Ce

The Common Era (CE) is a literal translation of English-speaking better known as AD. This is one of the names of the system used to record the years since the supposed date of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth , which makes no reference to any religion, unlike the expression of the Christian era. Year 1 corresponds to the year 753 of Rome, Ab Urbe condita. The abbreviation "EC" has the same meaning as "AD".

Although the term "Common Era" was used by Christians at a time when Christianity was the dominant Western religion, it is currently preferred by some authors, who believe it does not force the reader and the writer to accept the 'Christian hegemony and recognizes the existence of people of non-Christian faith. Others regard it as a euphemism or a superfluous attempt to politically correct , since the pivotal year (year one ) is always centered on the birth of Jesus. The terms "BCE" and "AD" are commonly used but does not know shorthand.

In France, the abbreviation "AD. AD is considered the conventional standard, reflecting the views of the majority or the dominant view of a group politically, economically or culturally dominant. Many believe it is the only standard used in French, sometimes with his Latin variant "AD" (anno Domini). Others argue the contrary, using the abbreviation "CE", because they believe it contributes to respect the neutrality and openness to the other. Using this nomenclature the first man walked on the moon during the year 1969 of the Common Era and the French Revolution began in 1789 CE. On rare occasions, we may also find the letters "EV" instead of "EC". This notation comes from "Era Vulgaris", "Common Era".

In English, the years before the Common Era to note BCE (Before Common Era for). The abbreviations are noted behind the year in question. Thus, Aristotle was born in 384 BCE (or 384 BC.) and Genghis Khan died in 1227 CE (or 1227 AD.). As for anno Domini, the year 0 is not used, except for uses astronomical. 1 EC is therefore immediately preceded in the sequence by the year 1 BCE.

Other countries have equivalent abbreviations: for example, since the People's Republic of China ended the era of the Republic of China in 1949 , the Chinese language uses the literal translation of "Common Era", Gongyuan () for its dating.

An alternative notation most recent BP Before Present English, translated BP and counting backwards from the year 1950 of the Gregorian calendar.

Origins

The numbering of years from the supposed date of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth was founded in 525 by the monk Dionysius Exiguus who named Anno Domini. Two centuries later, the Anglo-Saxon historian Bede used the Latin word ante Incarnationis Dominicae (which is close to the BC French or English Before Christ "BC") to appoint the years before the first year period.

According to Peter Daniels (linguist confirmed at the Cornell University and the University of Chicago ):

The CE and BCE notation English began to be used in recent years probably early in the study circles on the ancient Near East where:

• many students are Jewish ;
• dating from the Christian era is irrelevant.

It's actually a question of sensitivity.

Anyway, the term "common era" has already been used in the past. Thus in 1716, in his book Hypomnemata, Bishop of Worcester John Prideaux wrote "The vulgar era, by which we count the years since His incarnation ...." In 1835 in his book Living Oracles, Alexander Campbell wrote "the common era or Anno Domini, the fourth year of Jesus Christ, the first of only eight days ...". Similarly to the input "timeline", the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1908 uses the phrase: "The most used of them Usage

Some Jewish scholars and Muslim and other non-culture Judeo-Christian used this notation. Some Christians have also used the notation EC to mean "Christian era" (Christian Era). The Jehovah's Witnesses use in all publications and explained that it was more appropriate than the ratings BC or AD Av Many non-religious scholars in the fields of history, theology, of archeology and anthropology have adopted this system in recent years.

A more visible use of the concept of common era: its use in major museums throughout the English speaking world. The Smithsonian Institution also preferred the use of the common era, although the museums or galleries connected to the institution are not forced to apply . Even some Christian churches guides use .

The use of BCE / CE is also growing in the literary treatment. It is used by the College Board (American institution providing standardized tests to nearly 4,500 institutions of higher education), in its test history. The notation is also used by the National Geographic Society and the United States Naval Observatory .

