Christians Outraged as BBC Drops B.C./A.D. Dating Method
British Christians are outraged after the state-funded British Broadcasting Corporation decided to replace the terms B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini, or Year of the Lord) in historical date references with B.C.E. (Before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era), Religion News Service reports. In an official statement, BBC said since it was "committed to impartiality, it is appropriate that we use terms that do not offend or alienate non-Christians." The announcement drew immediate reactions from angry listeners and readers, who jammed BBC's phone lines. "These changes are unnecessary," said retired Anglican bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, "and they don't actually achieve what the BBC wants them to achieve. Whether you use Common Era or Anno Domini, the date is still the same and the reference point is still the birth of Jesus Christ." from crosswalk's email news.
British Christians are outraged after the state-funded British Broadcasting Corporation decided to replace the terms B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini, or Year of the Lord) in historical date references with B.C.E. (Before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era), Religion News Service reports. In an official statement, BBC said since it was "committed to impartiality, it is appropriate that we use terms that do not offend or alienate non-Christians." The announcement drew immediate reactions from angry listeners and readers, who jammed BBC's phone lines. "These changes are unnecessary," said retired Anglican bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, "and they don't actually achieve what the BBC wants them to achieve. Whether you use Common Era or Anno Domini, the date is still the same and the reference point is still the birth of Jesus Christ." from crosswalk's email news.
