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that was a really good bit.
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Finding it strange we use Jesus's death for years
- Thread starter night814
- Start date
that was a really good bit.
Common Era is dumb though. It's just renaming a Christian concept. Like, when did this new secular-named era start? Oh, the birth of Jesus? What a coincidence.
Also I'm glad the whole AD-means-Anno-Domini thing has been covered already
If it's any comfort, historians think Jesus was actually born in the year 6 BCE, so the current calendar system is meaningless.
Why did I know some nerd was going to make a Chrono Trigger reference.
Earthbound64
Banned
Because it's an awesome game?
Randy Monk
Member
Soapbox Killer
Grand Nagus
He walked on water, I would have set my watch to that too. Next dude to fly with or without a cape or aliens land or the Eagles win the chip, we can start the years over.
I'm agnostic and it doesn't bother me. Jesus was an important dude, and since the Roman empire controlled so much, it's not entirely surprising that it became a common date.
Also, it's his birth not his death, and the date is off anyhow. Likely, he was born a few years before 1 AD.
Also, it's his birth not his death, and the date is off anyhow. Likely, he was born a few years before 1 AD.
Vincent Grayson
Member
I mean, it's not like anything actually changed. The religion has still so-dominated the Western world that our calendar is defined by its important date. We just stopped calling it something based on a term from a dead language, and removed the religious specificity.
Even then, I imagine most of us that grew up with BC and AD still use that in casual conversation. I know I do.
User Name Here
Member
I was just about to mention this. I have their calendar in my dining room. It's expensive, but I love it.
Common Era is dumb though. It's just renaming a Christian concept. Like, when did this new secular-named era start? Oh, the birth of Jesus? What a coincidence.
Also I'm glad the whole AD-means-Anno-Domini thing has been covered already
It's not especially dumb. Similar to how Christmas has Christian origins, but has been increasingly secularized, the introduction of BCE/CE just adds a touch of secularization to a widely accepted way of organizing time. The point isn't to create a system not influenced by Christianity, but to tweak it so that it isn't necessarily a direct reference to Christianity. After all, as the most popular calendar system in the world, many non-Christians use it.
The Albatross
Member
It's not strange at all. Christianity is immensely influential in Western culture, and so it makes about as much sense to set a reference point on the birth of Jesus as it does to set a reference point on anything else.
Also, "Science" and "Jesus" aren't mutually exclusive anymore than "Science" and "Julius Caesar" are mutually exclusive, or "Science" and "Cucumber Sandwiches" are mutually exclusive. insofar as Jesus is a fairly renowned human person of significance, his birth is about as much of a watermark in history as anybody else's birth or any other discovery or any other event. That the world has gone on working fairly well for the last 12,000 years suggests that there isn't a pressing need to change anything.
It doesn't make it ... "meaningless" ... just imprecise. The point of the calendar isn't to say "JESUS WAS BORN TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO EXACTLY TODAY," it's to give an easy reference point to other significant events in history, or common every day uses for a calendar. It's not like 1776 becomes "meaningless" because it was actually 1782, or that 9/11/2001 is "meaningless" because it was actually 9/11/2006. All dates are meaningless unless used as a reference to other events, which is precisely what calendars do, and that provides meaning to them, not whether a date on the calendar was off by a few years.
Also, "Science" and "Jesus" aren't mutually exclusive anymore than "Science" and "Julius Caesar" are mutually exclusive, or "Science" and "Cucumber Sandwiches" are mutually exclusive. insofar as Jesus is a fairly renowned human person of significance, his birth is about as much of a watermark in history as anybody else's birth or any other discovery or any other event. That the world has gone on working fairly well for the last 12,000 years suggests that there isn't a pressing need to change anything.
It doesn't make it ... "meaningless" ... just imprecise. The point of the calendar isn't to say "JESUS WAS BORN TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO EXACTLY TODAY," it's to give an easy reference point to other significant events in history, or common every day uses for a calendar. It's not like 1776 becomes "meaningless" because it was actually 1782, or that 9/11/2001 is "meaningless" because it was actually 9/11/2006. All dates are meaningless unless used as a reference to other events, which is precisely what calendars do, and that provides meaning to them, not whether a date on the calendar was off by a few years.
