Isahluko 3

Imicu Efanayo Ezinganekwaneni

 1-3. (a) Kungani izinganekwane kufanele zisithakazelise? (b) Yini esizoyihlanganisa kulesisahluko?

KUNGANI sicabangela izinganekwane? Azizona yini izindaba nje eziqanjiwe ezivela esikhathini esidlule samandulo? Nakuba kuyiqiniso ukuthi eziningi zisekelwe kokuqanjiwe, ezinye zisekelwe eqinisweni. Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela izinganekwane nezinsumansumane ezitholakala emhlabeni kabanzi ezisekelwe eqinisweni ngoZamcolo womhlaba, iBhayibheli elilandisa ngawo.

² Isizathu sokucabangela izinganekwane siwukuthi ziyisisekelo sezinkolelo namasiko okusatholakala ezinkolweni namuhla. Ngokwesibonelo, ukukholelwa emphefumulweni ongafi kungathungathwa kusukela ezinganekwaneni zasendulo zama-Asiriya nabaseBabiloni kudlule ezinganekwaneni zabaseGibithe, amaGreki, namaRoma kuze kufike kweLobukholwa, lapho okuye kwaba khona yimfundiso eyisisekelo emfundisweni yalo yenkolo. Izinganekwane ziwubufakazi bokuthi abantu basendulo babefuna onkulunkulu, kanye nenjongo yokuphila. Kulesahluko sizohlanganisa kafushane ezinye zezihloko ezivamile ezivela ezinganekwaneni zezimpucuko ezinkulu zomhlaba. Njengoba sizibukeza lezinganekwane, sizophawula indlela indalo, uZamcolo, onkulunkulu bamanga nawonkulunkulu abangabantu, umphefumulo ongafi, ukukhulekela ilanga okuvela ngayo ngokuvamile njengemicu efanayo kulengxubevange yezinganekwane. Kodwa kungani lokhu kufanele kube njalo?

³ Ngokuvamile kunomnyombo weqiniso elingokomlando, umuntu, noma isenzakalo esiye senziwa ihaba kamuva noma sasontwa ukuba sakhe inganekwane. Elinye lalamaqiniso angokomlando, umbhalo ogciniwe weBhayibheli ngendalo.a

Iqiniso Nokuqanjiwe Ngendalo

 4, 5. Zaziyini ezinye zezinkolelo zezinganekwane zamaGreki?

⁴ Ziningi izinganekwane ngendalo, kodwa ayikho neyodwa yazo enokuhleleka okulula kombhalo ogciniwe weBhayibheli ngendalo. (Genesise, izahluko 1, 2) Ngokwesibonelo, ukulandisa okunikezwa ezinganekwaneni zamaGreki kuzwakala kuwubuqaba. UmGreki wokuqala ukuba abhale izinganekwane ngendlela ehlelekile kwakunguHesiod, owabhala iTheogony yakhe ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili leminyaka B.C.E. Uchaza indlela onkulunkulu nezwe okwaqala ngayo. Uqala ngoGaea, noma uGaia (uMhlaba), ozala u-Uranus (iZulu). Okulandelayo kuchazwa isazi uJasper Griffin kwethi The Oxford History of the Classical World:

⁵ “UHesiod ulandisa indaba, eyaziwa uHomer, yokulandelana konkulunkulu besibhakabhaka. Ekuqaleni u-Uranus wayephakeme, kodwa wacindezela abantwana bakhe, futhi uGaia wakhuthaza indodana kaUranus uCronos ukuba imthene. UCronos yena washwabadela abantwana bakhe siqu, kwaze kwaba yilapho umkakhe uRhea emnikeza khona itshe ukuba alidle esikhundleni sikaZeus; umntwana uZeus wakhuliswa eCrete, waphoqelela uyise ukuba ahlanze izingane zakwabo, futhi esizwa yizo kanye nabanye wanqoba uCronos namaTitan akhe wabaphonsa eTartarus.”

 6. NgokukaJasper Griffin, yikuphi okungenzeka ukuthi kuwumthombo wezinganekwane zamaGreki?

⁶ AmaGreki ayithola kumuphi umthombo lenganekwane eyinqaba? Umlobi ofanayo uyaphendula: “Indabuko yayo eyisisekelo kubonakala ingeyaseSumer. Kulezindaba zasempumalanga sithola ukulandelana konkulunkulu, futhi umongo wokuthena, ukugwinya, nowetshe uvela ngezindlela ezithi nakuba zihluka, kodwa zibonise ukuthi ukufana kwazo nezindaba zikaHesiod akukhona ukufana okwenzeke ngenhlanhla nje.” Kudingeka sibheke eMesopotamiya yasendulo naseBabiloni njengomthombo wezinganekwane eziningi ezamfimfela kwezinye izimpucuko.

 7. (a) Kungani kunzima ukuthola ukwaziswa ngezinganekwane zasendulo zamaChina? (b) Enye inganekwane yamaChina ikuchaza kanjani ukudalwa komhlaba nomuntu? (Qhathanisa noGenesise 1:27; 2:7.)

⁷ Inganekwane yasendulo yenkolo yesizwe samaChina akulula ukuyichaza ngaso sonke isikhathi, njengoba imilando eminingi elotshiwe yashiswa enkathini ephakathi kuka-213-191 B.C.E.b Nokho, ezinye izinganekwane ziye zasala, njengaleyo echaza indlela umhlaba owakhiwa ngayo. Uprofesa wobuciko baseMpumalanga, uAnthony Christie, uyabhala: “Sizwa kuthiwa uChaos (okusho inhlakanhlaka) wayenjengeqanda lesikhukhukazi. IZulu noma uMhlaba kwakungakabibikho. Kuleloqanda kwazalwa uP’an-ku, kuyilapho ngezingxenye eziwugqinsi zaleloqanda kwenziwa uMhlaba kwathi ngezingxenye zalo eziwuketshezi kwenziwa iSibhakabhaka. UP’an-ku uvezwa njengesichwe, egqoke isikhumba sebhere noma isiphuku samahlamvu. Ngeminyaka engu-18 000 ibanga phakathi koMhlaba neSibhakabhaka lakhula nsuku zonke [ngamamitha amathathu], noP’an-ku wakhula ngezinga elifanayo kangangokuba umzimba wakhe wagcwalisa lesosikhala. Lapho efa, izitho ezihlukahlukene zomzimba wakhe zaba izici ezihlukahlukene zemvelo. . . . Amazenze ayesemzimbeni wakhe aba uhlanga lwabantu.”

