Why did the Jehovah's Witnesses change their dating notation from B.C./A.D. to B.C.E./C.E.?

Question

The information reiterated what was said in the May 1958 issue of The Watchtower pp.297 - 298 in the article "Why the Jewish Count of Time Differs."
I know this point is not important to you, but when you ask non-JW's to examine their religion (I'm assuming you'd want them to examine yours as well), it really stands out that JW's are using a very different dating system than any other Christian religion, and for the oddest reason - and I quote, "to avoid recognition of Jesus..."
I know this slips by as very ordinary to you (in general), but yet isn't that how Satan works? He makes the lie sound like truth.
We mean no disrespect, and we certainly appreciate all your time and effort that you put into helping us. We really hope there is another reason for the change, something that makes sense. Sometimes we think that as no human being is perfect, so to, there is no religion that is perfect. Sometimes it seems like each religion has a piece of

the truth, but not in totality. I'm not sure, but I do know that this is the main obstacle that prevents us from moving forward and getting past the first chapter.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the bible to teach that Christians have a relative subjection to secular governments, or "superior authorities".

(Romans 13:1) Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities... the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God


Bible students may recall that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were actually three Hebrews named Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The Babylonian government insisted that these faithful Jews use names which may have tended to glorify pagan gods, and these faithful Jews obediently used these distasteful Babylonian names. Yet later events clearly show these Hebrews to have had absolute integrity for true worship. Clearly, the matter of a distasteful name can be tolerated by true worshippers.

Like those faithful Hebrews, Jehovah's Witnesses use many units and standards despite names which fail to honor God and Christ. For example, the days of the week originally were chosen to honor paganisms, such as the pagan worship of the Sun (Sunday), Moon (Monday), Oden (Wednesday), Thor (Thursday), and Saturn (Saturday). Jehovah's Witnesses recognize that secular governments have formally established these names, and the Scriptural precedent allows true worshippers to tolerate their use.

Similarly, most secular governments replaced "BC" and "AD" decades ago with the more universal terms "BCE" and "CE". When Jehovah's Witnesses use these universal terms, they are working to demonstrate their relative subjection to secular governments.

Answer 2

MAKING SENSE OF B.C./A.D. AND B.C.E./C.E. DOES MAKE SENSE

Time after Adam makes sense, time after the flood makes sense, time before Christ and Christ was born two years before bible time ended or two years before common era or two years before christian era [ there was no christian era until after Christ was age 30 ], Christ was age 35 in the year 33 [ and 1974 years ago plus year 33 is ],
at 2007 after Christ was in Roman Empire #6 or What? 2007 of our common era and 1977 years of the christian era or what?
WHO IS PUTTING THOUGHT INTO THIS THING WITH TIME?

People who are interest in the time and in the proper expression of time, what is the bible time? Do religions in general have a taboo about bible time?

It would take some one that really cared to figure it out, to turn it every which way but loose to make sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was correct and represented
the most high God, instead of misrepresenting him. Who is more intelligent than God and Christ? So why are we given 4004 for bible years, [ some less than that ], some 4025, 4026 and 4049. DOES THE BIBLE KNOW?
WHAT AGE WOULD ADAM BE TODAY ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?
John 8:32; 17:17; Is the truth in math just as important as every thing else?
Why do religions raise the questions, but never become a part of the solution?

Answer 3

Don't blame the JW. This is the work of those who seek to remove any commonly used notation that might infer a belief in a higher being.
It really started when A.D. was instituted-- anno domini doesn't 'sound' religious. And for those who reject their Creator and God it was easier to swallow than 'The Year of Our Lord'. And probably shorter to write down.
We are now in the common era. Doesn't that make you feel special?
I say put CHRIST back in our dates. Before Christ BC!! and back into the winter holiday merry CHRISTmas!
Stop wanting to be common.

Answer 4

After becoming to be one in each and every of Jehovah's Witnesses, I replaced dramatically, for the extra effective. I used to rejoice Christmas, birthdays, and something of the trip journeys, and that they by no skill have been given me closer to Jehovah God. James 4:8 says we could draw on the fringe of God. as quickly as we draw on the fringe of Jehovah God He then can help us to have exhilaration over issues as properly pagan trip journeys, and practices. One reason a individual ameliorations lots whilst they regulate into one in each and every of Jehovah's Witnesses is by technique of the fact they comprehend what God's Kingdom is, and that they then prefer to stay in cohesion with that kingdom association. In God's Kingdom, there will be not extra conflict, not extra mourning nor outcry nor discomfort, (Revelation 21:3=4) because of the fact all this international is gets replaced with God's Kingdom and your cousin should be a factor of that; as do I.

Answer 5

They didn't. It has become ocnventional dating notation, and has nothing to do with Jehovah's Witnesses.
EDIT:
By the way, it is generally accepted now, among secular and religious scholars, that the birth of Jesus was around 4 BCE (or 4 BC, whichever you prefer!). CE could be either "Christian era" or "Common era".

Answer 6

As noted, we did not develop this method of dating, but we adopted it because our message is for all people, Christian or other.

(In addition to the fact it is more accurate to say "CE, Common Era" and "BCE, Before CE" because if you go with BC/AD, then Jesus was born about two years before Christ!)

Answer 7

Not everyone in the world believes in Christianity.
The term "CE" the secular term preferred by academics in some fields (e.g. by the American Anthropological Associationhttp://www.aaanet.org/pubs/style_guide.pdf).

Answer 8

B.C.E is more secular it means before Christs existence. Inferring Christ hasnt always been around even before he came to earth

Answer 9

I have not heard that they did. But BCE and CE are new, non-religious designations for dates, and are in increasingly common use. (BCE stands for Before Common Era.)

Answer 10

Because they don't believe in Jesus.

The notation BC means before Christ.
BCE means before the common era.
CE means the common era.
AD means anno Domini- The coming of God.

You see how they took out the reference to the Lord Jesus. Clever don't you think?