How to write a date

[mjlaw]

what is your feeling about using BCE (Before Common, or Christian or Current, Era) and CE rather than BC and AD when writing a date?
I feel like I should be in favour, as both an atheist and somebody who likes to believe they have an inclusive mindset, but the truth is I just don't like them.
I'm quite a fan of BP (Before Present), and kya and mya

Comments

[eciklb]

I like BCE/CE. It's not just that basing a date on the birth of Christ is strange, it's that basing a date on what was clearly miscalculated to be the date of the birth of Christ is just annoying. Having dates pinned to some day that's mostly arbitrary as a result of the fact that we've been doing it like that for a long time bothers me a lot less.

[mjlaw]

thanks, that certainly makes some sense. I just wonder if people are opting for BCE/CE because they actually believe it's better, or because it's the 'modern' thing that is superficially inclusive.

[middle_savagery]

I use BCE/CE for everyday writing, and follow the rules for b.p., b.c.e, etc.

[mjlaw]

but why? BCE/CE is little more than a euphemism. It can't be a real common era as the second largest religion in the world (if you count Christianity as one religion) has a younger year zero than us, and we are now in 1429 AH(I think). We are also now in the year 195 BE to followers of the Bahá'í Faith (about six million people worldwide according to Wikipedia). To my mind a Judaeo-Christian common era is not much of a common era

[purplexoo]

Hi, Just looking through your Journal!
I find when I have worked with Archaeological dates I have used AD/BC, but when it has been more geographical i.e. palaeoenvironmental it has been BP.
I do prefer BP, although tend to go for AD for recent past.
Hope you don't mind me commenting on this!
Sue

[mjlaw]

Hi! I don't mind at all. thanks for the comment! I tend to agree with your use. I just had a bee in my bonnet that day aboutpeople using BCE. Probably something I read.
Matt