I heard a while back that some people are attempting to replace "A.D." with "C.E." and "B.C." with "B.C.E.". My question: Why?
To answer that question, I found the following information: meanings of the acronyms, the meanings of the terms
Meanings of the acronyms:
A.D.: Anno Domini Translation: In the year of our Lord. B.C.: Before Christ C.E.: Common Era B.C.E: Before Common EraMeanings of the terms: A.D.: Years after Christ's birth. (though some scholars place his birth at 4 B.C.) B.C.: Years before Christ's birth. (see note on A.D.) C.E.: Same as A.D. B.C.E.: Same as B.C.Now the question: Why change the term from a familiar one to an unfamiliar one?My reasons for it: The people who use C.E. and B.C.E. want to eliminate all mention of Christ and His name. They cannot remember that A.D. means Anno Domini. They didn't like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.C._%28comic_strip%29">comic strip</a>.
There are tons of people named Jesus. Go to Mexico.
Well, "AD" can considered offensive to Jews and Muslims who don't believe Jesus was God's son. Anno Domini, the year of the Lord, really signifies that Jesus was "the Lord", which is a statement that those two religious groups (and others) may find blasphemous. And honestly, Jesus was a real person, so I'd just use "AC", "Anno Jesu", year of Jesus.
Takagi for president.
The facts:
The Gregorian calendar is inaccurate. We should use a 12 month calendar with 30 days/month. 30 times 12 is 360. Use the extra days as party days. The year number should be based on the Star Trek system, so we can say "Star Date" anytime we read a calendar.
And the Bible is wrong on at least one point. In an old testament verse describes a giant bowl in a temple in Jerusalem by saying that it was 10 cubits across and 30 cubits around. If the circumfrence is Pi times the diameter, then according to the bible, Pi equals exactly three. I don't think the Bible can be taken to be 100% accurate becuase it was written in several pieces by several people speaking several different languages over a 4000 year period. Passing the stories down orally, then handcopy after handcopy, then translation after translation, then interpretation after interpretation makes it impossible for the bible as we know it today to be the exact word of God. The bible is still a good book to read and use, but it should be considered more like the Declaration of Independence, a document that lays out the general principals of the country, but without legal jurisdiction.
I thought it was After Death..
Also, the tradition of calling Jesus "Lord" doesn't come from the time of Jesus. It comes from the fuedal period when serfs served as vassals on fiefdoms owned by a lord. Those lords were vassals to more powerful lords, who were also vassals, and so on. The concept was carried all the up through a spiritual hierarchy with Jesus and God on top, therefore, Jesus is the Lord of all the fiefdoms. So when saying the Lord's prayer, remember that we have dark age Europe to thanks for the name.
Well, it's good to see "debate" in my opinion. I am "Christian" but my girlfriend is Gnostic (not Agnostic). That leads to ALOT of debate! LOL! We are both pretty rock solid in our beliefs, but it's because of our own research and not somebody telling us "This is just the way it is." I was raised Lutheran and my mom is sweet as pie, but if I ask uncomfortable questions and get a "Just because" answer that doesn't do it for me. I did my own research and am still "Christian" but I don't fly anybodys banner… I am not Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, or whatever… I just try to find the truth. That doesn't mean I just "stick with the Bible" and thats it… I have looked into her books (which she claims were rejected during the council of Nicea… however you spell it). Some books didn't make it in… then it becomes a question of "why?" Again…some feel it was a cover up, some think they were heritical writings. I think the Bible itself stands pretty strong on it's own as compared to "traditions" over the centurys. Look into things like Christmas and Easter…you may be surprised to learn their origins looks like they were Pagan.Why do we drag a tree into our house and put hot lights on em? Why is Easter associated with bunny rabbits and colored eggs? One thing I have learned… history lies, or at least many times things get twisted around. (Not just religion). It's like in Planet of the Apes when Taylor says… "There has to be an answer". Don't look for it…you may not like what you find. There is far more information out there that may rock your world and make some people uneasy. To get the big picture I think people should look into many religions (among other things). You could have a room full of people reading many different religious texts…and more then likely they will all come to different conclusions. But the truth should stand out on it's own. Well, in our situation it has only made our beliefs stronger. I am still Christain and she is still Gnostic… but at least we have heard "alternate views" on things and were willing to look into them. To say "Just because" because someone told us "It's this way, don't question it"… that should not be enough. Research and come to your own conclusion.