Common Era

Introduction

The Common Era, also known as the Christian Era, is a period of time that started with the birth of Jesus Christ. It is commonly used as a calendar reference system across the world today. However, Common Era is anything but common!

History

Let us start by taking a trip down memory lane. Back in the day, people used to calculate time based on significant events in their history. For instance, the ancient Romans counted years in AUC (Ab Urbe Condita) from the founding of their city. But before we knew it, Jesus was born, and everyone wanted to start counting time over again. So, a monk called Dionysius Exiguus was tasked with figuring out when the Son of God was born. He even went on to create a calendar that split time into two: BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era).

The Controversy

It’s important to note that Common Era is often used interchangeably with AD (Anno Domini), which translates to “In the Year of Our Lord.” But in recent years, there has been a movement to replace AD with CE, to avoid religious connotations. And it’s safe to say that people have mixed feelings about it.

On the one hand, some folks love the new politically correct designation - after all, they wouldn’t want to offend anyone by implying that Jesus was in charge of time. But on the other hand, there are those who simply can’t get behind the idea of calling 2021 CE instead of 2021 AD. I mean, could you imagine saying “Happy Common Era” instead of “Merry Christmas”? It just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the Common Era is anything but common. Some people love it, some people hate it, and some people don’t even know what it means. But regardless of how you feel about it, Common Era has definitely caused quite a stir in the world of timekeeping. So, the next time you hear someone refer to a date as CE or AD, remember that it’s not just a simple reference to time - it’s a political statement that may or may not lead to a heated debate.