Isahluko 2
Inkolo—Yaqala Kanjani?
1, 2. Yini eye yaphawulwa mayelana nobudala nokwehlukahluka okusezinkolweni?
UMLANDO wenkolo mdala njengomlando womuntu ngokwakhe. Yilokho izazi zesayensi yemivubukulo nezenhlalo nemvelaphi yabantu ezisitshela khona. Ngisho naphakathi kwabantu “abasadla ngoludala” kakhulu, okungukuthi, imiphakathi engakathuthuki, kutholakala ubufakazi bokukhulekela kohlobo oluthile. Eqinisweni, iNew Encyclopædia Britannica ithi “ngokuqondene nalokho izazi eziye zakuthola, akukaze kube khona abantu, nomaphi, noma nini, ngomqondo othile ababengayithandi inkolo.”
2 Ngaphandle kobudala bayo, inkolo ikhona ngezinhlobonhlobo eziningi. Abazingeli bamakhanda kodukathole bamahlathi aseBorneo, amaEskimo aseArctic eyiqhwa, imihambima yasoGwadule iSahara, abahlala emadolobheni amakhulu alomhlaba—bonke abantu nazo zonke izizwe emhlabeni banonkulunkulu noma onkulunkulu babo nendlela yabo yokukhulekela. Ukwehlukahlukana enkolweni kuyashaqisa ngempela.
3. Imiphi imibuzo ngezinkolo zomhlaba edinga ukucatshangelwa?
3 Ngokunengqondo, kufika imibuzo engqondweni. Zavelaphi zonke lezinkolo? Njengoba kunezici ezihluke ngokuphawulekayo kanye nezici ezifanayo phakathi kwazo, ingabe zaqala ngokwehlukene, noma kungenzeka zavela emthonjeni owodwa? Eqinisweni singase sibuze: Kungani ngempela inkolo yaqala? Futhi yaqala kanjani? Izimpendulo zalemibuzo zibaluleke kakhulu kubo bonke abanesithakazelo sokuthola iqiniso ngenkolo nezinkolelo ezingokwenkolo.
Indaba Yomsuka
4. Yini esiyaziyo ngabasunguli bezinkolo eziningi?
4 Uma kuziwa endabeni yomsuka, abantu bezinkolo ezihlukene bacabanga ngamagama anjengoMuḥammad, uBuddha, uConfucius, noJesu. Cishe kuyo yonke inkolo, singamthola umuntu oqhamile okuthiwa nguye owamisa ‘ukholo lweqiniso.’ Abanye balaba babengabagqugquzeli bezinguquko ababemelene nezinkolelo ezimisiwe. Abanye babeyizazi zefilosofi ezazikhathalele ukulondoloza ukuziphatha okuhle. Nokho, abanye babengabantu abangamaqhawe azidelayo. Abaningi baye bashiya izincwadi noma amazwi akha isisekelo senkolo entsha. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lokho abakusho nabakwenza kwakhuliswa, kwahlotshiswa, kwanikezwa isimo esithile sokuba imfihlakalo. Abanye balabaholi baze ngisho benziwa izithixo.
5, 6. Izinkolo eziningi zaqala kanjani?
5 Ngisho noma labantu becatshangelwa njengabasunguli bezinkolo ezinkulu esijwayelene nazo, kumelwe kuphawulwe ukuthi eqinisweni abazange bayisungule inkolo. Ezimweni eziningi, izimfundiso zabo zavela emibonweni engokwenkolo eyayisikhona kakade, ngisho nakuba abaningi balabasunguli bazisholo ukuthi umthombo wabo uwukuphefumlelwa kwaphezulu. Noma bashintsha futhi bathuthukisa izimiso zenkolo ezazikhona ezazingasanelisi ngandlela-thile.
