BBC blir anklaget for “absurd politisk korrekthet” etter at det statlige kringkastingsselskapet har droppet de vanlige begrepene Før og Etter Kristus (BC og AD) til fordel for Før og Etter “Fellesæraen” (BCE og CE). Selskapets avdeling for religion og etikk sier at endringene er nødvendige for å unngå å fornærme ikke-kristne, men talsmenn for landets religiøse minoriteter er splittet i spørsmålet. Den frittalende, tidligere biskopen av Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, mener at endringene er unødvendige, og at de ikke vil oppnå det BBC vil at de skal oppnå fordi begrepet stadig refererer til det samme:

It states: ‘As the BBC is committed to impartiality it is appropriate that we use terms that do not offend or alienate non-Christians.

In line with modern practice, BCE/CE (Before Common Era/Common Era) are used as a religiously neutral alternative to BC/AD.’

But the move has angered Christians, mystified other faith leaders and been branded unnecessary by the Plain English Campaign. Critics say the new terms are meaningless because, just like AD and BC, they still denote years in relation to the life of Christ.

End of an era: The website for BBC Religion and Ethics, headed by commissioning editor Aaqil Ahmed, who is a Muslim, is littered with references to Common Era and Before Common Era.

Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, said: ‘I think this amounts to the dumbing down of the Christian basis of our culture, language and history. These changes are unnecessary and they don’t achieve what the BBC wants them to achieve.

‘Whether you use Common Era or Anno Domini, the date is actually still the same and the reference point is still the birth of Christ.’

Også BBCs nettsider for skolebarn, BBC’s Learning and GCSE Bitesize, benytter de nye begrepene. På nettsiden Learning forklarer BBC at BCE/CE “er mer akseptabelt for et større antall trosretninger og religioner”.

This is not the first time the BBC has caused controversy over its use of alien language to promote a politically correct, Europhile agenda.

Its increasing reliance on metric measurements rather than the imperial system and its occasional reference to expenditure in terms of euros rather than pounds has infuriated many viewers.

Several prominent Christians last night blasted the Corporation for sidelining Christianity.

The Rev Peter Mullen, Anglican chaplain to the London Stock Exchange, said: ‘This is absurd political correctness and these new terms do not mean anything to anyone.

‘I think it’s an example of the BBC trying to undermine Christianity by pushing an aggressive secularism.

‘I would be very surprised if any other faith had complained about the use of Anno Domini and Before Christ.’

Ann Widdecombe, the Catholic former Tory Minister, said: ‘I think what the BBC is doing is offensive to Christians. They are discarding terms that have been around for centuries and are well understood by everyone.

‘What are they going to do next? Get rid of the entire calendar on the basis that it has its roots in Christianity?’ A spokesman for the Church of England said that although both terms were common, BC and AD ‘more clearly reflect Britain’s Christian heritage’.

Several of the BBC’s most well-known presenters said they saw no problem with the established system of AD and BC.

John Humphrys, who presents Radio 4’s Today programme and TV’s Mastermind, said: ‘I will continue to use AD and BC because I don’t see a problem.

‘They are terms which most people use and are clearly understood.’ Historian Simon Schama, who has presented several programmes for the BBC, said: ‘As a Jew I don’t have any problems with AD or BC. But CE and BCE are used frequently in Jewish circles.

‘I have been familiar with them since the Fifties, so it’s not like the BBC have just made them up.’

Andre religiøse ledere er splittet i spørsmålet. Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui ved Det muslimske institutt undres over endringene og sier at at han ikke kjenner til noen som har blitt fornærmet av begrepene BC og AD, mens rabbi Jonathan Romain fra synagogen i Maidenhead sier at han kan se logikken bak endringene, som han mener er mer inkluderende:

He said: ‘ “In the year of Our Lord” is a religious view that is not shared by many across the world, or even the UK. The change to BCE and CE is simply more inclusive.’

The BBC said last night: ‘The BBC has not issued editorial guidance on the date systems.

‘Both AD and BC, and CE and BCE are widely accepted date systems and the decision on which term to use lies with individual production and editorial teams.’

Daily Mail: BBC turns its back on year of Our Lord: 2,000 years of Christianity jettisoned for politically correct ‘Common Era’