Slice of PIE: To Whom is “CE” Common?

For the past few years, I’ve been running into the machinations of silent historical revisionists.

What is historical revisionism? Wiki has this to say: “For the denial and distortion of well-established historical facts…that is part of the academic field of history, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event. The revisionist assumes the interpretation of a historical event or period, as accepted by the majority of scholars, needs significant change.”

Where have I noticed these silent changes? Textbooks have started to call the current year 2010 CE. The “CE” stands for “Common Era” and replaces what the Gregorian calendar used, “AD” or “Anno Domini”, which means “Year of Our Lord”. The “Lord” referred to in the Gregorian calendar is of course, Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord of all humanity.

As well, all BC dates are rendered BCE, which stands for “Before Common Era”. The original BC stands for “Before Christ”.

I’ve never seen this addressed let alone discussed, but here’s my question: To whom is CE common? All I see is an attempt to cut Christ out of history – again. No one is discussing it. No one is speaking of it. The silent revisionists are simply changing history to get rid of Christ (whom they intensely dislike).

“Oh, we aren’t anti-Christian!” they may shout, stomping their revisionist foot. “We’re just trying to make…” Um, what exactly ARE you trying to make, my dear revisionist?

Let’s look at this logically. A TRUE revisionist would suggest that we restart the calendar entirely. Several SF writers chose an important date and restarted the calendar from August 6, 1945 – the US atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima and called that year 1 of the Atomic Era. I wouldn’t have any problem with that. If we’re going to rewrite history to our religious preference, then let’s just DO IT.

So, today would be (for convenience’ sake) January 31, 55 AE. Cool.

But what about the Chinese? There are more of them than anyone else on Earth. Surely THEIR calendar should be used to indicate a truly Common Era! Today, then? The Year of the Metal Tiger, 4707 (98^th year, 12^th month, 17^th day). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_calendar)

Perhaps the Muslims should have something to say here as well. There are 1.2 billion believers. That date should certainly be considered a possibility for a “Common Era”. Today, then? 16 Safar, 1431. (http://www.islamicfinder.org/Hcal/index.php)

How about the Hebrew calendar? Today is Shevat 16, 5770.

Persia? Bahman 11, 1388.

Certainly India, with a current population of 1.1 billion could present a case for candidacy to be the basis of a “Common Era” calendar. Today would be Magha 11, 1931.

(These last three dates come from http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/calendar/)

But no, my a-revisionist friends. I’m persuaded that the evidence indicates that historical revisionists intend NOT to find and name a “Common Era”, but rather to GET JESUS OUT OF HISTORY, and to get Him out as quietly, sneakily and safely as possible.

Unfortunately, they don’t realize that even if they disappear Him from history, He will still be there, forgiving them of their sins and inviting them in to be one with Him.