It totally doesn't
it's something in Latin. But without Wikipedia, I can't wade in here pretending to be a smart arse.
(leviticus no longer likes the cut of your gib on, Wed 18 Jan 2012, 16:05, 2 replies)

annum domini
"the year of our lord"

Brain - like wikipedia, only slower, and with infinitely more errors.
(leviticus no longer likes the cut of your gib on, Wed 18 Jan 2012, 16:10, closed)

But it's deprecated now.
You're supposed to say BCE and CE for "before common era" and "common era" so as not to offend people who don't beleive in Jesus but are pissyenough about these things to be offended amyhow.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Wed 18 Jan 2012, 16:22, closed)

Christ, it's not a pissing contest
:)
(leviticus no longer likes the cut of your gib on, Wed 18 Jan 2012, 16:27, closed)

BCE and CE have been around for yonks.
It's got bugger all to do with offending Jesusites.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Wed 18 Jan 2012, 16:28, closed)

CE and BCE may have been around a while.
They certainly weren't, however, in common usage when I was in school and a quick check of a dictionary from the early '90s shows they didn't think to include BCE but did include BC. So there's certainly been a shift recently
I would be very surprised if BCE and CE were used for any other reason than to prevent religious offence (certainly the unreliable sod that is Wikipedia thinks this).
Edit: Also I said it was for people who didn't believe in Jesus but were pissy enough to get upset anyhow. I'm sure the Jesusists don't care either way.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Wed 18 Jan 2012, 19:26, closed)

Anno domini
Or "um" or whatever.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 18 Jan 2012, 17:16, closed)