Why did BCE and CE become alternatives to BC and AD?

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Kalendarium (“Calendar”) by Regiomontanus — calendar First complete printed title page for the *Kalendarium* (“Calendar”) by Regiomontanus, 1476.

The terms BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) serve as alternatives to BC (Before Christ) and AD (anno domini) because they are more secular in nature. While BCE and CE describe the exact same time periods as the traditional system, they are not explicitly tied to Christianity.12

The BC and AD system was developed by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century and later popularized by St. Bede the Venerable. Because these terms are rooted in Christian theology—referencing the birth of Jesus Christ—the use of BCE and CE has grown as a way to provide a neutral, secular alternative for chronological dating. These terms began appearing sporadically in the 18th century and have been used more consistently in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.21