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BCE / CE... instead of BC / AD... ?
Whatever you think of the Vatican &c., I wonder what the general view is about this apparent proposal by the BBC.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...hypocrisy.html
I don't think I'm unduly stupid or remote from the modern world, but I'd never even heard of the expressions BCE and CE. Am I unduly stupid and remote from the modern world?
"The isle is full of noises... Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not"
The Tempest, Act III scene 2 ll 148-9
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the terms have been in academic use for some years now ....
"Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in all perfection. As the ends of such a partnership cannot be obtained in many generations, it becomes a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.”
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Perhaps I am too close to the real world then...Originally Posted by aka Calum Da Jazbo
"The isle is full of noises... Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not"
The Tempest, Act III scene 2 ll 148-9
Full Member
No, Caliban, just not quite "up-to-speed" with what goes on in US & British University Cultural Studies courses (at least, that's where I first encountered the expressions). Whenever I've used them (admitedly not very often) either it's raised a wry smirk at the aging leftie trying to look trendy, or I've had to explain myself, or (even more frequently) both! I've never met a Muslim who's been "offended" by "BC/AD" but I still think "BCE/CE" useful for atheists like myself to avoid having to refer to "Our Lord"!Am I unduly stupid and remote from the modern world?
Best Wishes.
Full Member
I think the only choice is to begin all over again, right now.
Oops! - too late again! I mean, RIGHT NOW!
Full Member
This was on Feedback the other day. It is apparently a non-story, whipped up by the Daily Mail and friends. The BBC has not made any particular recommendations as to whether to use BC/AD or BCE/CE; various academics heard on the radio have been using BCE/CE (because indeed in the academic worlds involved in theology and ancient history BCE/CE has been common practice for ages), and some listeners have fretted that this was, ahem Theological Correctness Gone Mad!!!!! - and of course, our lovely media have happily jumped on a fruitful band-waggon. Why don't we have a :sigh: emoticon??
Full Member
Beautifully explained, vints.
I thank the Telegraph for raising this issue of religious hegemony, of which AD/BC is an example and I'm too too thrilled by the Vatican's hysterical response which amounts to what our American cousins call a 'doozy'!
Host
Vin-de-paille, I seem to have been causing you to sigh rather a lot this afternoon! Apologies!
"The isle is full of noises... Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not"
The Tempest, Act III scene 2 ll 148-9
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Host
That'll do!!
I shall have to find some new way of wearying Monsieur Vin-de-table, so that he can deploy it!!
"The isle is full of noises... Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not"
The Tempest, Act III scene 2 ll 148-9
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