 8. Ngokwenganekwane yamaInca, izilimi zavela kanjani?

⁸ ENingizimu Melika inganekwane yamaInca ichaza indlela umdali osenganekwaneni anikeza ngayo isizwe ngasinye ukukhuluma. “Wanikeza isizwe ngasinye ulimi esasizolukhuluma . . . Wanikeza isizwe ngasinye ubuntu nokuphefumula kuhlanganise namadoda nabesifazane futhi wayala isizwe ngasinye ukuba sishone ngaphansi komhlaba. Ngakho isizwe ngasinye sadlula ngaphansi komhlaba futhi savumbukela ezindaweni esabelwe zona.” (The Fables and Rites of the Yncas, kaCristóbal de Molina of Cuzco, ecashunwa kuyiSouth American Mythology) Kulendaba kubonakala sengathi ukulandisa kweBhayibheli ngokusanganiswa kwezilimi eBabele kungumnyombo oyiqiniso walenganekwane yamaInca. (Genesise 11:1-9) Kodwa manje ake siguqulele ukunakekela kwethu kuZamcolo ochazwa eBhayibhelini kuGenesise 7:17-24.

UZamcolo—Iqiniso Noma Inganekwane?

 9. (a) IBhayibheli lisitshelani ngezimo zangaphambi kukaZamcolo emhlabeni? (b) Yini uNowa nomkhaya wakhe okwadingeka ukuba bayenze ukuze basindiswe kuZamcolo?

⁹ Lisibuyisela emuva cishe ngeminyaka engu-4 500 edlule, cishe ku-2 500 B.C.E., iBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi amadodana kaNkulunkulu omoya ayizihlubuki aziguqula athatha isimo sabantu futhi “azithathela abafazi.” Lokhu kuhlangana okungekhona okwemvelo kwaveza amaNefili anobudlova, ‘amadodana asendulo anamandla, anegama lodumo.’ Ukuziphatha kwawo okungemthetho kwathinta izwe langaphambi kukaZamcolo kwaze kwaba sezingeni lokuba uJehova athi: “Abantu engibadalileyo ngizakubachitha ebusweni bomhlaba . . . ngokuba ngiyazisola ukuthi ngibenzile. Kepha uNowa wayetholile umusa emehlweni kaJehova.” Ukulandisa kube sekuqhubeka kunikeza izinyathelo eziqondile nezingokoqobo uNowa okwakudingeka azithathe ukuze azisindise kuZamcolo yena kanye nomkhaya wakhe nezinhlobonhlobo zezilwane.—Genesise 6:1-8, 13–8:22; 1 Petru 3:19, 20; 2 Petru 2:4; Juda 6.

10. Kungani ukulandisa kweBhayibheli ngoZamcolo kungafanele kubhekwe njengenganekwane?

¹⁰ Umbhalo ogciniwe wezenzakalo zangaphambi kukaZamcolo ezilandiswa kuGenesise uchazwa njengenganekwane abagxeki banamuhla. Nokho, umlando kaNowa wamukelwa futhi wakholelwa amadoda athembekile, njengoIsaya, uHezekeli, uJesu Kristu, nabaphostoli oPetru noPawulu. Uyasekelwa futhi nayiqiniso lokuthi uyavela ezinganekwaneni eziningi emhlabeni kabanzi, kuhlanganise neziBongo ZikaGilgamesh zasendulo kanye nezinganekwane zaseChina nezama-Aztec, amaInca, namaMaya. Sicabanga ngombhalo ogciniwe weBhayibheli, manje ake sicabangele izinganekwane zaseAsiriya nezaseBabiloni nokubhekisela kwazo kuzamcolo.c—Isaya 54:9; Hezekeli 14:20; Mathewu 24:37; Heberu 11:7.

UZamcolo Nomuntu Ongunkulunkulu UGilgamesh

11. Ulwazi lwethu ngeziBongo ZikaGilgamesh lusekelwephi?

¹¹ Uma sihlehlela emuva emlandweni cishe eminyakeni engaba ngu-4 000, sihlangabezana nenganekwane edumile yabaseAkkad ebizwa ngokuthi iziBongo ZikaGilgamesh. Ulwazi lwethu ngazo lusekelwe ikakhulukazi embhalweni wecuneiform owavela emtatsheni ka-Ashurbanipal owabusa ngo-668-627 B.C.E. eNinive lasendulo.

12. Wayengubani uGilgamesh, futhi kungani ayengathandeki? (Qhathanisa noGenesise 6:1, 2.)

¹² Yindaba yezigameko zikaGilgamesh, ochazwa ngokuthi izingxenye ezimbili kwezintathu zakhe wayengunkulunkulu kanti ingxenye eyodwa kwezintathu wayengumuntu, noma unkulunkulu ongumuntu. Enye inguqulo yalezibongo ithi: “EUruk wakha izindonga, uthango olukhulu oluvikelayo, nethempeli likaEanna obusisekile alakhela unkulunkulu wesibhakabhaka uAnu, nelikaIshtar unkulunkulukazi wothando . . . , inkosazana yethu yothando nempi.” (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 45, ukuze uthole uhlu lwawonkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi baseAsiriya naseBabiloni.) Nokho, uGilgamesh wayengesona eqinisweni isidalwa esithandekayo owawungathanda ukuba naso. Izakhamuzi zaseUruk zakhononda konkulunkulu: “Ukukhanuka kwakhe, akushiyi-ntombi esokeni layo, nandodakazi yeqhawe noma umfazi womuntu ophakeme.”

13. (a) Yisiphi isinyathelo onkulunkulu abasithatha, futhi yini uGilgamesh ayenza? (b) Wayengubani u-Utnapishtim?

¹³ Isiphi isinyathelo onkulunkulu abasithatha ngenxa yokukhononda kwabantu? Unkulunkulukazi uAruru wadala uEnkidu ukuba abe yimbangi kaGilgamesh engumuntu. Nokho, esikhundleni sokuba izitha, baba abangane abakhulu. Phakathi nokulandisa kwalezibongo, uEnkidu wafa. Eshaqekile, uGilgamesh wakhala: “Lapho ngifa, angiyikufana yini noEnkidu? Kungené umaye esiswini sami. Ngokwesaba ukufa, ngizula ehlane.” Wafuna imfihlakalo yokungafi futhi wahamba efuna u-Utnapishtim, owasinda kuzamcolo, onkulunkulu ababemnikeze ukungafi.

14. (a) U-Utnapishtim watshelwa ukuba enzeni? (Qhathanisa noGenesise 6:13-16.) (b) Waba yini umphumela wohambo lukaGilgamesh olulandiswe ngokusankondlo?

¹⁴ Ekugcineni uGilgamesh uyamthola u-Utnapishtim, omlandisa indaba ngozamcolo. Njengoba itholakala esibhebheni XI saleziBongo, esaziwa ngokuthi isiBhebhe Sikazamcolo, u-Utnapishtim ulandisa kabusha iziyalezo anikezwa zona ngokuqondene nozamcolo: “Diliza (le)ndlu, yakha umkhumbi! Dela imfuyo, funa ukuphila kwakho. . . . Ngenisa emkhunjini imbewu yazo zonke izinto eziphilayo.” Ingabe lokhu akuzwakali yini kufana ngandlela-thile nokubhekisela kweBhayibheli kuNowa noZamcolo? Kodwa u-Utnapishtim akakwazi ukunikeza uGilgamesh ukungafi. Edumazekile, uGilgamesh uphindela ekhaya eUruk. Ukulandisa kuphetha ngokufa kwakhe. Isigijimi esiyinhloko salezibongo siwukudabuka nokukhungatheka okulethwa ukufa nokuphila kwangemva kwakho. Labobantu basendulo abazange bamthole uNkulunkulu weqiniso nethemba. Nokho, ukuhlangana kwalezibongo nokulandisa kweBhayibheli okulula ngenkathi yangaphambi kukaZamcolo kusobala kakhulu. Manje ake siphendukele ekulandiseni ngoZamcolo njengoba kuvela kwezinye izinganekwane.

