Time is measured in years, which is then put into two sections. B.C.E and A.C.E (Before Common Era and After Common Era). The "Common Era" is in reference to when the Roman Empire took power in Europe. However, ever since Christianity came along, the term has been "B.C" (Before Christ) and A.D (anno Domini meaning "After our Lord"). To be honest, it should *just* be A.C.E and B.C.E instead of having Christianity, yet again, manipulate how we do things around the world. What do you guys and girls think of this?
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Hi Austin,
It's been over 45 years since I last took Latin and I do remember that "anno Domini" means "in the year of the Lord." A minor point, to be sure, but we need to keep our facts straight or believers will nail us for the inaccuracy. ?;-)
Alembe
The truth is that Christianity is not only a religion, but it is our history, our heritage, our past.
So although I know that Christianity is an evil mind control machine, one cannot deny that it is part of who we are today.
It shaped the human race in a way.
So one must understand that it is JUST to give our own history it's rightful respect.
The best way to show what I mean is by giving a more basic example:
The days of the week come mostly from pagan gods, do we need to change that too? because we are not pagans?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_days_of_the_week
This is a good point.
I don't care much about the designations B.C. / A.D. (The year 0 was miscalculated anyway, wasn't it?).
Even though I do get a little bit irritated about how language is build around religion some times, like the common surprise exclamations "Jesus Christ", "Oh my god" or relief exclamations "Oh thank god!". As much as I would like to change some aspects of language, most of it has little religious meaning any more and have just become common phrases people say out of habit.
And the same goes for other historical and architectural values.
There is no need to eradicate churches and monuments. No more than there is a need to tear down ancient Greek monuments and buildings. It's cultural heritage.
(I'm of course not referring to some crappy unused churches on the corner)
"Even though I do get a little bit irritated about how language is build around religion some times"
Yes it is a bit irritating, especially when you say them yourself out of habit lol.
(anno Domini meaning "After our Lord")
That is why academia uses BCE and CE, because not everyone thinks Jesus is their "Lord" (Jewish people for example).
I've used CE and BCE for decades.
anno domini :medieval Latin: "in the year of the lord" often mistranslated as "in the year of our lord"
The calendar was actually changed in the late 1500's because of the mathematics of Nicolaus Copernicus. He created the heliocentric model because it fit the mathematics better when they were trying to create a more accurate calendar. Some countries have only adopted the new calendar as late as the 1920's. The calendar itself is a triumph of level-headed reasoning, the catholic church takes far too much credit for it.