THOSE who promote the use of BCE and CE in place of BC and AD may be well-meaning but their practice is muddleheaded. One may either approve or deplore the astonishing success of the Christian religion in overthrowing the traditional religions of the Roman empire and of Europe, but the chronology which we use in numbering from AD 1 depends on that success and has no other rationale.

That is historical fact. To disguise it by talk of a "common era"which privileges a date of no significance to other religions is to misuse the expression "common era". It is not, with all respect to Councillor Lynch, a question of fairness to other religions: it is a question of truth and intellectual honesty. No religious group should be offended by fact.

I am aware, as Mr Rodgers points out, that many biblical scholars have embraced BCE and CE but their ecumenical hearts are I fear ruling their heads. Most Greek and Roman historians have declined to follow their practice. To cover up truths about the past with pallid euphemisms in the interests of some modern agenda is in the last resort intellectual corruption.

As such it should have no place in the museums of Glasgow.

Dr Ronald A Knox, Department of Classics, University of Glasgow.