Inganekwane NgoZamcolo Kwezinye Izimpucuko

15. Kungani inganekwane yabaseSumer ngozamcolo isithakazelisa?

¹⁵ Ngisho nangaphambili kakhulu kokulandisa kweziBongo ZikaGilgamesh kunenganekwane yaseSumer eveza “uZiusudra, umfuziselo kaNowa oseBhayibhelini, ochazwa njengenkosi ethembekile, eyesaba uNkulunkulu, ngaso sonke isikhathi eyabheka izambulo zaphezulu ngamaphupho noma ngemithendeleko.” (Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament) Ngokwalomthombo ofanayo, lenganekwane “isinikeza ukufana okusondele kakhulu ekwazisweni okuseBhayibhelini nokuhlaba umxhwele kakhulu okusatholakele kuze kube manje ezincwadini zaseSumer.” Izimpucuko zaseBabiloni naseAsiriya, ezeza kamuva, zazithonywe eyaseSumer.

16. Izinganekwane zamaChina ngozamcolo kungenzeka zavela kumuphi umthombo?

¹⁶ Incwadi iChina—A History in Art isitshela ukuthi omunye wababusi basendulo baseChina kwakunguYü, “umnqobi kaZamcolo Omkhulu. UYü waqoqa amanzi kazamcolo aba imifula nezilwandle ukuze ahlalise kabusha abantu bakhe.” Isazi sezinganekwane uJoseph Campbell sabhala ‘ngeNkathi Yezikhulu Eziyishumi’ zaseChina, sithi: “Kulenkathi ebalulekile, ephela ngoZamcolo, kwakubusa ababusi abayishumi enganekwaneni yakuqala yenkathi yamaChou. Ngakho, kubonakala sengathi lokho esikubonayo lapha kungase kube ushintsho olungokwendawo lochungechunge lohlu lwakudala lwamakhosi aseSumer.” Khona-ke uCampbell wacaphuna ezinye izinto ezivela ezinganekwaneni zaseChina ezazibonakala “ziqinisekisa inkomba yomthombo waseMesopotamiya.” Lokho kusibuyisela emthonjeni ofanayo oyisisekelo wezinganekwane eziningi. Nokho, indaba kaZamcolo iyavela futhi naseMelika eseningizimu nesenyakatho, ngokwesibonelo, eMexico phakathi nenkathi yama-Aztec ekhulwini le-15 nele-16 leminyaka C.E.

17. Yiziphi izinganekwane ngozamcolo ama-Aztec ayenazo?

¹⁷ Inganekwane yama-Aztec yayikhuluma ngezinkathi ezine zakuqala, phakathi neyokuqala yazo umhlaba wawakhiwe imidondoshiya. (Leso esinye isikhumbuzo ngamaNefili, imidondoshiya okubhekiselwe kuyo eBhayibhelini kuGenesise 6:4.) Yayihlanganisa inganekwane kazamcolo wasendulo okwathi kuyo “amanzi ayengaphezulu ahlangana namanzi angaphansi, amboza yonke indawo ebonakalayo futhi enza yonke into yaba ulwandle olukhulu olungenasiphelo.” Unkulunkulu olawula imvula namanzi kwakunguTlaloc. Nokho, imvula yakhe yayingatholakali kalula kodwa yayinikezwa “ngokwenana ngegazi lezisulu ezenziwe imihlatshelo lezo izinyembezi zazo ezigelezayo ezaziyolingisa imvula futhi kanjalo zibangele ukwehla kwayo.” (Mythology—An Illustrated Encyclopedia) Enye inganekwane ithi inkathi yesine yayibuswa uChalchiuhtlicue, unkulunkulukazi wamanzi, ondawo yonke yakhe yabhubha ngozamcolo. Abantu basindiswa ngokuphenduka izinhlanzi!

18. Yikuphi ukulandisa okutholakala ezinganekwaneni zaseNingizimu Melika? (Qhathanisa noGenesise 6:7, 8; 2 Petru 2:5.)

¹⁸ Ngokufanayo, amaInca ayenezinganekwane zawo ngoZamcolo. Umlobi waseBrithani uHarold Osborne uthi: “Mhlawumbe izici ezisakazeke kakhulu ezinganekwaneni zaseNingizimu Melika ziyizinganekwane ngozamcolo . . . Izinganekwane ngozamcolo zisakazeke kakhulu phakathi kwabantu basezinkangala nezizwe zasemahlanzeni ashisayo. Uzamcolo uhlanganiswa ngokuvamile nendalo nokuzibonakalisa kukankulunkulu ongumdali. . . . Ngezinye izikhathi ubhekwa njengesijeziso saphezulu esaqothula sonke isintu esikhona ekulungiseleleni ukuvela kohlanga olusha.”

19. Chaza inganekwane yamaMaya ngozamcolo.

¹⁹ Ngokufanayo, amaMaya eMexico naseMelika Ephakathi ayenenganekwane yawo ngoZamcolo eyayihilela uzamcolo wendawo yonke, noma ihaiyococab, okusho ukuthi “amanzi amboze umhlaba.” Umbhishobhi wamaKatolika uLas Casas wabhala ukuthi amaNdiya aseGuatemala “awubiza [uzamcolo] ngokuthi iButic, okuyigama elisho uzamcolo wamanzi amaningi futhi kusho ukwahlulelwa kokugcina, ngakho akholelwa ukuthi enye iButic iseduze nokufika, okungomunye uzamcolo nokwahlulela, hhayi owamanzi, kodwa womlilo.” Kunezinganekwane ngozamcolo eziningi ngokwengeziwe kuwo wonke umhlaba, kodwa ezimbalwa ezicashuniwe kakade zisiza ekuqinisekiseni umnyombo walenganekwane, isenzakalo esingokomlando esilandiswa encwadini kaGenesise.

