I am writing this on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024.
The calculation that led to this year being 2024 is the most famous Christian version. It was not invented until 525 AD. AD was used in the past and means “The Year of the Lord” (Jesus) in English. BC was used to indicate “Before Christ.” Today, most scholars use CE for “Common Era” and BCE for “Before the Common Era.”
The author of this calendar thought he was calculating since the birth of Jesus. He believed that Jesus was born in the year 1. He made a mistake. A careful reading of the New Testament shows that Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 4 BC.
The author forgot that in the New Testament Gospel, Matthew 2:16, Joseph and Mary were visited by an angel who told them Herod would attempt to kill Jesus, their son. Herod died in 4 BC. So, Jesus was born four or six years before Christ.
People should not think I am mocking Christianity. We all make mistakes. See my article “The Truth About the Untrue ‘Since Creation’ Calendar” used by many Jews today.
Shalom Rabbi: Can you post the link for your article; “The Truth About the Untrue “Since Creation’ Calendar” I can’t find it.
Good idea. I will post it soon.
Well, well, well, as a Christian, I should add Jesus wasn’t born in a stable. It was a katluma. Ah, and he wasn’t born on December 25th. He was born in the spring. Shepherds aren’t in the fields in the winter.
I placed this in one of the two books that I am currently writing. I call it, “Simple, Thoughtful Ideas.” On the next page I put,
Intelligence and Humor
It seemed to me that an intelligent person had to have a sense of humor.
Then I thought that God, who most likely had the most potent intelligence, must have a highly developed sense of humor.
But then I realized that I just opened a Pandora box.
So, I stopped thinking about this.
The other book that I am writing is serious, “Who Was the Biblical Samson.”
Sept. 15, 2023 started the new year. Every calendar is only a convention. Dear Rabbi Israel Drazin, I am wishing you a continued strong spirit !!! The Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah, is celebrated on the first day of the month of Tishrei, usually in early autumn. It is known as the New Year for years, sabbatical years, jubilees, plantation, and tithe of vegetables. However, Jewish tradition actually recognizes four different “New Years.” The first day of Nisan is considered the New Year for the counting of the reign of Jewish kings and for the ordering of the holidays. Elul 1 (or Tishrei 1, according to some) is the New Year for the tithing of animals. And finally, Tu B’Shvat is considered the New Year of the Trees for the tithing of fruit from trees. The main celebration of the Jewish New Year, however, is Rosh Hashanah in Tishrei. Best: stephen
https://www.rmg.co.uk/sites/default/files/Calendars-from-around-the-world.pdf A comparative view of calendars as cultural convention or compass can make great sense, imo.
I agree. Looking at the different histories in different nations about calendars teaches us much.