BC & AD

          Our calendar is based on the birth of Christ, all the years before Christ’ birth have been traditionally designated BC and those after His birth as A.D. BC meaning before Christ and A.D. is an abbreviation for the Latin term Anno Domini meaning after the death of Christ Jesus. This dating system was first adopted in the Western world during the eighth century. History as we know it is divided into two Eras:

Ø  The years before Christ Jesus (B.C.) and

Ø  The years after Christ Jesus (A.D.)

          For those who prefer not to use terms with a Christian connotation, B.C.E. (before the Common Era) is used instead of B.C. This change was made to masquerade the Christian basis for the dating system and to make it more pleasant for non-Christians. The year 1 B.C. is theoretically the last year before the birth of Christ Jesus. Most historians now agree that Christ Jesus was born no later than 4 B.C. - the year in which Herod the Great died.

          AD or A.D. defines a time based on the traditionally reckoned year of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. These designations are used to number years in the Christian era, and are usually used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Years may also be specified as Anno Domini Nostri Iesu Christi, which means In the Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ. For those who prefer not to use the term A.D. because of its Christian connotation use C.E. (Common Era). The Common Era designations are not always acceptable because there is no history of a Common Era existing. 

          Neither does the dictionary speak of a time called Common Era. Many believe that these Common Era designations were invented as an anti-historical act thrown into the dating system to appease Satan who tries to counteract and counterfeit everything done by Christ Jesus. Because Christ Jesus was born and the B.C. and A.D. designations are used to number years in the Christian era, the Common Era designation were invented to gives some validity to those who choose not to believe in Christ Jesus.

          It is said by some that if a Common Era existed, it probably began around 1500 A.D. when ocean exploration connected the world in a global trading network. In Commonwealth English their usage copies Latin by placing the abbreviation before the year number for A.D., but after the year number for BC. In North American English variation, A.D. and B.C. both come after a date.

          The year A.D. 1 is theoretically the first year in the life of Christ Jesus and by that, the numbering of years per the Christian era is currently dominant in many places around the world in both commercial and scientific use. Presently the Christian era designation is the common international standard for dating. This system is recognized by international institutions around the world due to the abundance of Christians in the Western world. Christians lead the way and were the great influence of the Western world on:

Ø  Science

Ø  Technology and

Ø  Commerce

          A truth concerning the dating system is that the solar Gregorian calendar has been considered to be astronomically correct for a very long time. Anno Salutis is often translated from Latin as the year of Salvation. This dating style was used up until the eighteenth century. Anno Domini dates years from the birth of Christ Jesus. It can be explained in the context of Christian belief where the birth and death of Christ Jesus saves believing mankind from eternal damnation.

Ø  Anno Domini is often used in a more elaborate form

Ø  Anno Nostrae Salutis meaning, in the year of our Salvation

Ø  Anno Salutis Humanae means, in the year of Human Well-being, and

Ø  Anno Reparatae Salutis is to say, in the year of Accomplished Salvation

          According to Bill and Margaret Agard (Agards.com), many different calendars have been used since man began tracking time.  Most start with some epoch event or person.  Dionysius Exiguous invented the use of BC and AD for numbering calendar years in 525 AD.  His purpose was to determine the correct date for Easter under the direction of Pope John I. 

          Prior to this time, one method for determining Easter was based on a 532-year calendar cycle stemming from the Alexandrian era.  Other methods were also used which led to the confusion.  Dionysius was asked to determine a method for calculating Easter that would then be used by the entire church.

          Dionysius did not want to perpetuate the name of Alexander, the Great persecutor.  He decided to start his 532-year cycle from the year associated with the foundation of Rome.  At that time Christ’s birth was supposed to have occurred immediately preceding the year of the founding of Rome.  Today, based on historical evidence relating to Herod and astronomical evidence relating to eclipses and star novas, most historians believe Christ was actually born a few years earlier.

          Dionysius named the years relating to His cycle, BC meaning Before Christ which starts with year 1 and AD meaning Anno Domini, the year of Our Lord referring to the year of Christ’s birth.  This is also a year 1.  There is no year 0.  (That’s the reason purists insists the 21st century actually began January 1, 2001.   For example the first year began in 1 AD and ended the beginning of 2 AD so the first year of the 21st century begins in 2001 AD and ends with the beginning of 2002 AD).

          It took about 400 years for the dating system devised by Dionysius to reach common usage. In combination with the Julian calendar system, which determines the beginning of months and years, this continued until 1582 AD.   The number of each year is based on the Dionysius numbering system. 

          The need for the introduction of the Gregorian calendar came about because a year is not exactly 365 days long.  It is actually 365 and a quarter day long.  Every 4 years, March 1st moved behind a day until after centuries instead of being early spring March 1st was now the beginning of winter.  Something had to be done.

          The Gregorian calendar was introduced in the Catholic parts of Europe in 1582 A.D.  By Pope Gregory XIII (then the religious leader of the Roman Catholic faith) as an improvement upon the Julian calendar to keep the average length of the calendar year better in line with the seasons. 

          The rules, months, and days of the Gregorian calendar are the same as those of the Julian calendar, except for the leap year rules. In the Gregorian calendar, a year is a leap year if the year number is evenly divisible by 4, but not if the year number is evenly divisible by 100 and this last exception must not be applied if the year number is evenly divisible by 400. For example, 1600 and 2000 are leap years, but 1700, 1800, and 1900 are not. 

          The legal code of the United States does not specify an official national calendar. Use of the Gregorian calendar in the United States is a result of an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1751, which specified use of the Gregorian calendar in England and its colonies. However, its adoption in the United Kingdom and other countries was fraught with confusion, controversy, and even violence. It also had a deeper cultural impact through the disruption of traditional festivals and calendrical practices.

          The widespread use of the Gregorian calendar and the use of BC and AD throughout the world came about thanks to the colonization practices of Europe and economic pressures of a worldwide economy led by Europe and the United States.  This is gradually changing, as more and more academic writers prefer the use of CE rather than AD.