Inkolelo Yomphefumulo Ongafi Esakazeke Yonke Indawo

20. Yayiyini inkolelo yabaseAsiriya nabaseBabiloni ngokuphathelene nokuphila kwangemva kokufa?

²⁰ Nokho, akuzona zonke izinganekwane ezisekelwe eqinisweni noma eBhayibhelini. Ekufuneni kwakhe uNkulunkulu, umuntu uye wabamba utalagu, ekhohliswe umbono wamanga wokungafi komphefumulo. Njengoba sizobona kuyo yonke lencwadi, ukukholelwa emphefumulweni ongafi noma ezinhlotsheni ezihlukahlukene zalokho kuyifa eliye leza kithina livela ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka. Abantu bempucuko yasendulo yaseAsiriya naseBabiloni babekholelwa ekuphileni kwangemva kokufa. INew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology iyachaza: “Ngaphansi komhlaba, ngalé kwakwalasha weApsu [ogcwele amanzi amahle nazungeza umhlaba], kunendawo yokuhlala engaphansi abantu abehlela kuyo ngemva kokufa. ‘KwakuyiZwe okungayi lutho kulo olubuyayo’ . . . Kulezindawo zobumnyama baphakade imiphefumulo yabafileyo—edimmu—‘igqoke izingubo ezinezimpiko njengezinyoni’ ihlanganiswe ndawonye.” Ngokwalenganekwane, lelizwe elingaphansi komhlaba lalibuswa unkulunkulukazi uEreshkigal, “iNkosazana yomhlaba omkhulu.”

21. Ngokwenkolelo yabaseGibithe, kwakwenzekani ngabafileyo?

²¹ AbaseGibithe ngokufanayo babenowabo umqondo ngomphefumulo ongafi. Ngaphambi kokuba umphefumulo ufike endaweni yokujabula, kwakudingeka ukuba ukalwe uqhathaniswe noMaat, unkulunkulukazi weqiniso nokulunga, owayefanekiselwa uphaphe lweqiniso. UAnubis, unkulunkulu onekhanda lempungushe, noma uHorus, ukhozi, wayesiza kulokhu kwahlulela. Uma wawuvunyelwa uOsiris, lowomphefumulo wawungaqhubekela phambili uyohlanganyela injabulo nawonkulunkulu. (Bheka umfanekiso, ekhasini 50.) Njengoba kuvame kakhulu, lapha sithola umucu ofanayo womqondo wabaseBabiloni womphefumulo ongafi ololonga inkolo yabantu, ukuphila, nezenzo.

22. Wawuyini umqondo wamaChina ngabafileyo, futhi yini eyayenziwa ukuze basizwe?

²² Inganekwane yakudala yamaChina yayihlanganisa ukukholelwa ekuqhubekeni uphila ngemva kokufa nesidingo sokugcina okhokho bejabule. Okhokho “babecatshangelwa njengemimoya ephilayo nenamandla, yonke ekhathalela kakhulu inhlala-kahle yabantwana babo abasaphila, kodwa enamandla okuthukuthela ukuze ibajezise uma icasukile.” Abafileyo kwakumelwe banikezwe lonke usizo, kuhlanganise nababezobaphelezela ekufeni. Ngakho, “amakhosi athile ohlanga lwamaShang . . . ayembelwa nezisulu ezingabantu ezisukela ekhulwini kuya emakhulwini amathathu, ezaziyoba izikhonzi zawo ezweni elilandelayo. (Lomkhuba uhlanganisa iChina yasendulo neGibithe, iAfrika, iJapane, nezinye izindawo, lapho imihlatshelo efanayo yayenziwa khona.)” (Man’s Religions, kaJohn B. Noss) Kulezizimo ukukholelwa emphefumulweni ongafi kwaholela ekwenzeni imihlatshelo yabantu.—Qhathanisa nomShumayeli 9:5, 10; Isaya 38:18, 19.

23. (a) Ezinganekwaneni zamaGreki, wayengubani futhi wayeyini uHayidese? (b) NgokweBhayibheli liyini iHayidese?

²³ AmaGreki, ngemva kokuba eklame onkulunkulu abaningi ezinganekwaneni zawo, nawo ayekhathazekile ngabafileyo nendawo yabo yokugcina. Ngokwalezinganekwane, umuntu owayenikezwe ukuba alawule leyondawo yobumnyama obukhulu kwakuyindodana kaCronus nengumfowabo wonkulunkulu uZeus noPoseidon. Igama lakhe lalinguHayidese, futhi indawo yakhe yethiwa ngaye. Imiphefumulo yabafileyo yayifika kanjani eHayidese?d

24. (a) Ngokwenganekwane yamaGreki, kwakwenzekani ezweni elingaphansi? (b) Ikuphi ukufana okwakukhona enganekwaneni yamaGreki neziBongo ZikaGilgamesh?

²⁴ Umlobi uEllen Switzer uyachaza: “Kwakunezidalwa . . . ezithusayo ezweni elingaphansi. KwakunoCharon, owayegwedla isihlenga esasithwala labo ababesanda kufa sibasuse ezweni labaphilayo sibayise ezweni elingaphansi. UCharon wayefuna inkokhelo ngomsebenzi wakhe wokubaweza [bawelele ngaphesheya komfula iStyx], futhi ngokuvamile amaGreki ayengcwaba abafileyo babo benohlamvu lwemali ngaphansi kolimi ukuze baqiniseke ukuthi banemali yokukhokha elingene. Imiphefumulo efileyo eyayingakwazi ukukhokha yayigcinwa ngasohlangothini olubi lomfula, ezweni okungathiwa alinamnikazi, futhi babengabuyela emuva bahluphe abaphilayo.”e

25. Obani ababethonywe ukucabanga kwamaGreki ngokuphathelene nomphefumulo?

²⁵ Inganekwane yamaGreki yomphefumulo yaqhubeka ithonya umqondo wamaRoma, futhi izazi zefilosofi ezingamaGreki, njengoPlato (cishe ngo-427-347 B.C.E.), zabathonya ngokunamandla abantu bakuqala abacabangayo abangamaKristu ayizihlubuki ababemukele imfundiso yomphefumulo ongafi bayingenisa emfundisweni yabo, ngisho nakuba yayingenaso isisekelo esingokweBhayibheli.

26, 27. Ama-Aztec, amaInca, namaMaya, ayekubheka kanjani ukufa?

²⁶ Ama-Aztec, amaInca, namaMaya nawo ayekholelwa emphefumulweni ongafi. Ukufa kwakuyimfihlakalo enkulu kubo njengoba kwakunjalo nakwezinye izimpucuko. Babenemikhosi yabo nezinkolelo zokubasiza ukuba bafunde ukukwamukela. Njengoba isazi-mlando semivubukulo uVictor W. von Hagen echaza encwadini yakhe ethi The Ancient Sun Kingdoms of the Americas: “Abafileyo eqinisweni babephila: babemane nje besuké kwesinye isimo badlulela kwesinye; babengenakubonwa, bengenakuphathwa, bevikelekile. Abafileyo . . . base bengamalungu angabonakali omndeni.”—Qhathanisa nabAhluleli 16:30; Hezekeli 18:4, 20.

