 B.C., A.D. 1066, 1100 B.C.E., 1066 C.E.
- Some style guides recommend using small caps for BC, AD, BCE, and CE.
Example: AD 2023
In many cases, specifying BCE/CE or BC/AD is unnecessary. Outside of historical contexts, the era is generally understood to be CE (or AD) when not explicitly stated. Dates within recent centuries are often written without era markers.
Ultimately, understanding what is BCE is about recognizing it as a religiously neutral alternative to BC, both serving to denote years before the Common Era. Both BCE/CE and BC/AD are valid systems, and the choice often depends on context and intended audience. The most important aspect is to use the chosen system consistently and understand its purpose in historical dating.
This article was prepared by content creators at what.edu.vn.
