Which event in man's history has had more impact on humanity than the birth of Jesus Christ? This is a great question! I say we put it to a vote so that the entire sea of humanity can participate. All 6 Billion of them. My vote goes to the Atomic Bomb or the First Man in Space. The unleashing of the power of the atom in ’45 was the dawn of an era in which we, for the first time in the history of man, had the power to destroy ourselves and the world. The second represents the infancy of the ‘next big thing’ –interstellar migration, which we won’t see for some centuries yet. Leaving earth is leaving the cradle! It’s going to happen sooner or later. (later) 
Again, that was the beginning. The latter seems kind of flimsy now… but in a 1000 years?
Perhaps when the first colony pod leaves earth to strike out across the stars (spreading the virus of humanity), we should reset the odometer? We’d be starting over after all.
In the places that I saw the change to CE (common era) and BCE (before common era) only the labels were changed and the referance to the years stayed the same.
Personally, I don’t see what’s so ‘common’ about the ‘common era’. 1AD seems just as remote as 400AD or 1000AD or 1400AD. You’re right, I think they’re were just trying to take the Christ reference out in as painless a way as possible.
Personally, I tolerate all of the other religions that I don't practice (no matter how silly or wrong I personally think they are) and I accept the teachings of the religion that I do actively participate in.
From my pragmatic perspective, as long as you ...
a.) You know what you want from your beliefs.
b.) What you want is salutary for both yourself and others.
c.) Your beliefs provide you with what you want.
... then more power to you! I absolutely live by this. If someone is a devout anything, and his devoutness is serving him and the community he touches, then it is a right and good thing. If they’re getting good results, don’t knock it! Pragmatism in all things.
