Media Release
Friday October 21st, 2011
The Australian Christian Lobby has welcomed assurances from the government that the historically significant dating terms of Before Christ (BC) and Anno Domini (AD) will continue to remain in the new National Curriculum.
Managing Director Jim Wallace said the comments by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority at yesterday’s Senate hearings was a win in the battle against political correctness.
“Using the terms BC and AD reflects the strong cultural basis of accepted time and dating practice throughout Western civilisation, which places the birth of Christ as the crucial turning point of history in the west,” he said.
“Using the terms Before Common Era (BCE) and Common Era (CE) attempt to ignore a historical reality which can never be erased – the birth of Christ,” he said.
Mr Wallace acknowledged comments from the authority at yesterday’s Senate hearings that the terms BCE and CE would be part of an optional suggested learning activity but expressed disappointment that they had been introduced without any proper consultation.
“We are disappointed that the terms BCE and CE have crept into academia in recent years without any proper public debate,” he said.
A great win! Thank-you ACL for standing up for common sense! The National Curriculum must be free of Orwellian-style child brain-washing.
This is not a glorious victory. This is how these guys always operate. We let the stuff they want in as an option, just give a little so we are seen to be reasonable and for the next few years it is push, push, push until they get what they really want. We cannot afford to give an inch in this debate, and if we haven’t realised this, our eyes have been closed for decades. If we do not get serious and into the battle soon and make a stand it will be too late. It just seems so reasonable to let the other terminology in for people who find the whole idea of Jesus so offensive, after all Jesus never offended anyone did He?This is the thin end of the proverbial wedge again
As Sean says, it is a small victory. Perhaps it should be pointed out that CE and BCE can be turned into Christian Era and Before Christian Era. The term “common” is rather ludicrous anyway – as it is “common” only with regard to Christ, and therefore a tacit acceptance of the pivotal starting points! I wonder if pushing the idea that the C stands for Christian would have any impact on the drive for the change?
A couple of years ago I enrolled in a course on Christianity and early church history as part of my Arts degree at a secular university. The lecturer running this course used her church credentials against her name, similar to PhDs using Dr. This same lecturer also informed students that she would not accept BC and AD, and would penalise (in marks) those failing to use BCE and CE. Whilst BC and AD might remain in the national curriculum (K-12), the gatekeepers of higher education may have very different ideas.
Craig,
You could have gone to your local member of Parliament or Her Manager and you would have removed her bias discrimination.