Why do Christians seem to think that A.D. means 'After Death'?

Question

You'd be surprised how often I hear or read that ignorance.

I am referring to Christians I know who say that! I will change nothing seven!

Seems to be some confusion here. How can it mean the year of his birth and the year of his death at the same time. Christians should know such a thing. What year is it now then? I know, do you? I think I will switch to the Chinese calendar!

Forgive me seven.....I get what you mean now....good one!

Answer 1

For the same reason they believe that evolution is the devil I guess.

Answer 2

What does it mean then ?? I'm not being an a ss I really would like to know what I means... I was always led to believe that BC was before Christ and AD was after death?? I'm not religious but I have never ever heard anything else. You can answer in the add comments section. Maybe I think this because I am raised in North America but you likely have another meaning for it .. I always thought of it as a measure of time I know that Christ did exist and almost everyone knows of him and his time era.. Weather you believe in him as the saviour he did exist just the same..

Answer 3

Ignorance is never surprising to those whom admit their own.

I'm not sure why you limit this misconception to Christians, but the incorrect belief that the abbreviation for 'Anno Domini' stands for 'After Death' boils down to simply applied logic. Most people whom have gotten this little factoid wrong just used inference based on the context because they were either out of class that day or likewise missed the boat somehow on the real abbreviation due to poor luck or a poor attention span.

But their logic (which really isn't that far off) makes sense: B.C. equals "Before Christ" as in "Before the Birth of Christ"; therefore, A.D. equals "After Death" as in "After the Death of Christ". Ultimately it's basically the same concept, isn't it? The main difference is that DEATH is incorrect as it applies to Christianity. However, "In the Year of Our Lord" isn't really appropriate for non-Christians, now is it? Perhaps some people are not so ignorant as much as morally compelled to stick to the "wrong" abbreviation...just some food for thought.

The fact that Latin is, for all intents and purposes, a dead language has probably added some spice to that brew.

I wouldn't be so quick to point out the ignorance of others. Think of your own ignorance compared to that of the great thinkers of history. Can you hold a candle to a DaVinci or an Einstein? Or, if you are religious, think about how foolish you are in comparison to the Almighty. Scripture warns that one who calls his brother a fool is in danger of hellfire; that is because we are all ignorant fools compared to God and all on equal ground in the eyes of the Creator.

Answer 4

Anno Domini (Latin: "In the Year of the Lord"), abbreviated as AD, defines an epoch based on the traditionally-reckoned year of the conception or birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Similarly, Before Christ (from the Ancient Greek "Christos" or "Anointed One", referring to Jesus), abbreviated as BC, is used in the English language to denote years before the start of this epoch. Some non-Christians use the abbreviations AD and BC without intending to acknowledge the Christian connotation. Some people prefer the alternatives 'CE' and 'BCE', arguing that they are more neutral terms

Answer 5

They probably are parroting what others have said; most Christians do that, just take what someone else has said and regurgitate it without giving it serious thought. Anyone who knows that it means "Anno Domini" has at least investigated. Most of those don't know what THAT means, either. (See http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060922072415AAvFOLq
for a more extensive discussion. NOT the answer chosen as best, but the 2nd answer in the answer section.

Answer 6

The hip thing to say these days is B.C.E (before the common area) and C.E. (in the common era).

B.C. and A.D are on the way out.

A.D. doesn't account for the 1st 5 years of Jesus life.

Answer 7

Of course it means anno Domini - in the Year of our Lord. But the fact that many don't know shows that many ministers, though good at collecting money, have failed as teachers.

Answer 8

It means Anno Domini. It's supposedly the date of Christ's birth. However, I've seen sources that say that He was possibly born in either 3 B.C.E. or 7 B.C.E.

Answer 9

Not all Christians seem to think it, and some non-Christians think it as well.

It means Anno Domini, or "In the year of our Lord".

Answer 10

When I was a kid.. some 40 or more years ago, that IS what it meant. It wasn't until all the court cases that it became "common era". If you look, Jesse death did mark the AD! Sorry Political correct crowd.. history ca be re-written, but some will remember!

Answer 11

anno domini
Hope that helps....
Most people mistake it cause that would make sense... AD... After Death....
But nope...It stands for Anno Domini