²⁷ Wona lomthombo ofanayo usitshela ukuthi “iNdiya elingum[Inca] lalikholelwa ekungafini komphefumulo; eqinisweni lalikholelwa ukuthi ofileyo wayengafile neze, . . . isidumbu sasimane sibe esingafile futhi sasiba namathonya amandla angabonakali.” AmaMaya futhi ayekholelwa emphefumulweni nasekuthini kunamazulu angu-13 nezihogo ezingu-9. Ngakho, nomaphi lapho siphendukela khona, abantu baye bafuna ukukuphika ukuba ngokoqobo kokufa, futhi umphefumulo ongafi uye waba udondolo abazimelela ngalo.—Isaya 38:18; IzEnzo 3:23.

28. Ziyini ezinye zezinkolelo eziye zaba khona eAfrika?

²⁸ Izinganekwane zaseAfrika ngokufanayo zihlanganisa nokubhekisela emphefumulweni osindayo ngemva kokufa. Abantu abaningi baseAfrika baphila ngokwesaba imiphefumulo yabafileyo. INew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology ithi: “Lenkolelo ihlangene nenye—ukuqhubeka komphefumulo uphila ngemva kokufa. Abenzi bemilingo bayakwazi ukuyibiza lemiphefumulo ukuba isize amandla abo. Imiphefumulo yabafileyo ngokuvamile ithuthela emizimbeni yezilwane, noma ingase izalwe kabusha ezitshalweni.” Ngenxa yalokho, amaZulu awazibulali izinyoka ezithile ngoba akholelwa ukuthi zingamadlozi ezihlobo zawo.

29. Chaza izinganekwane zezizwe ezithile eziseNingizimu Afrika. (Qhathanisa noGenesise 2:15-17; 3:1-5.)

²⁹ AmaMasai aseAfrika eseningizimu-mpumalanga akholelwa kumdali obizwa ngokuthi u’Ng ai, obeka ingelosi engumbheki ngakumMasai ngamunye njengesivikelo. Ngesikhathi efa, ingelosi ithatha umphefumulo weqhawe iwuyise ezweni langemva kokufa. ILarousse ecashunwe ngaphambili inikeza inganekwane yamaZulu ngokufa ehilela umuntu wokuqala, uNkulunkulu, lowo kulenganekwane owaba umuntu ophakeme. Wathumela unwabu ukuba luyotshela isintu ukuthi “Abantu abayikufa!” Unwabu lwahamba kancane futhi lwathikamezeka endleleni. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wathumela isigijimi esihlukile ngentulo, ethi, “Abantu bazokufa!” Intulo yafika kuqala, “futhi kusukela ngalesosikhathi akekho umuntu oye wabalekela ukufa.” Ilandiswa ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene, lenganekwane efanayo ikhona phakathi kwezizwe zabeTswana, abeSuthu, nabaRonga.

30. Kulencwadi yini esizoyibona ngokuqhubekayo ngokuphathelene nomphefumulo?

³⁰ Njengoba silandelela ukuhlola kokufuna kwesintu uNkulunkulu, siyobona ngisho nangokwengeziwe indlela inganekwane yomphefumulo ongafi eye yaba ebaluleke ngayo futhi nesabalulekile esintwini kuze kube manje.

Ukukhulekela Ilanga Nemihlatshelo Yabantu

31. (a) Yini abaseGibithe ababeyikholelwa ngokuphathelene nonkulunkulu welanga uRa? (b) Lokho kwehluke kanjani kulokho okushiwo yiBhayibheli? (IHubo 19:4-6)

³¹ Inganekwane yabaseGibithe ihlanganisa uhlu olude lwawonkulunkulu nawonkulunkulukazi abamukelekayo. Njengakweminye imiphakathi eminingi yasendulo, nakuba abaseGibithe babefuna uNkulunkulu, bathambekela ekukhulekeleni lokho okwakusekela ukuphila kwabo kwansuku zonke—ilanga. Ngakho, ngaphansi kwegama likaRa (Amon-Ra), babehlonipha inkosi engumbusi wesibhakabhaka, eyayithatha uhambo nsuku zonke ngesikebhe isuka empumalanga iya entshonalanga. Uma kufika ubusuku, yayihamba ngendlela eyingozi edabula ezweni elingaphansi.

32. Chaza omunye wemikhosi eyayenzelwa unkulunkulu womlilo uXiuhtecutli (Huehueteotl).

³² Imihlatshelo yabantu yayiyisici esivamile ekukhulekeleni ilanga kwezinkolo zama-Aztec, amaInca, namaMaya. Ama-Aztec ayegubha umjikelezo ongapheli wemikhosi engokwenkolo, enzela onkulunkulu bawo abehlukahlukene imihlatshelo yabantu, ikakhulukazi lapho ekhulekela unkulunkulu welanga uTezcatlipoca. Futhi, emkhosini kankulunkulu womlilo uXiuhtecutli (Huehueteotl), “iziboshwa zempi zazisina ndawonye nabathumbi bazo futhi . . . zazijikeleziswa emlilweni olanguka amalangabi bese ziphonswa emalahleni, zikhishwe zisaphila ukuze kusikwe izinhliziyo zazo ezisadikiza zinikelwe konkulunkulu.”—The Ancient Sun Kingdoms of the Americas.

33. (a) Ukukhulekela kwamaInca kwakuhlanganisani? (b) IBhayibheli lithini ngemihlatshelo yabantu? (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 AmaKhosi 23:5, 11; Jeremiya 32:35; Hezekeli 8:16.)

³³ Eningizimu ekude, inkolo yamaInca yayinemihlatshelo yayo nezinganekwane. Ekukhulekeleni kwasendulo kwamaInca, kwakunikelwa ngabantwana nezilwane kunkulunkulu welanga uInti nakuViracocha, umdali.

Onkulunkulu Nonkulunkulukazi Basezinganekwaneni

34. Obani ababakha uziqu-zintathu ovelele kakhulu wabaseGibithe, futhi yiziphi izindima ababezifeza?

³⁴ UZiqu-zintathu wabaseGibithe odume kakhulu yilowo owenziwa uIsis, uphawu lukamama kankulunkulu; uOsiris, umfowabo nomyeni wakhe; noHorus, indodana yabo, ngokuvamile emelelwa ukhozi. Ngezinye izikhathi uIsis uvezwa emifanekisweni yaseGibithe encelisa umntanakhe enesimo esisikhumbuza kakhulu imifanekiso nemidwebo yeLobukholwa yencasakazi nomntwana wayo, eyaqala ukuvela eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezimbili kamuva. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi umyeni kaIsis, uOsiris, wazuza udumo njengonkulunkulu wabafileyo ngoba wanikeza imiphefumulo yabafileyo ithemba lokuthi iyophila ngenjabulo phakade ezweni langemva kokufa.

