Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Should we replace the birth of Christ as the dividing line of history?

A good question, asked today by the American Family association...

AFA Poll

Should we replace the birth of Christ to date time (BC/AD) with a secular dating method (BCE/CE)?
Read the information below and then vote!

Dear Travis
,
The Kentucky Board of Education has voted to take the first step in redefining how America dates time. The board voted to include a new secular system of dating the calendar, BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era), and added it to the BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, Latin for "in the year of our Lord") method.

The new secular system of time dating will appear in the curriculum and other materials used by Kentucky educators. This new system is already being included in textbooks across the nation.

The new method will replace the birth of Christ as the dividing point in history. For example, the new system would change 2006 AD (Anno Domini) to 2006 CE (Common Era).

It also opens the door for the ACLU to find a liberal activist judge who will forcefully remove the use of BC and AD. The ACLU types will claim that the use of BC and AD are a violation of the First Amendment because it dates history based on the birth of Christ.

Take Action

Results of the poll will be shared with members of Congress.

Should Congress pass a law making BC/AD the official method of dating time?

Cast your vote. Give us your opinion!

http://www.afa.net/petitions/BCAD/TakeSurvey.asp

Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman - American Family Association

Comments: How far are these people willing to go to erase, destroy or blur Christianity?
Reason 2,385,932 for Christians to homeschool their children.

6 comments:

Alexander Blair said...

Actually most Jewish people use CE and BCE. :)

Heehee...liked the "Reason 2,385,932 for Christians to homeschool their children." So true. :D

Mike said...

Looks like "Wet Romance" "read" your post before I did.

Incidentally, "B.C.E." and "C.E." are the terms preferred by many, if not most, theologians and scholars.

Anonymous said...

Do you have any references or sources for that statement, Mike?

Tim R. said...

Actually, the SAT II exams in history switched to this system several years ago - it seems to be a growing trend, but like the 10-day calendar the French tried to introduce during their Revolution, I doubt it'll generate significant interest to become the new standard.

Anonymous said...

I see no problem with the change. Most people still believe A.D. means "after death," including Christians. If anything this debate has made it clearer what the letters stand for. Some Christians believe it is a stronger Christian statement to not force nonbelievers to use the phrase year of our Lord ( http://blogs.pioneerlocal.com/religion ). I tend to agree.

Anonymous said...

I see no problem with the change. Most people still believe A.D. means "after death," including Christians. If anything this debate has made it clearer what the letters stand for. Some Christians believe it is a stronger Christian statement to not force nonbelievers to use the phrase year of our Lord ( http://blogs.pioneerlocal.com/religion ). I tend to agree.