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My video calling out the Canadian university and their nonsense
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2g2oE0Q6fc&t=577s
My video calling out UK university and their nonsense
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3dhadFchmQ&t=902s
Throughout history, humanity has grappled with the challenge of marking time and creating unified systems of dating. Two primary notation systems have emerged as dominant in the Western world: the traditional BC/AD system and the more recent BCE/CE alternative. Understanding their origins, uses, and implications reveals why the traditional BC/AD system remains the more practical and meaningful choice.
The BC/AD system, introduced by the monk Dionysius Exiguus in 525 AD, divides history into two epochs: "Before Christ" (BC) and "Anno Domini" (AD), meaning "in the year of the Lord." This system places the birth of Jesus Christ at its center, though modern scholars believe the actual birth occurred between 6 and 4 BC. Despite this historical imprecision, the system has served as the Western world's primary dating method for over a millennium.
The BCE/CE system emerged in the 17th century and gained prominence in the late 20th century. BCE stands for "Before Common Era," while CE denotes "Common Era." This system maintains identical numerical dating to BC/AD but removes explicit religious references. While seemingly more inclusive, this superficial change arguably creates more problems than it solves.
The traditional BC/AD system offers several distinct advantages over BCE/CE. First, it provides historical context and meaning beyond mere numerical designation. The terms immediately convey why that particular point in time was chosen as the calendar's fulcrum, acknowledging the profound impact of Christianity on Western civilization and the development of our modern calendar. BCE/CE, in contrast, obscures this historical context while maintaining the exact same pivot point, creating an awkward situation where the calendar still centers on Christ's traditionally assumed birth year without acknowledging why.
Furthermore, BC/AD offers clearer linguistic functionality. "Before Christ" and "Anno Domini" are distinct phrases that clearly indicate their temporal relationship. BCE and CE, however, rely on the additional words "Before" and "Common" while still requiring the reader to remember which comes first chronologically. This creates unnecessary complexity in what should be a straightforward dating system.
The argument that BCE/CE is more inclusive of non-Christian perspectives, while well-intentioned, falls short under scrutiny. The calendar system remains inherently based on Christian history, regardless of the terminology used. Simply changing the labels while maintaining the same Christian-based reference point could be seen as more problematic than honestly acknowledging the system's origins. It's akin to painting over historical architecture rather than preserving and contextualizing it.
Additionally, the BC/AD system has been deeply embedded in historical literature, academic works, and cultural references for centuries. The push to replace it with BCE/CE creates unnecessary confusion and requires constant translation between the two systems. This complexity serves no practical purpose, as both systems measure identical periods using the same numbers.
The widespread adoption of the BC/AD system across cultures and religions over centuries demonstrates its functionality transcends its Christian origins. Just as the names of our months (many derived from Roman gods) and days (named after Norse and Roman deities) are used without religious controversy, BC/AD can be employed as a practical dating system while acknowledging its historical roots.
In conclusion, while the BCE/CE system attempts to address modern sensitivities, it ultimately creates a false sense of neutrality while compromising clarity and historical context. The BC/AD system, with its clear terminology and honest acknowledgment of its historical origins, remains the more logical and practical choice for marking time. Rather than obscuring history in the name of inclusivity, we should embrace the transparency of BC/AD while recognizing that using a dating system need not imply religious adherence, just as we can say "Thursday" without worshipping Thor.
#history #controversyvideo #mythbusting