35. Wayengubani uHathor, futhi wawuyini umkhosi wakhe omkhulu waminyaka yonke?

³⁵ UHathor waseGibithe wayengunkulunkulukazi wothando nenjabulo, umculo nokusina. Waba indlovukazi yabafileyo, ebasiza ukuba bafinyelele ezulwini ngesikhwelo. Njengoba iNew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology ichaza, wayekhunjulwa ngemikhosi emikhulu, “ikakhulukazi ngoNcibijane, okwakuwusuku lokukhumbula ukuzalwa kwakhe. Ngaphambi kokuntwela kokusa abapristikazi babekhipha isithombe sikaHathor basibeke ngaphandle kuvulandi ongenampheme ukuze basineke emisebeni yelanga eliphumayo. Ukujabula okwakulandela kwakuyizaba zokwenza umkhosi ongokoqobo, futhi usuku lwaluphela ngomculo nangokudakwa.” Ingabe izinto ziye zashintsha kakhulu ekugubheni uNcibijane ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka kamuva?

36. (a) Sasiyini isimo esingokwenkolo ngamaIsrayeli ekhulwini le-16 leminyaka B.C.E.? (b) Yikuphi ukubaluleka okukhethekile iziNhlupho Eziyishumi ezazinakho?

³⁶ AbaseGibithe futhi babenonkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi abaningi abayizilwane ohlwini lwabo lonkulunkulu abamukelekayo, njengoApis inkunzi, uBanaded impongo, uHeqt ixoxo, uHathor inkomazi, noSebek ingwenya. (Roma 1:21-23) Kwakukulesisimo esingokwenkolo amaIsrayeli azithola ekuso ethunjiwe njengezigqila ekhulwini le-16 leminyaka B.C.E. Ukuze awakhulule ekubuseni kukaFaro kwenkani, uJehova, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, kwadingeka ukuba athumele izinhlupho eziyishumi ezihlukahlukene eGibithe. (Eksodusi 7:14–12:36) Lezozinhlupho zafana nokuthotshiswa okuhlosiwe konkulunkulu basezinganekwaneni baseGibithe.—Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 62.

37. (a) Abanye bawonkulunkulu bamaRoma babengabantu abanjani? (b) Ukuziphatha konkulunkulu kwabathinta kanjani abalandeli babo? (c) Yikuphi okuhlangenwe nakho oPawulu noBarnaba ababa nakho eListra?

³⁷ Manje ake siqhubekele konkulunkulu baseGrisi lasendulo neRoma. IRoma yaboleka onkulunkulu abaningi eGrisi lasendulo, kanye nobuhle babo nobubi babo. (Bheka amabhokisi, ekhasini 43 no-66.) Ngokwesibonelo, uVenus noFlora babeyizifebe ezingabuzwa; uBacchus wayeyisidakwa nomthandi wamadili axokozelayo; uMercury wayengumphangi; futhi uApollo wayeyenga abesifazane. Kubikwa ukuthi uJupiter, uyise wonkulunkulu, waphinga noma waba nobuhlobo bobulili nezihlobo zakhe zesifazane cishe ezingu-59! (Yeka isikhumbuzo ngezingelosi eziyizihlubuki ezahlala nabesifazane ngaphambi kukaZamcolo!) Njengoba abakhulekeli bevame ukubonisa ukuziphatha konkulunkulu babo, ingabe kuyamangaza ukuthi ababusi baseRoma njengoTiberius, uNero, noCaligula baphila ukuphila okukhohlakele njengeziphingi, izifebe, nababulali?

38. (a) Chaza uhlobo lokukhulekela olwaluqhutshwa eRoma. (b) Inkolo yayilithonya kanjani isosha elingumRoma?

³⁸ Enkolweni yawo, amaRoma ahlanganisa onkulunkulu abavela ezimpucukweni eziningi. Ngokwesibonelo, akwemukela ngentshiseko ukukhulekela uMithras, unkulunkulu wamaPheresiya wokukhanya, owaba unkulunkulu wawo welanga (bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 60-1), nonkulunkulukazi wamaSiriya uAtargatis (uIshtar). Aguqula uArtemis wamaGreki ongumzingelikazi waba uDiyana futhi aba nezinguqulo zawo ezihlukahlukene ngoIsis wabaseGibithe. Amukela futhi nonkulunkulu abathathu bamaCelt benzalo.—IzEnzo 19:23-28.

39. (a) Ubani owayebusa abapristi baseRoma? (b) Chaza omunye wemikhosi yamaRoma engokwenkolo.

³⁹ Ukuze aqhube ukukhulekela kwawo kwasobala emakhulwini ezindlu zamasonto namathempeli, ayenabapristi abehlukahlukene, bonke babo ‘ababengaphansi kokulawula kukaPontifex Maximus [uMbhishobhi Omkhulu], owayeyinhloko yenkolo yombuso.’ (Atlas of the Roman World) Incwadi efanayo yamabalazwe ithi omunye wemikhosi yamaRoma wawuyitaurobolium, kuwona “umkhulekeli wayema emgodini futhi wayegeziswa egazini lenkunzi eyayihlatshwa phezu kwakhe. Wayephuma kulelisiko esesimweni sobumsulwa obuhlanjululiwe.”

Ingabe Yizinganekwane Nezinsumansumane ZobuKristu?

40. Izazi eziningi zizibheka kanjani izenzakalo zobuKristu bokuqala?

⁴⁰ Ngokwabagxeki abathile banamuhla, ubuKristu nabo buhlanganisa izinganekwane nezinsumansumane. Ingabe lokhu kunjalo ngempela? Izazi eziningi zikwenqaba njengezinganekwane ukuzalwa kukaJesu yincasakazi, izimangaliso zakhe, nokuvuswa kwakhe. Ezinye zize zisho nokuthi akakaze abe khona nhlobo nokuthi inganekwane yakhe iwukuqhutshekiselwa phambili okusukela ezinganekwaneni zakudala kakhulu nasekukhulekeleni ilanga. Njengoba isazi sezinganekwane uJoseph Campbell sabhala: “Ngakho-ke, izazi eziningi ziye zasikisela ukuthi akakaze abe khona uJohane [uMbhapathizi] noma uJesu, kodwa kwakumane nje kunonkulunkulu wamanzi nonkulunkulu welanga.” Kodwa sidinga ukukhumbula ukuthi eziningi zazo zona lezizazi zingabantu abangakholelwa ebukhoneni bukaNkulunkulu futhi kanjalo zikwenqaba ngokuphelele noma yikuphi ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu.

41, 42. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona obusekela ubuqiniso obungokomlando bobuKristu bokuqala?

⁴¹ Nokho, lombono ogxekayo awubunaki ubufakazi obungokomlando. Ngokwesibonelo, isazi-mlando esingumJuda uJosephus (owaphila cishe kusukela ngo-37 kuya cishe ku-100 C.E.) sabhala: “Kwamanye amaJuda ukubhujiswa kwempi kaHerode kwabonakala kuyimpindiselo yaphezulu, futhi ngokuqinisekile kwakuyimpindiselo efanele, ngenxa yendlela aphatha ngayo uJohane, obizwa ngokuthi uMbhapathizi. Ngoba uHerode wambulala, nakuba ayeyindoda elungile.”—Marku 1:14; 6:14-29.