6 Ngokwesibonelo, ngokunembe kangangalokho umlando ongasitshela khona, uBuddha wayeyinkosana eyayishaqiswe ukuhlupheka nezimo ezidabukisayo azithola zimzungezile emphakathini owawubuswa ubuHindu. UbuBuddha babuwumphumela wokufuna kwakhe ikhambi lezinkinga zesintu ezidabukisayo. Ngokufanayo, uMuḥammad wayephazanyiswe kakhulu ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe nokuziphatha okubi akubona emikhubeni yenkolo emzungezile. Kamuva wazisholo ukuthi uthole izambulo ezikhethekile kuNkulunkulu, ezakha iQur’ān futhi zaba isisekelo senhlangano entsha engokwenkolo, ubuIslām. UbuProthestani bavela ebuKatolikeni njengomphumela weNkathi Yezinguquko eyaqala ekuqaleni kwekhulu le-16 leminyaka, lapho uMartin Luther emelana ngokuqinile nokuthengiswa kwentethelelo yezono okwakwenziwa isonto lamaKatolika ngalesosikhathi.
7. Yimuphi umbuzo osadinga ukuphendulwa ngokuqondene nenkolo?
7 Ngakho, ngokuqondene nezinkolo ezikhona manje, akuntuleki ukwaziswa mayelana nomsuka wazo nokukhula kwazo, abasunguli bazo, izincwadi zazo ezingcwele, nokunye. Kodwa kuthiwani ngezinkolo ezazikhona ngaphambi kwazo? Nalezo ezazikhona ngisho nangaphambi kwalezo? Uma sihlehlela emuva ngokwanele emlandweni, noma nini siyohlangabezana nalombuzo: Inkolo yaqala kanjani? Ngokucacile, ukuze sithole impendulo yalowombuzo, kumelwe sibheke ngalé kwemingcele yezinkolo ngazinye.
Imibono Eminingi
8. Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka, sasiyini isimo sabantu ngenkolo?
8 Ukuhlola umsuka nokukhula kwenkolo kuwumkhakha omusha uma kuqhathaniswa. Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka, abantu cishe babemukela isiko elingokwenkolo ababezalelwe kulo nababekhuliswe ngalo. Abaningi babo babaneliswa yizincazelo ababezinikezwa okhokho babo, benomuzwa wokuthi inkolo yabo yayiyiqiniso. Ngokuvamile sasingekho isizathu sokungabaza noma yini, noma isidingo sokucwaninga ukuthi izinto zaqala kanjani, nini, noma ngani. Eqinisweni, emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka, ngenxa yokulinganiselwa kwezindlela zokuhamba nokukhulumisana, bambalwa abantu ababazi ngisho nangezinye izimiso zenkolo.
9. Kusukela ekhulwini le-19 leminyaka, imiphi imizamo eye yenziwa yokuthola indlela inkolo eyaqala ngayo nokuthi kungani yaqala?
9 Nokho, phakathi nekhulu le-19 leminyaka, isimo saqala ukushintsha. Umbono wokuziphendukela kwemvelo wawuyindaba egudwini emaqenjini ezihlakaniphi. Lowombono, kanye nokufika kwendlela yokucwaninga ngokwesayensi, wabangela abaningi ukuba bangabaze izimiso ezazikhona, kuhlanganise nenkolo. Ziqaphela ukulinganiselwa kokufuna izimpendulo enkolweni eyayisikhona, ezinye izazi zaphendukela ezinsaleleni zempucuko yakuqala noma emagumbini akude omhlaba lapho abantu babesaphila khona emiphakathini engaphucukile. Zazama ukusebenzisa kulemiphakathi izindlela zokusebenza kwengqondo, ukuhlalisana kwabantu, imvelaphi nenhlalo yabantu, nokunye, ngethemba lokuthola impendulo ekutheni inkolo yaqala kanjani futhi ngani.
10. Waba yini umphumela wokucwaninga umsuka wenkolo?
10 Waba yini umphumela? Ngokushesha, kwaqhuma imibono eminingi—eyabonakala iminingi njengabacwaningi ngokwabo—umcwaningi ngamunye ephikisana nomunye, futhi ngamunye ezama ukudlula omunye ngesibindi nokuzisungulela umbono omusha. Abanye balabacwaningi bafinyelela iziphetho ezibalulekile; umsebenzi wabanye uye wamane nje walibaleka. Kuyasifundisa futhi kusikhanyisele ukuba nombono omncane wemiphumela yalokhu kucwaninga. Kuzosisiza ukuba sizuze ukuqonda okungcono izimo zengqondo ngenkolo phakathi kwabantu esihlangana nabo.
