question on dates b.c to ad

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Only it's out be four or five years, Jesus was born 3-5 BC.

[Hegix]

Why does English use English (bc) then Latin (ad) instead of the same for both? I want consistency :)

[Boyar Son]

Why does English use English (bc) then Latin (ad) instead of the same for both? I want consistency :)

Cuz instead of A.D., it'd be I.T.Y.O.O.L. (in the year of our lord)

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Why does English use English (bc) then Latin (ad) instead of the same for both? I want consistency :)

Anno Domini was calculated, was it an English or French monk? In the 6th Century or so, can't remember, anyway. BC is fairly modern, the few mediaeval histories that pupported to go that far back talked about the reign of so-and-so Emperor.

So basically AD comes from a time when Latin was the most widely used Academic language and BC from the time when Britain was pre-eminant.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Only it's out be four or five years, Jesus was born 3-5 BC.

IIRC, the guy that made it was basing his count on years of Roman Emporer rule. And when he was doing Avgustus, he counted the years Avgvstvs ruled then went to the years before the Empire, but his source had a separate entry for the years the Octavian ruled. Same guy different names and entries = confusion and misdate.

[Intranetusa]

Only it's out be four or five years, Jesus was born 3-5 BC.

that's why modern histories use BCE and CE - before common era and common era

[Zim]

that's why modern histories use BCE and CE - before common era and common era

I seem to recall those also meaning Christian Era and Before Christian Era.

[antisocialmunky]

Its common era. You can call it 'Christian' era but until 33 CE, Christianity didn't exist. It was just a bunch of Jews that thought Jesus was the Messiah. It wasn't until 33 CE when (If you belive in Christianity) that the Jewish law was nulled by the covenant between Jesus and his disciples for the Kingdom that the old testament always talks about.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

BCE / CE doesn't have to do with inaccuracies with the Christian calendar, but rather an attempt to remove the Christian aspect of dating. One of those "removing Christ from modern culture" things. The whole thing is quite silly, seeing as the guessed date of Jesus is still the pivot date. Quite an esoteric arguement. I could argue both sides and change sides depending on my mood.

[Ignoramus]

Exactly, that's the reason why they are trying to change it. They hate anything Christian, because: (a) They hate Christianity. (b) They claim it offends other religions.

Now those are pretty lame excuses for changing it. However, there is an irony that they can't remove the division of BC and AD, because otherwise famous dates like 1066 and 1415 would be different.

[Roman_Man#3]

I always thought that AD meant after death ....

[Rilder]

Exactly, that's the reason why they are trying to change it. They hate anything Christian, because: (a) They hate Christianity. (b) They claim it offends other religions.

Now those are pretty lame excuses for changing it. However, there is an irony that they can't remove the division of BC and AD, because otherwise famous dates like 1066 and 1415 would be different.

Well I'm all for removing something from a dominant monotheistic religion, it would make dates weird...

[Sheep]

Now those are pretty lame excuses for changing it. However, there is an irony that they can't remove the division of BC and AD, because otherwise famous dates like 1066 and 1415 would be different.

We should just add 4.5 billion to all of our years.

Happy New Year 4,500,002,007 everyone!!!

[Zim]

Its common era. You can call it 'Christian' era but until 33 CE, Christianity didn't exist. It was just a bunch of Jews that thought Jesus was the Messiah. It wasn't until 33 CE when (If you belive in Christianity) that the Jewish law was nulled by the covenant between Jesus and his disciples for the Kingdom that the old testament always talks about.

I don't call it anything. I've never used CE or BCE in any paper I've written, nor in any conversation. I think if anything it's arrogant to call the time since the birth of a religious figure the "common" era (making the time before that the....uncommon era? ). At least the AD/BC dating system has an overtly religious basis, rather than a sneakily implied one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Era Wikipedia used to claim that CE and BCE have stood for Christian/Before Christian Era. They seem to have since changed to stating that's just a result of a popular misconception about the meanings of the acronym.

I always thought that AD meant after death ....

I used to think that when I was younger. Never even thought about what that would mean for the 30 odd years between his death and birth.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

(making the time before that the....uncommon era? )

LOL

I always thought that AD meant after death ....

When I was kid I thought that too. But as a kid, I also thought "PM" meant "post-midday".

[antisocialmunky]

I don't call it anything. I've never used CE or BCE in any paper I've written, nor in any conversation. I think if anything it's arrogant to call the time since the birth of a religious figure the "common" era (making the time before that the....uncommon era? ). At least the AD/BC dating system has an overtly religious basis, rather than a sneakily implied one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Era Wikipedia used to claim that CE and BCE have stood for Christian/Before Christian Era. They seem to have since changed to stating that's just a result of a popular misconception about the meanings of the acronym.


I used to think that when I was younger. Never even thought about what that would mean for the 30 odd years between his death and birth.

Sorry if yoiu took my comment as somewhat agressive. However, they can't exactly change the dating system now as others have mentioned. You're stuck with it being based off something religious whether you like it or not... kinda like wedding rings or clocks.

[Foot]

Zim, your so right! I for one am also sick of the 12 month years we have, its just so roman and european! The Peruvian Calender for the win (and a million pounds, Neddy)! And if you know that reference, you are a good man!

Foot

[Enguerrand de Sarnéac]

You're stuck with it being based off something religious whether you like it or not... kinda like wedding rings or clocks.

Clocks?

Better to base them on the date Hercules founded the Olympic Games! Rawr!

Wasn't that the ancient Greek way? Counting from Olympic Games dates? Like 5th century BOG (Before Olympic Games)

[Zim]

Sorry if yoiu took my comment as somewhat agressive. However, they can't exactly change the dating system now as others have mentioned. You're stuck with it being based off something religious whether you like it or not... kinda like wedding rings or clocks.

It's my fault. No sleep plus extra hours at work + hectic final semester of university = constant irritability.