Stephen Prothero, in God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter, explains his use of B.C.E. & C.E. rather than B.C. & A.D.
"Religious Studies scholars typically date events either as C.E. (Common Era) or B.C.E. (before the Common Era), in an effort to avoid the Christian bias inherent in A.D. (Anno Domini, "in the year of our Lord") and B.C. ("before Christ"). This is sleight of hand since these dates continue to mark events in relation to the life of Jesus whether or not those events are said to have occurred in C.E. or A.D. However, since the use of A.D. and B.C. indirectly imply belief in Jesus as both "Lord" and "Christ," I use C.E. and B.C.E. here." (K, 58-65)
I have no big problem with this.
And, Merry Christmas.
