Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) are conventions used in the Gregorian or Julian calendar to specify years since or years before the Christian epoch. They correspond exactly to Anno Domini (AD) and Before Christ (BC): "2026 CE" is the same year as "AD 2026", as are "400 BCE" and "400 BC". BCE/CE are used to avoid religious associations by not referring to Jesus as Dominus ('Lord').