Are we in AD or BC?

Answered by Edward Huber

As an AI language model, I don’t have personal experiences or situations to share, but I can provide you with a detailed answer to your question.

The calendar era used to mark the years is commonly referred to as the Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE). These alternatives have been adopted as more inclusive and neutral alternatives to the traditional Anno Domini (AD) and Before Christ (BC) notations.

To clarify, the two notation systems are numerically equivalent. For example, “2022 CE” is the same as “AD 2022,” and “400 BCE” is equivalent to “400 BC.” The difference lies in the terminology used to describe the era.

The term “Common Era” is used to emphasize the shared global nature of the calendar, while “Before the Common Era” indicates the time before the start of the Common Era. This change in terminology is intended to be more inclusive and respect the diversity of cultures and beliefs worldwide.

The use of CE and BCE has gained popularity in academic and scholarly circles, as well as in many contemporary publications and discussions. It is seen as a way to avoid religious bias and acknowledge the cultural diversity of our world.

It’s important to note that the switch from AD/BC to CE/BCE does not change the actual years or the chronological order. It simply provides an alternative way of referring to the same time period.

Whether you choose to use AD/BC or CE/BCE to refer to the current era is a matter of personal preference and adherence to specific conventions. However, the terms CE and BCE are increasingly used to provide a more inclusive and neutral approach to marking the years.