NYCmetsfan
Banned
it's actually AM 5777
Earthbound64
Banned
Disgusting.
Dreamwriter
Member
In the post-science world, has magic replaced science? I too would love to enter a post-science era if that means I can cast fireball spells!Does anyone else find it strange that we still use Jesus's death as the foundation of the years? I'd love to enter a new era called post-science given that it's immensely affected everyone's lives, much more than Jesus.
Thoughts? This is my first thread so don't crucify me
TheSkullPrince
Member
I don't support teaching the Bible in schools or public institutions (unless it's in a historical context), but I still use B.C. and A.D. because they sound much more romantic (as in idyllic not romantic love).
B.C.E. and C.E. sound and look just plain, dull, and boring. History is a Social Science, not a hard science and to me B.C. and A.D. better reflect that.
I know that sounds dumb but that's how I feel.
B.C.E. and C.E. sound and look just plain, dull, and boring. History is a Social Science, not a hard science and to me B.C. and A.D. better reflect that.
I know that sounds dumb but that's how I feel.
Subpar Spatula
Banned
All that stuff is not real anyway. Nothing existed before me. Everything that "is" besides me is my projected perception of reality. Christ, you, Ammo Domini, etc are just reasons for my mind to believe I am not alone here. But I am.
EYEL1NER
Member
lol, that was my first thought as well when I read "post-science" in the OP.
I learned from this thread that BCE and CE are things that exist though. I don't think I have ever heard of them before today.
Are you trying to get out of being a millenial? With Buddhism?
CaviarMeths
Member
I honestly don't see why using Jesus was a starting point for the modern calendar would bother anyone except euphoric fedoralords. It's about human history, not science. Other concepts of time we still use today are based on Norse (days of the week), Roman (names of months), Sumerian (increments of 60 for seconds and minutes), and Babylonian (12 months of about 30 days) cultures. The context doesn't matter at all for everyday use. The only thing it really does is provide a sort of time capsule, telling us which civilization was predominant in western culture at the time of its introduction. It's actually fascinating from a anthropological perspective.
We'll likely have to introduce a new system if we ever become a space-faring civilization. Until then, we'll keep on using the current hodgepodge of measurements.
We'll likely have to introduce a new system if we ever become a space-faring civilization. Until then, we'll keep on using the current hodgepodge of measurements.
StrategyFan
Member
before freedom : starts backwards from 1775 AD/CE
after freedom : starts forward from 1776 AD/CE
after freedom : starts forward from 1776 AD/CE
please don't use this
elrechazado
Banned
It's a reference point that the world has been familiar with for two thousand years. It has nothing to do with honor or respect or belief.Does anyone else find it strange that we still use Jesus's death as the foundation of the years? I'd love to enter a new era called post-science given that it's immensely affected everyone's lives, much more than Jesus.
Thoughts? This is my first thread so don't crucify me
This too
SolidusDave
Member
Would be really cool if we were to just count up from the first human civilization or something.
I want to live in year 6000 or 10000.
Ohh 5 numbers would break so many things though.
And just to annoy historians we won't just add 7000 years but e.g. 6874 years.
I want to live in year 6000 or 10000.
Ohh 5 numbers would break so many things though.
And just to annoy historians we won't just add 7000 years but e.g. 6874 years.
Common Era is dumb though. It's just renaming a Christian concept. Like, when did this new secular-named era start? Oh, the birth of Jesus? What a coincidence.