11. Chaza umbono weanimism.
11 Umbono, obizwa ngokuvamile ngokuthi ianimism, wahlongozwa isazi semvelaphi nenhlalo yabantu esiyiNgisi, uEdward Tylor (1832-1917). Sasikisela ukuthi okuhlangenwe nakho okunjengamaphupho, imibono, imibono elethwa izidakamizwa, nokungabi nampilo kwezidumbu kwabangela abantu abangaphucukile ukuba baphethe ngokuthi emzimbeni kwakuhlala umphefumulo (ngesiLatin, anima). Ngokwalombono, njengoba njalo babephupha ngabangasekho babo abathandekayo, baphetha ngokuthi umphefumulo wawuqhubeka uphila ngemva kokufa, ukuthi wawushiya isidumbu futhi uhlale emithini, emadwaleni, emifuleni, njalonjalo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abafileyo nezinto okuthiwa imiphefumulo ihlala kuzo kwaqala ukukhulekelwa njengonkulunkulu. UTylor wathi inkolo yavela ngaleyondlela.
12. Chaza umbono weanimatism.
12 Esinye isazi semvelaphi nenhlalo yabantu esiyiNgisi, uR. R. Marett (1866-1943), sahlongoza umbono othuthukisa ianimism, esawubiza ngokuthi ianimatism. Ngemva kokuhlola izinkolelo zamaMelanesia aseziqhingini zePacific nezabomdabu baseAfrika naseMelika, uMarett waphetha ngokuthi esikhundleni sokuba nomqondo womphefumulo womuntu siqu, abantu bakuqala babekholelwa ukuthi kwakunamandla angewona awomuntu noma amandla angaphezu kwawemvelo ayenza ukuba yonke into iphile; leyonkolelo yavusa imizwelo yokuthuthumela nokwesaba kumuntu, okwaba isisekelo senkolo yakhe yokuqala. KuMarett, inkolo ngokuyisisekelo yayiwukusabela ngokomzwelo komuntu kokungaziwa. Amazwi akhe ayewathanda kakhulu yilawo athi inkolo “ayiwona umkhiqizo wokucabanga ngokucophelela kepha iwumkhiqizo womzwelo.”
13. Imuphi umbono ngenkolo owahlongozwa uJames Frazer?
13 Ngo-1890 isazi saseScotland sezinganekwane zasendulo ngemvelaphi yezinto, uJames Frazer (1854-1941), wanyathelisa incwadi enethonya ethi The Golden Bough, kuyona anikeza izizathu zokuthi inkolo yavela emlingweni. NgokukaFrazer, umuntu okokuqala wazama ukulawula ukuphila kwakhe siqu nendawo emzungezile ngokulingisa lokho ayekubona kwenzeka endalweni. Ngokwesibonelo, wacabanga ukuthi anganisa imvula ngokufafaza amanzi enhlabathini kuhambisana nomsindo wezigubhu ofana nokuduma kwezulu, noma ukuthi angalimaza isitha sakhe ngokuhlaba ngezinaliti isithombe saso esingambathisiwe. Lokhu kwaholela ekusetshenzisweni kwemikhuba yokukhulekela enemicikilisho, iziphonso, nezinto zemilingo ezicini eziningi zokuphila. Uma lezinto zingasebenzi njengoba kwakulindelekile, wayebe esephendukela ekushwelezeni nasekunxuseni usizo lwamandla angaphezu kwawemvelo, esikhundleni sokuzama ukulawula lezozinto. Imikhuba enemicikilisho kanye neziphonso kwaba imihlatshelo nemithandazo, futhi inkolo yaqala ngaleyondlela. Ngokwamazwi kaFrazer, inkolo “iwukushweleza noma ukubuyisana namandla angaphezu kwawomuntu.”