⁴² Lesazi-mlando esifanayo futhi safakazela ukuba khona ngokomlando kukaJesu Kristu, lapho sibhala ukuthi kwavela “uJesu othile, owayengumuntu ongumthakathi, uma eqinisweni kungathiwa wayengumuntu . . . abafundi bakhe ababembiza ngokuthi uyindodana kaNkulunkulu.” Saqhubeka sithi “uPilatu wayemgwebile . . . Futhi ngisho nanamuhla uhlanga lwalabo ababizwa ngokuthi ‘amaMesiya’ abethiwa ngaye lusekhona.”f—Marku 15:1-5, 22-26; IzEnzo 11:26.

43. Yisiphi isisekelo umphostoli uPetru ayenaso sokukholelwa kuKristu?

⁴³ Ngakho-ke, umphostoli uPetru ongumKristu wayengabhala ngokuqiniseka okuphelele njengofakazi wokuzibonela wokuguqulwa kukaJesu isimo, ethi: “Ngokuba sasingalandeli izinganekwane zobuqili [ngesiGreki, myʹthos], lapho sanazisa amandla nokufika kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, kodwa sasingababonayo amandla obukhosi bakhe. Ngokuba wamukela kuNkulunkulu uYise udumo nenkazimulo, lapho kwafika kuye izwi elinje, livela enkazimulweni yobukhosi, lithi: Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo—lelozwi salizwa thina livela ezulwini, sikanye naye entabeni engcwele.”—2 Petru 1:16-18.g

44. Yisiphi isimiso seBhayibheli okufanele sisebenze kunoma yikuphi ukungqubuzana phakathi kwemibono yomuntu neZwi likaNkulunkulu?

⁴⁴ Kulokhu kungqubuzana phakathi kombono “wobuciko” womuntu neZwi likaNkulunkulu, kumelwe sisebenzise isimiso esiphawulwe ngaphambili: “Khona-ke, iqiniso liyini? Uma abanye bengazange babonise ukholo, ingabe ukuntula kwabo ukholo mhlawumbe kwenza ukwethembeka kukaNkulunkulu kube yize? Sengathi lokho kungenzeke nakanye! Kodwa uNkulunkulu makatholakale eneqiniso, ngisho noma wonke umuntu engatholakala engumqambimanga, njengoba nje kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Ukuze ubonakaliswe ulungile emazwini akho futhi unqobe lapho wahlulelwa.’”—Roma 3:3, 4, NW.

Imicu Efanayo

45. Yimiphi eminye yemicu efanayo etholakala ezinganekwaneni zalelizwe?

⁴⁵ Lokhu kubukezwa okufushane kwezinye zezinganekwane zomhlaba kuye kwasiza ekuboniseni izici ezithile ezifanayo, eziningi zazo ezingathungathwa kusukela emuva lé eBabiloni, umsuka waseMesopotamiya wezinkolo eziningi. Kunemicu efanayo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kusemaqinisweni ngendalo, noma ekulandiseni ngenkathi lapho onkulunkulu abangabantu nemidondoshiya babehlala ezweni futhi uzamcolo ubhubhisa abantu ababi, noma emiqondweni engokwenkolo eyisisekelo yokukhulekelwa kwelanga neyomphefumulo ongafi.

46, 47. (a) Iyiphi incazelo engokweBhayibheli esingayinikeza ngomsuka nemicu okufanayo okusezinganekwaneni? (b) Yiziphi izici ezengeziwe zokukhulekela kwasendulo esizozihlanganisa?

⁴⁶ Ngokombono weBhayibheli, singayichaza lemicu efanayo lapho sikhumbula ukuthi ngemva kukaZamcolo, ngokuyaleza kukaNkulunkulu isintu sahlakazeka sisuka eBabele eMesopotamiya eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-4 200 edlule. Nakuba sahlukana, sakha imikhaya nezizwe ezinezilimi ezihlukahlukene, sahamba sinokuqonda okufanayo okuyisisekelo ngomlando wangaphambili nemiqondo engokwenkolo. (Genesise 11:1-9) Phakathi kwamakhulu eminyaka, lokhu kuqonda kwasontwa futhi kwahlotshiswa empucukweni ngayinye, kwaphumela ezindabeni eziningi eziqanjiwe, izinsumansumane, nezinganekwane eziye zafinyelela kithi namuhla. Lezinganekwane, njengoba zihlukaniswe neqiniso leBhayibheli, zehluleka ukusondeza isintu eduze kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso.

⁴⁷ Nokho, isintu siye sabonisa imizwelo yaso engokwenkolo ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene—ukusebenzisa imimoya, inkolo yobudemoni, imilingo, ukukhulekela okhokho, njalonjalo. Ingabe kukhona yini ezisitshela khona ngokufuna kwesintu uNkulunkulu?

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 43]

Onkulunkulu BamaGreki NamaRoma

Onkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi abaningi abasezinganekwaneni zamaGreki banezikhundla ezifanayo ezinganekwaneni zamaRoma. Ishadi elingezansi linikeza uhlu lwabanye babo.

UAphrodite UVenus Unkulunkulukazi wothando

UAres UMars Unkulunkulu wempi

UAsclepius UAesculapius Unkulunkulu wokuphulukisa

ungunkulunkulu wezolimo futhi

UDemeter UCeres Unkulunkulukazi wezinto ezimilayo

UEros UCupid Unkulunkulu wothando

UGaea UTerra Uphawu lomhlaba, unina nomkaUranus

UHestia UVesta Unkulunkulukazi weziko

UHypnos USomnus Unkulunkulu wobuthongo

URhea UOps Umfazi nodadewabo kaCronus

UZeus UJupiter Umbusi wonkulunkulu

Lithathwe kwethi The World Book Encyclopedia, ka-1987, uMqulu 13.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 45]

Onkulunkulu Nonkulunkulukazi BaseAsiriya NaseBabiloni

UAnu—unkulunkulu ophakeme, obusa amazulu; uyise kaIshtar

UAsshur—unkulunkulu wamaqhawe wabaseAsiriya wesizwe sonke; futhi ungunkulunkulu wenzalo

UEa—unkulunkulu wamanzi. Uyise kaMarduk. Waxwayisa u-Utnapishtim ngozamcolo

UEnlil (Bel)—inkosi yomoya; kamuva wafaniswa noZeus ezinganekwaneni zamaGreki. Washintshwa abaseBabiloni waba uMarduk (uBel)

UIshtar—ukwenziwa samuntu kwaphezulu kweplanethi iVenus; ubufebe obungcwele buyingxenye yokukhulekelwa kwakhe. WayenguAstarte ePhoenicia, uAtargatis eSiriya, uAshitaroti eBhayibhelini (1 AmaKhosi 11:5, 33), uAphrodite eGrisi, uVenus eRoma

UMarduk—owokuqala phakathi konkulunkulu baseBabiloni; “wadla bonke abanye onkulunkulu futhi wathatha yonke imisebenzi yabo ehlukahlukene.” AmaIsrayeli ambiza ngokuthi uMerodaki

UShamash—unkulunkulu welanga wokukhanya nokulunga. Umhambeli phambili ka-Apollo wamaGreki

