Why do we use Common Era instead of Anno Domini to track our years?

Cultures · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Common Era notation offers a secular alternative to the traditional Christian dating system. While the year numbers remain identical to those based on the birth of Jesus, this shift reflects a global effort to create a shared, inclusive framework for timekeeping that transcends specific religious or cultural boundaries.

The foundation for our current calendar was established around 525 by the monk Dionysius Exiguus. Seeking to replace the Era of the Martyrs—a system tied to a Roman tyrant who persecuted Christians—he created a new timeline centered on the incarnation of Jesus. He labeled his tables with a Latin phrase meaning the years of our Lord Jesus Christ. This system eventually spread across Europe, with Bede adopting it in England by 731. Crucially, this method lacks a year zero, moving directly from 1 BCE to 1 CE.

The transition to the Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) reflects a desire for neutrality. While the terms are synonymous with Anno Domini (AD) and Before Christ (BC), they avoid explicit religious references. The term vulgar era, once meaning of the common people, appeared in 17th-century texts by figures like Johannes Kepler. By the 19th century, the phrase Common Era was appearing in diverse contexts, including Jewish scholarship, to allow non-Christians to use the Gregorian calendar without affirming the divinity of Jesus.

Adoption of this notation varies significantly by region and institution. In China, the term for Common Era was officially adopted in 1949. Conversely, some Western institutions, such as the National Trust in the UK, maintain the traditional BC/AD style. Academic and public usage remains a subject of debate; some argue that because the epoch remains tied to the birth of Jesus, the new labels do not truly escape their Christian origins. Despite this, the system persists as a practical necessity for global communication.

The debate highlights the tension between historical tradition and modern inclusivity. While some scholars find the shift essential for multicultural dialogue, others, like Raimon Panikkar, argue that the system still imposes a Christian-centric timeline on the world. Nevertheless, the notation has become standard in many international, scientific, and educational settings, serving as a bridge between civilizations that otherwise rely on distinct, localized calendar systems.

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