Queries & Comments

Origins and Changes

The May/June 2001 issue of BAR is the best ever in helping me pursue the origins of and the changes over time in the concepts of both Judaism and Christianity.

Arrogance or Ignorance?

The letter from minister P.W. Sellers, who prefers C.E. to A.D. (Queries & Comments, BAR 27:03), is a prime example of those who rely on their own merit and not on the wisdom of God.

Sellers seems to think that just because he’s “been an ordained minister since 1977 and [has] studied the Bible in depth from … childhood” he has some spiritual insight that those who prefer B.C./A.D. lack. But a quick look at his claims will prove this wrong.

I admit that Jesus was not born in 1 A.D. I’ll give Sellers that. But whether you write C.E. or A.D., however, the fact remains that the years we go by are directly related to Christ and His life. Our “Common Era” didn’t begin with the life of Plato, Socrates or even Julius Caesar, but with Jesus Christ. It’s only arrogance or ignorance that causes people to use B.C.E. and C.E. instead of B.C. and A.D.