Also I'm glad the whole AD-means-Anno-Domini thing has been covered already
Funny thing is that most research points Jesus birth a few years before year 0 (around 4-6 BCE) so technically we're not using his birth as measurement either. Even Wikipedia states his birth at 4BC.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
Interestingly Chrono Trigger uses the BC/AD system even though there's no mention of Christ in the game (but there are churches). Technically the game's calendar is based on the year of the foundation of the Guardia Kingdom.
poppabk
Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
Well the days of the week are named after mainly Norse Gods, with some Roman Gods remaining, and the months are named after Roman Gods and festivals. So unless we are switching to dates like three-day, six-month the 22nd, 4 billion 5 hundred and 50 thousand six hundred and twenty eight - maybe we should just leave it.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
I wonder why the Christians didn't rename the days of the week. Would have been pretty cool to use the names of the 7 archangels or something.
At university, one of my majors was Biblical Archaeology, a field in which maintaining religious neutrality is incredibly important. The BA department would deduct marks from any work we completed if we used BC/AD and forced us to use BCE/CE. No complaints from me, personally.
Which reminds me, the (regular) Archaeology department would deduct 1 mark from any text for each usage of hominid, in place of hominin.
Which reminds me, the (regular) Archaeology department would deduct 1 mark from any text for each usage of hominid, in place of hominin.
Yeah it's a good bit. Watch it, OP
And_Gignac
Member
We are currently living in year 2 AE. (After EMOTION)
Keyser Soze
Member
When counties can't seem to fucking agrees on the metric system or imperial system, trying to change years would basically cause the end of the world
Do you find it strange that we named planets, days, months, countries, states,streets, and products after Greek/Romans gods, rulers, or other famous figures?
They didn't do it to offend you. Something that's consistent helps people understand. Understanding the biblical roots of the years is part of understanding western culture. It doesn't mean you have to accept Jesus as your personal savior.
They didn't do it to offend you. Something that's consistent helps people understand. Understanding the biblical roots of the years is part of understanding western culture. It doesn't mean you have to accept Jesus as your personal savior.
The move from AD to CE is as much to accommodate religious people (if not more so) as it is secular. AD, Ano Domini, "The Year of Our Lord" - well, if you happen to be a member of a faith which does not venerate Jesus (and possibly takes a dim view of blasphemy), he's not exactly "your lord". So you can't very well call it AD. CE works best for everyone.
doesn't really have anything with jesus at this point... just a reference point that stuck
i mean it is strange when you think about it, since it's not even clear the guy existed. but we'll just have to roll with it until we get invaded by aliens or reach the singularity or whatever's worthy of restarting the clock
i mean it is strange when you think about it, since it's not even clear the guy existed. but we'll just have to roll with it until we get invaded by aliens or reach the singularity or whatever's worthy of restarting the clock
Alex_Mexico
Member
The metric system, much like the Paris agreement, is something every country on earth supports with the exception of the United States of America.
Don't pin difficulties to agree on things on us non-Americans, my friend.
autumnleaf
Member
As someone who has never been religious in the slightest and doesn't believe in anything like that..
Most people using 2017 as the year aren't doing so because they associate it with Jesus, even if that is the source.
Most people using 2017 as the year aren't doing so because they associate it with Jesus, even if that is the source.
Skellig Gra
Member
We can't redo the timing system that was in use for 2000 years. If you go to Notre Dame it says in stone it was built in the year 1345. If you want to start over do it now.
Straight Edge
Member
A.G. is an aconym for After Guild. It refers to the time when the Spacing Guild established a monopoly on all space travel, transport, and Imperial banking throughout the known universe in the year 0/11,075 A.D.
Adam_Vania
Banned
science worships at the feet of the Roman Empire. look at its Latin and atomic fixation. the Roman Empire used Christianity for its cultural/political arm. thus when Latin-fetishizing scientists of the Renaissance were looking back to Rome they used their Christianity-based calendar.
science has yet to provide an accurate and inexpensive alternative. current scientific laws cannot give an accurate measurement of the start of time because the laws do not work once you get to the Big Bang. science fails to fully describe the linear existence of the universe. the Bible's Genesis comes from an oral tradition and a proper esoteric reading describes creation non-linearly through homonym and mystical gematria. we can't use this directly as any act performed by God is described in human language and not to be taken literally as a anthropomorphism (contrary to Creationists misreading).