BCE and CE versus BC and AD

BCE is an abbreviation for Before the Common Era
and is used in scientific circles instead of the rather dubious BC (Before Christ). As we all (should) know, the Biblical Jesus of Nazareth was born in circa 7 BCE and lived until 33 CE.

Following this, CE stands for Common Era and refers to our present calendar which now counts 2009 years and has - for all practical purposes - relegated the calendars of most other cultures/religions (Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, Chinese) to merely ceremonial ones.

Christians would use AD (Anno Domini - In the year of the Lord) instead of CE, but they would then have to believe as well that the year 2008 is perhaps the year 2015.

A quandary !?