CE

The term "Common Era" (CE) is an attempt to erase the historical basis for the primary calendar dating system in the Western world. "Common Era" has no real meaning, and even the origin of this term is unclear. The 1972 Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary has no entry for "Common Era."

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.:

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.

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:

Dear Rabbi:

I would like to know why we say "before the Common Era" and "Common Era" (BCE and CE).

I mean, why do we call it "common?" ...

Dear Viviane [],

When I was a school boy I thought that CE stood for "The Common Error."

Now, 25 years and a number of common errors later, I assume that Common Era simply means "the date commonly accepted and used." But the truth is that I don't know, so I asked your question to a professor of European history. He didn't know either.

Sources

--Billwsu 22:41, 7 March 2007 (EST)