BCE / CE... instead of BC / AD... ?

[Nick Armstrong]

Whatever you think of the Vatican &c., I wonder what the general view is about this apparent proposal by the BBC.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8808388/Vatican-attacks-BBCs-senseless-hypocrisy.html

I don't think I'm unduly stupid or remote from the modern world, but I'd never even heard of the expressions BCE and CE. Am I unduly stupid and remote from the modern world?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the terms have been in academic use for some years now ....

[Nick Armstrong]

the terms have been in academic use for some years now ....

Perhaps I am too close to the real world then...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Am I unduly stupid and remote from the modern world?

No, Caliban, just not quite "up-to-speed" with what goes on in US & British University Cultural Studies courses (at least, that's where I first encountered the expressions). Whenever I've used them (admitedly not very often) either it's raised a wry smirk at the aging leftie trying to look trendy, or I've had to explain myself, or (even more frequently) both! I've never met a Muslim who's been "offended" by "BC/AD" but I still think "BCE/CE" useful for atheists like myself to avoid having to refer to "Our Lord"!

Best Wishes.

[Serial_Apologist]

I think the only choice is to begin all over again, right now.

Oops! - too late again! I mean, RIGHT NOW!

[vinteuil]

This was on Feedback the other day. It is apparently a non-story, whipped up by the Daily Mail and friends. The BBC has not made any particular recommendations as to whether to use BC/AD or BCE/CE; various academics heard on the radio have been using BCE/CE (because indeed in the academic worlds involved in theology and ancient history BCE/CE has been common practice for ages), and some listeners have fretted that this was, ahem Theological Correctness Gone Mad!!!!! - and of course, our lovely media have happily jumped on a fruitful band-waggon. Why don't we have a :sigh: emoticon??

[amateur51]

This was on Feedback the other day. It is apparently a non-story, whipped up by the Daily Mail and friends. The BBC has not made any particular recommendations as to whether to use BC/AD or BCE/CE; various academics heard on the radio have been using BCE/CE (because indeed in the academic worlds involved in theology and ancient history BCE/CE has been common practice for ages), and some listeners have fretted that this was, ahem Theological Correctness Gone Mad!!!!! - and of course, our lovely media have happily jumped on a fruitful band-waggon. Why don't we have a :sigh: emoticon??

Beautifully explained, vints.

I thank the Telegraph for raising this issue of religious hegemony, of which AD/BC is an example and I'm too too thrilled by the Vatican's hysterical response which amounts to what our American cousins call a 'doozy'!

[Nick Armstrong]

This was on Feedback the other day. It is apparently a non-story, whipped up by the Daily Mail and friends. The BBC has not made any particular recommendations as to whether to use BC/AD or BCE/CE; various academics heard on the radio have been using BCE/CE (because indeed in the academic worlds involved in theology and ancient history BCE/CE has been common practice for ages), and some listeners have fretted that this was, ahem Theological Correctness Gone Mad!!!!! - and of course, our lovely media have happily jumped on a fruitful band-waggon. Why don't we have a :sigh: emoticon??

Vin-de-paille, I seem to have been causing you to sigh rather a lot this afternoon! Apologies!

[french frank]

Why don't we have a :sigh: emoticon??

[Nick Armstrong]

That'll do!!

I shall have to find some new way of wearying Monsieur Vin-de-table, so that he can deploy it!!

[amateur51]

That'll do!!

I shall have to find some new way of wearying Monsieur Vin-de-table, so that he can deploy it!!

What a lovely sigh

[mercia]

aren't we supposed to call Christmas Winterfest, or something?
or is that a completely different matter?

[Nick Armstrong]

I think Birmingham City Council proposed that its residents should celebrate the Winterval holiday.

Santa's vertically-challenged administrative assistants were organising a petition, I seem to recall....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think Birmingham City Council proposed that its residents should celebrate the Winterval holiday.

NO no no no no!!!

This was another Daily Teresa! For one year back in the '90s, Birmingham's Shopping Centre attempted to get more customers by lumping Hallowe'en, Guy Fawkes Night, Diwali, Christmas, New Year and Burn's Night into one long consumerfest. Nobody ever suggested "replacing" or "renaming" Christmas any more than they did Diwali. "Winterval" was 100% Capitalist exploitation, impure and simples: you'd think the Mayl would've been delighted!

[Nick Armstrong]

NO no no no no!!!

Like the man with the surgical insoles: I stand corrected !!