BC/AD or BCE/CE?

by Pleasuredome 13 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Pleasuredome

  i never really understood why the WTS used BCE/CE. can anyone tell me why? and can anyone tell me when they started to use this system?
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  Matty

  CE (Common Era) was invented as a secular alternative to AD, likewise BCE instead of BC.

  AD (Anno Domini, Latin for "In the year of our lord") is inaccurate because Jesus was not certainly not born in the year zero, neither was there a year zero.

  The Watchtower started it simply for the reason of accuracy, like they're so accurate with dates!

  Edited by - matty on 4 November 2002 11:50:10
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  Room 215

  Pleasure...

  Ever see somebody on public transporation change his/her seat for no other reason than to just to distance themselves from the other passengers? In like manner, this is just another example of the WTBTS being different simply for the sake of being different; a cheap ploy to increase the distance between themselves and the rest of the world. Calling John the ``baptizer'' insread of ``baptist"" is another example; using ``holy ones'' instead of ``saints" is another.
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  blondie

  Christ born 2 BCE per WTS.

  BC means Before Christ

  AD means "In the Year of our Lord"

  Since Jesus as actually born in the Before Christ period of time, the WTS feels that BC and AD are not accurate and use:

  BCE means "Before the Common Era"

  CE means "Common Era"

  (Interestingly the Jews do not use BC or AD since it gives recognition to Jesus as being the Messiah)
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  Pleasuredome

  so when did the WTS realise that jesus was born 2 BC, and when did they start to use this system?
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  Pork Chop

  These designations are widely used, not just by the WT.
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  Matty

  Pleasuredome

  I hope some more scholarly ones out there can give some more detail on the subject of Jesus' birth year. I remember once in an RE lesson my teacher asked the class what year Jesus was born. I threw my hand up smugly and when asked I said "2 BC". My teacher said, "Well, Matthew, it was actually 6 BC, but you were right in that it wasn't year zero!" Hmm!

  On your other query, I can say that all the society's publications going up to the Rutherford books in the thirties all have AD and BC, not CE and BCE. The "Common Era" and "Before our Common Era" phrases seem to spring up in publications during the early Knorr period, but I can't pinpoint a specific year.
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  blondie

  It seems to be around 63 or 64 but is not exact. The BTG book came out about then. I don't know if there is any connection.
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  cellomould

  I liked the analogy about passengers on the city bus. It's tolerable to sit next to someone when the bus is crowded, but people try to avoid each other when the crowd thins out; they actually get up and move.

  That always makes me laugh.

  Well spoken.

  cellmould
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  ozziepost

  Calling John the ``baptizer'' insread of ``baptist"" is another example; using ``holy ones'' instead of ``saints" is another.

  "Undeserved kindness" instead of "grace" is yet another.

  In some respects the WTS could be correct in the BCE/CE thing, but if it's not common usage, why insist on it? Their attitude seems to contradict their insistence on the use of the name "Jehovah". On the one hand they will admit that no-one knows the correct pronunciation of the tetragrammaton, and yet they will insist on using the name "Jehovah" because it's common usage.

  But when it comes to BC/AD, that's different!! (so they say)

  Cheers, Ozzie