USin—unkulunkulu wenyanga, ilungu likaziqu-zintathu ohlanganisa uShamash (ilanga) noIshtar (iplanethi iVenus)

UTammuz (uDumuzi)—unkulunkulu wesivuno. Isoka likaIshtar

(Lithathwe kuyiNew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology)

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 60, 61]

Onkulunkulu Besosha LaseRoma

IRoma yayidumile ngamabutho ayo aqeqeshiwe. Ukubumbana kombuso wayo kwakuxhomeke ekuziphatheni nasekuphumeleleni kwamaviyo empi. Ingabe inkolo yayiyisici okwakumelwe sicatshangelwe? Yebo, futhi ngenhlanhla kithina, amaRoma aye ashiya ubufakazi obucacile bokubusa kwawo obusesimweni semigwaqo emikhulu eqondile, izinqaba, imisele yamanzi, izinkundla zemidlalo, namathempeli. Ngokwesibonelo, eNorthumbria, enyakatho yeNgilandi, kunoDonga LukaHadrian oludumile, olwakhiwa cishe ngo-122 C.E. Imivubukulo iye yembulani ngomsebenzi wamabutho amaRoma alinda inqaba nangendima yenkolo?

EMnyuziyamu iHousesteads, owakhiwe eduze nezincithakalo ezivubukuliwe zendawo okwakuhlala kuyo amabutho amaRoma alindayo oDongeni LukaHadrian, kunombukiso othi: “Ukuphila okungokwenkolo kwesosha laseRoma kwakuhlukaniswe izingxenye ezintathu. Eyokuqala . . . ukukhulekela abaBusi Abenziwe Izithixo nokukhulekela onkulunkulu abavikelayo baseRoma abanjengoJupiter, uVictory noMars. Unyaka ngamunye kwakunikezelwa ialtare kuJupiter enkundleni yokumasha yenqaba ngayinye. Kwakulindeleke ukuba wonke amasosha ahlanganyele emikhosini yokugubha izinsuku zokuzalwa, izinsuku ababa ngazo onkulunkulu nezokunqoba kwabaBusi Abenziwe Izithixo.” Yeka ukuthi lokhu kufana kanjani namasiko ezempi anamuhla, lapho abefundisi bezempi, ama-altare, namafulege kuyingxenye evamile yokukhulekelwa kwempi.

Kodwa sasiyini isici sesibili sokuphila okungokwenkolo kwesosha laseRoma? Sasiwukukhulekela onkulunkulu abavikelayo nomoya ongumvikeli webutho lawo “kanye nonkulunkulu elisuke nabo ezweni lenkaba yalo.”

“Ekugcineni kwakunokukhulekela okwakulandelwa umuntu ngamunye. Uma nje isosha laligcwalisa izibopho zalo zokukhulekela okusemthethweni lalikhululekile ukuba likhulekele noma yimuphi unkulunkulu ngokuthanda kwalo.” Lokho kuzwakala njengesimo senkululeko yokukhulekela enkulu kakhulu, kodwa “kwakwehlukile ngalezozinkolo, ubuDruid obabungenye yazo, ezimikhuba yazo yayicatshangelwa njengengeyona eyobuntu, nalezo ezikuthembeka kwazo eMbusweni kwakusoleka, ngokwesibonelo ubuKristu.”—Qhathanisa noLuka 20:21-25; 23:1, 2; IzEnzo 10:1, 2, 22.

Ngokuthakazelisayo, ngo-1949 kwatholakala ithempeli elinikezelwe kuMithras exhaphozini eCarrawburgh, eduze kakhulu noDonga LukaHadrian. (Bheka isithombe.) Izazi zemivubukulo zilinganisela ukuthi lelithempeli lakhiwa cishe ngo-205 C.E. Phakathi linesithombe sikankulunkulu welanga, ama-altare, nombhalo wesiLatin othi ngokwengxenye, “Kunkulunkulu ongenakunqotshwa uMithras.”

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Onkulunkulu BaseGibithe NeziNhlupho Eziyishumi

UJehova wakhipha isahlulelo konkulunkulu baseGibithe abangenamandla ngokusebenzisa iziNhlupho Eziyishumi.—Eksodusi 7:14–12:32.

Inhlupho Incazelo

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Izinganekwane NobuKristu

Ukukhulekela onkulunkulu abasezinganekwaneni kweGrisi yasendulo neRoma kwakudlondlobele lapho ubuKristu buqala ukuvela cishe eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezimbili edlule. EAsia Minor abantu baseListra (eTurkey yosuku lwanamuhla) babiza abaphulukisi abangamaKristu oPawulu noBarnaba ngokuthi “onkulunkulu,” bebhekisela kubo ngokuthi uMerkuriyu noJupitheri. Ukulandisa kuthi “umpristi kaJupitheri othempeli lakhe liphambi komuzi waletha izinkunzi nemigexo yezimbali ngasemasangweni, wafuna ukubahlabela ekanye nezixuku.” (IzEnzo 14:8-18) OPawulu noBarnaba basikholisa kanzima isixuku ukuba singenzi imihlatshelo kubo. Kubonisa indlela labobantu ababezithatha ngokungathi sína ngayo izinganekwane zabo emuva ngalesosikhathi.

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INtaba iOlympus, eGrisi, okuthiwa iyikhaya lonkulunkulu

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Isibhebhe sobumba esibhalwe ngecuneiform esinikeza ingxenye yeziBongo ZikaGilgamesh

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UAnubis, unkulunkulu onekhanda lempungushe, ulinganisa umphefumulo oyinhliziyo, esilinganisweni esingakwesobunxele, ewuqhathanisa noMaat, unkulunkulukazi weqiniso nokulunga, ofanekiselwa uphaphe; uThoth ubhala umphumela esibhebheni ngaphambi kokuwazisa uOsiris

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UChalchiuhtlicue, unkulunkulukazi wama-Aztec wamanzi amahle; isitsha esinesimo sesikhova esinomgodi okukholelwa ukuthi kwakugcinwa khona izinhliziyo ezenziwe iminikelo

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Uziqu-zintathu wabaseGibithe: kusukela ngakwesobunxele, uHorus, uOsiris, noIsis

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Ukukhulekela ilanga kwamaInca kwakuqhutshwa eMachu Picchu, ePeru

I-Intihuatana, umfanekiso ophakathi, “isigxobo sokubophela” ilanga, mhlawumbe esasisetshenziswa ngokuqondene nokukhulekela ilanga eMachu Picchu

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Imifanekiso kaHorus ukhozi, uApis inkunzi, noHeqt ixoxo. Onkulunkulu baseGibithe abakwazanga ukuvimbela izinhlupho uJehova azithumela kuhlanganise nokuphenduka kweNayile ibe igazi

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Onkulunkulu bamaGreki, kusukela ngakwesobunxele, uAphrodite; uZeus ethwele uGanymede, umphathizitsha wawonkulunkulu; noArtemis