Changes

The established calendar dating system is based on the approximate birthday of [[Jesus]], and no one disputes that.  But this birth did not begin a "common" era, or any immediate change in history.  The 1997 [[Merriam-Webster]]'s Collegiate Dictionary gives a date of 1889 for the origin of the term "Common Era," but there is no indication  of who began using it then, and why.  Some claim it is a substitute for an occasional reference to the "Vulgar Era," with "vulgar" being Latin for "common" but acquiring a derogatory English meaning over time.

The established calendar dating system is based on the approximate birthday of [[Jesus]], and no one disputes that.  But this birth did not begin a "common" era, or any immediate change in history.  The 1997 [[Merriam-Webster]]'s Collegiate Dictionary gives a date of 1889 for the origin of the term "Common Era," but there is no indication  of who began using it then, and why.  Some claim it is a substitute for an occasional reference to the "Vulgar Era," with "vulgar" being Latin for "common" but acquiring a derogatory English meaning over time.

One explanation for its use, often promoted by the 'religious right', is that "Common Era" is an attempt to erase recognition for the Christian basis of the calendar.  These groups argue that this is discrimination as similar attempts to erase non-Christian religious names in the calendar, such as the days of the week named after Norse gods, have not been undertaken. There is a strong counter argument stating that such a name change for days would require a confusing new system, and effect markets.:<ref>[personal.ecu.edu/mccartyr/calendar-reform.html]</ref>

The only plausible explanation is that "Common Era" is an attempt to erase recognition for the Christian basis of the calendar.  But there are not similar attempts to erase non-Christian religious names in the calendar, such as the days of the week named after Norse gods.

One conclusion drawn from the argument of the religious right is that the usage of the term "Common Era" seeks to deny recognition to Christianity.  These groups have argued that government schools favor the use of  "Common Era" dating systems to appease hostility to Christianity, and not because of the terms acceptance and common use in the science fields.

The conclusion is obvious:  usage of the term "Common Era" seeks to deny recognition to Christianity.  Beware of other examples of this, and beware how schools and tests are converting to "Common Era" dating systems to appease hostility to Christianity.

A  question and answer session with a rabbi about the use of "Common Era," illustrates the fact that many in the educated class are unaware of the terms origin and often give it little creedance. Judaism:<ref>http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/263/Q3/</ref>

Consider this frank question and answer with a rabbi about the use of "Common Era," which illustrates that the term "Common Era" did not come from Judaism:<ref>http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/263/Q3/</ref>

Dear Rabbi:

Dear Rabbi:

== Sources ==

== Sources ==

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