American History Channel ( History Channel ) also uses the notation in her subjects on topics not specifically related to Christianity as the religious importance of Jerusalem in Judaism and scoring English BC / AD in other cases .

Supporters

Supporters of the rating the EC put forward because it is religiously neutral and thus suitable for use in a multicultural context and / or religious.

Among the arguments in favor of the CE marking are:

• Western calendar has become a global standard (present in all computers). It should be religiously and culturally neutral consideration for the use of crop constraints .
• this system has been widely used by communities of researchers and scholars for almost a century: this is not a dating system which is unfamiliar.
• dating the years on a Christian theological system might be the cultural divider when used on a global scale. Appoint the days and months with reference to the Roman religion, or Norse mythology presents few problems because both religions have virtually disappeared. All users are on an equal footing. No alternative system of naming days and months is particularly used. In addition, the names of weekdays are derived from names of planets and other celestial objects, and four months are named after their numbering. People may freely appoint the days and months with names that are unique to their cultures (and do) but the years are just numbers and it is easier to make them less culturally specific .

• If we continue thinking about naming days of the week "Wednesday" "no longer implies a reverence to the god Mercury (as in English" Wednesday "day traditionally devoted to Odin has no religious basis). Also called a planet Jupiter does not mean that they worship the Roman god nor even consider him a deity. In contrast the meanings of Ap and Av-JC-JC are such that they imply the acceptance Jesus Christ as God incarnate. To say "today is Wednesday" does not mean we consider Mercury as a god. But to say "we are in 2006 Ap-JC" really wants to say 'c' 2006 is the year of the reign of Jesus "(AD).
• Use of this highlights the ecumenical especially as "Christian Era" (BCE) is interchangeable in scoring EC.
• It is easy to replace the scoring by scoring Ap-JC/Av-Jc EC / ECB because the numbering of years is exactly the same in both systems (33Av-JC is 33 BCE). There is no need to convert years.
• The use of "Anno Domini" is, however, it seems wrong, the birth of Jesus of Nazareth has probably occurred in 4 BC-Av (ECB therefore), the year of the death of Herod the Great.
• The force with which some Christians are opposed to the passage of classical notations BCE / CE indicates that while some provide the opposite notation Av-JC/Ap-JC is not devoid of "religious connotations".
• Common Era notation is possible with Anno Domini then ages (which applies to years and not a period) is it impossible. ("In the ^eighteenth century of the Common Era "is acceptable but not" in the ^eighteenth century in the year of grace ")

Critics

Efforts to apply the scoring CE / BCE led to an opposition strong enough sometimes. Among the arguments advanced by critics include:

• The term "Common Era is seen as a euphemism for the term Anno Domini , Encarta gives as definition of "Christian Era (or common): the period extending after the birth of Jesus Christ" and use the notation Av- JC Ap-JC in his articles (and AD / BC for the English version) .

• BC-AD and Ap-AD are used for a very long time and have become somewhat generic terms, having lost their religious content.
• Scoring BCE / CE is still not widespread and is understood by all.
• "BCE" and "E" are very similar and may be confusing to readers. Change the rating is likely to confuse the public benefit of a minority.

• Some complain that the system of the Common Era to select as first reference year of Christ's birth ^References
  1. (en) Submission Guidelines for The Ostracon egyptstudy.org it. (In) "Historical Context" on-chass.colostate pueblo.edu , (in) Guidelines of the American Journal of Philology (in) Manuscript submission guidelines are sagepub.com , Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies, Style Guideline
  2. This example deals with churches Anglican Diocese of Maryland (in) Manuscript submission guidelines External Links
     • The use of "CE" and "BCE" to Identify dates (Religious Tolerance.org)
     • Whatever Happened to BC and AD, and why? (United Church of Christ)
     • Victor Mair: The Need for a New Era
     • NASA: Year Dating Conventions
     • Associated Press: PC scholars take Christ out of BC
     • The Columbia Guide to Standard American Franais (1993): AD, BC, (A.) CE, BCE

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