14. USigmund Freud wawuchaza kanjani umsuka wenkolo?
14 Ngisho nomhlaziyi wezimbangela zezifo zengqondo waseAustria owaziwayo, uSigmund Freud (1856-1939), encwadini yakhe ethi Totem and Taboo, wazama ukuchaza umsuka wenkolo. Ngokuvumelana nomsebenzi wakhe, uFreud wachaza ukuthi inkolo yokuqala kunazo zonke yavela kulokho akubiza ngokuthi ukuphazamiseka ngokomzwelo nangokwengqondo okubangwa ukwesaba umuntu onjengoyise. Wasikisela umbono wokuthi njengoba kwakunjalo ngamahhashi asendle nezinkomo, emphakathini ongaphucukile ubaba wayebusa umndeni. Amadodana, ayemzonda futhi emazisa uyise, amhlubuka futhi ambulala uyise. Ukuze zizuze amandla kayise, uFreud wathi, ‘lezidlova ezinjengamazimu zadla isisulu sazo.’ Kamuva, ngokuzisola, zaqamba amasiko nemikhuba yokukhulekela yokushweleza ngenxa yesenzo sawo. Embonweni kaFreud, owayenjengoyise waba uNkulunkulu, amasiko nemikhuba yokukhulekela yaba inkolo yokuqala kunazo zonke, futhi ukudla uyise obulewe kwaba isiko lesidlo seNkosi eliqhutshwa ezinkolweni eziningi.
15. Yini eye yenzeka emibonweni eminingi eyahlongozwa ngomsuka wenkolo?
15 Kungacashunwa eminye imibono eminingi eyimizamo yokuchaza umsuka wenkolo. Nokho, eminingi yayo, iye yalibaleka, futhi awukho nowodwa wayo owavelela njengokholeka ngokwengeziwe noma owamukelekayo kuneminye. Ngani? Ngenxa nje yokuthi akukaze kube nobufakazi obungokomlando bokuthi lemibono iqinisile. Yayimane nje iyimikhiqizo yokuzicabangela komcwaningi noma ukuqagela, okwakuthathelwa indawo ngokushesha okunye okulandelayo.
Isisekelo Esinephutha
16. Kungani iminyaka yokucwaninga iye yehluleka ukunikeza incazelo yokuthi inkolo yaqala kanjani?
16 Ngemva kweminyaka yokushikashikeka nalempikiswano, abaningi manje baye bafinyelela esiphethweni sokuthi cishe akunakwenzeka ukuthi kuyoba nanoma iyiphi impumelelo ekutholeni impendulo embuzweni othi inkolo yaqala kanjani. Okokuqala, lokhu kungenxa yokuthi amathambo nezinsalela zabantu basendulo akusitsheli indlela labantu ababecabanga ngayo, lokho ababekwesaba, noma isizathu sokukhulekela kwabo. Noma yiziphi iziphetho ezisuselwe kulemivubukulo, ngisho noma zizinhle kangakanani ziwukuqagela okusekelwe olwazini. Okwesibili, imikhuba yenkolo yabantu banamuhla ababizwa ngokuthi amaqaba, njengaboMdabu baseAustralia, empeleni ayisona isilinganiso esinokwethenjelwa salokho abantu bezikhathi zasendulo ababekwenza noma ababekucabanga. Akekho owazi ngokuqinisekile ukuthi isiko labo liye lashintsha yini phakathi kwamakhulu eminyaka noma ukuthi lashintsha kanjani.
17. (a) Yini eyaziwa yizazi-mlando zanamuhla zezinkolo? (b) Yini ebonakala iwukukhathalela okuyinhloko lapho kuhlaziywa inkolo?
17 Ngenxa yakho konke lokhu kungaqiniseki, incwadi iWorld Religions—From Ancient History to the Present iphetha ngokuthi “isazi-mlando sanamuhla sezenkolo siyazi ukuthi akunakwenzeka ukufinyelela imisuka yenkolo.” Nokho, mayelana nemizamo yezazi-mlando, lencwadi iphawula lokhu: “Esikhathini esidlule abahlongozi bemibono abaningi babengakhathalele nje ukuchaza noma ukucacisa inkolo kodwa ukuyilulaza, benomuzwa wokuthi uma izibonelo zokuqala ziboniswa zisekelwe enkohlisweni khona-ke izinkolo zamuva neziphakeme zingase zibhekelwe phansi.”
