What are the new letters for B.C. and A.D.?

There's been a change, and I totally missed it. I recently read an article in Mental Floss where the term B.C. was replaced with B.C.E. and A.D. was replaced with C.E. I'd like to know what words the initials represent. Thank you.

What are the new letters for B.C. and A.D.?
Until recently dates were placed into one of two groups: BC or AD. All dates that occurred before the birth of Jesus Christ were labeled as BC (meaning Before Christ). For example, 2000 BC refers to the year that occurred 2000 years before Jesus was born. All years that occurred after the birth of Jesus were labeled AD (which stands for the Latin phrase Anno Domini; meaning the year of our Lord - not after death like many people think -) For example 1960 AD refers to the year that occurred 1960 years after the birth of Jesus.





Since only 25% of the world’s population is Christian, many people complained about the use of Christian references in the dating system. To make the dating system non-Christian, many people that write history have switched to a new system. Instead of using BC for before Christ, BCE is used (meaning Before Common Era). Instead of using AD for Anno Domini, CE is used (meaning Common Era). The new dating labels do not have Christian references and are made for people of different faiths. This is important for you as students to know because many textbook companies and teachers now use BCE and CE instead of BC and AD.





There is absolutely no difference between BC and BCE, and likewise there is no difference between AD and CE. 2400 BC is the same date as 2400 BCE, and 1945 AD is the same date as 1945 CE.
Reply:BCE before common era


CE common era
Reply:B.C.E=before common era





C.E=common era
Reply:Before Common Era and Common Era








It is the new thing for politcal correct people.
Reply:This really ticks me off; How ridiculous.





BC = Before Christ, and AD =After Death. What ever next, we cant pray in school, we cant swear on bible in court and now we cant even keep historical records!!!!!

narcissus