Modern calendars are based on the (erroneous but commonly believed) year of Jesus birth. This is 2006; presumptively Jesus 2006th birthday is this year. With each usage, we subtly indicate that we are living in a Christian time.
While the terms BC and AD are on their way out and replaced with BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era), it nonetheless remains that the calendar is centered on Jesus birth.
SO.... in a multicultural / multifaith world, what year should we choose as year 1? What event is so definitive across human culture that it deserves to be cited forever more as the beginning of our current era?
2006-11-28 04:25:21 · 7 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
we should stick with the one we have now, there's no need to muddle the waters over such a small issue. ^^
2006-11-28 04:27:39 · answer #1 · answered by PandaMan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have thought about this questions many times. since human history is so complex and so old and it is spread out over most of the planet, what event can represent year 1? We also must consider that civilization might be a lot older than is commonly believed. for instance, the flood story of Noah and Gilgamesh seems to be based on actual facts. There seems to have been thriving civilizations that were destroyed by a world-wide catastrophe.
Well, this could be a start. If we believe, as a few scientists do, that the catastrophe occurred about 19,000 years ago, can we agree to accept a date not long after that as year 1? What do you think?
2006-11-28 12:33:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, I think its a little late now to be thinking about this. Maybe we shouldn't count from Jesus' time, but we do in the modern world, and it seems silly to change that now.
I'm 100% pro separation of church and state, but this is pushing it for me. Its already become the standard.
If it were up to me when we started keeping time, I would have developed a system similar to the metric system, based on 10's. None of this 60 seconds in a minute, 24 hours in a day b/s.
2006-11-28 12:31:10 · answer #3 · answered by heather v 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like 1 AD. I'm not aware that this is a big issue, but if we want a common basis, I think sitting down and talking about it, we could come up with something.
2006-11-28 12:28:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wasn't Jesus born in 6 BC or something?
2006-11-28 12:31:16 · answer #5 · answered by MishMash [I am not one of your fans] 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about we start with the birth of Ralph Macchio, the Karate Kid?
2006-11-28 12:31:59 · answer #6 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you know how big a pain in the a$$ it would be to change our dating system?
2006-11-28 12:30:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