18. (a) Kungani abacwaningi abaningi bengazange baphumelele ekuchazeni umsuka wenkolo? (b) Ngokusobala, zaziyini izinhloso zangempela zabacwaningi benkolo “abangokwesayensi”?
18 Kulawomazwi okugcina kunenkomba yokuthi kungani abacwaningi “abangokwesayensi” abahlukahlukene bomsuka wenkolo bengazange baqhamuke nanoma yiziphi izincazelo ezinengqondo. Ukucabanga ngomqondo ohluzekile kusitshela ukuthi isiphetho esiqondile singasuselwa kuphela esisekelweni esiqondile. Uma umuntu eqala ngesisekelo esinephutha, cishe akunakwenzeka ukuba lowomuntu afinyelele isiphetho esinengqondo. Ukuhluleka ngokuphindaphindiwe kwabacwaningi “bezesayensi” ukuvela nencazelo enengqondo kuletha ukusingabaza okungathi sína isisekelo abasekele kuso imibono yabo. Ngokulandela umbono wokucabangela kwabo, emizamweni yabo ‘yokululaza inkolo’ baye bazama ukululaza noNkulunkulu.
19. Siyini isimiso esiyisisekelo esabangela ukucwaninga okungokwesayensi okuphumelelayo? Siza ubonise.
19 Lesimo singaqhathaniswa nezindlela eziningi izazi zezinkanyezi zangaphambi kwekhulu le-16 leminyaka ezazama ngazo ukuchaza ukunyakaza kwamaplanethi. Kwakunemibono eminingi, kodwa awukho kuyo owawanelisa ngempela. Ngani? Ngoba yayisekelwe ekucabangeleni kokuthi umhlaba wawuyinkaba yendawo yonke izinkanyezi namaplanethi okwakuhamba kuyizungeze. Akuzange kube nentuthuko engokoqobo kwaze kwaba yilapho ososayensi—neSonto lamaKatolika—bezimisele ukwamukela iqiniso lokuthi umhlaba awuyona inkaba yendawo yonke kodwa wawuhamba uzungeze ilanga, eliyinkaba yesimiso sezinto ezizungeza ilanga. Ukwehluleka kwemibono eminingi ukuchaza lamaqiniso kwaholela abantu abaningi abanomqondo ovulekile ekubeni bangazami ukuvela nemibono emisha, kodwa ukuba bahlolisise kabusha isisekelo sokucwaninga kwabo. Futhi lokhu kwaholela empumelelweni.
20. (a) Sasiyini isisekelo esinephutha okwakusekelwe kuso ukucwaningwa komsuka wenkolo “okungokwesayensi”? (b) UVoltaire wabhekisela kusiphi isidingo esiyisisekelo?
20 Isimiso esifanayo singasetshenziswa nasekucwaningeni umsuka wenkolo. Ngenxa yokudlondlobala kwenkolelo yokuthi uNkulunkulu akekho nokwamukelwa emhlabeni wonke kombono wokuziphendukela kwemvelo, abantu abaningi baye bakuthatha kalula ukuthi uNkulunkulu akekho. Ngokusekelwe kulokhu kucabangela, banomuzwa wokuthi incazelo yobukhona benkolo kumelwe itholakale kumuntu ngokwakhe—ezindleleni zakhe zokucabanga, ezidingweni zakhe, ekwesabeni kwakhe, ‘nasekuphazamisekeni kwakhe ngokomzwelo.’ UVoltaire wathi, “Ukuba uNkulunkulu wayengekho, bekuyoba okudingekile ukuba aqanjwe”; ngakho baphikisa ngokuthi uNkulunkulu waqanjwa umuntu.—Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 28.
21. Yisiphi isiphetho esinengqondo esingafinyelela kuso ngokwehluleka kwemibono eminingi ngomsuka wenkolo?
21 Njengoba imibono eminingi iye yehluleka ukunikeza impendulo eyanelisa ngempela, ingabe akusona yini isikhathi manje sokuhlola kabusha isisekelo okwakusekelwe kuso lokhu kucwaninga? Esikhundleni sokukhandleka ngokuyize enqubweni efanayo, bekungebe yini okunengqondo ukubheka kwenye indawo ukuze sithole impendulo? Uma sizimisele ukuba nomqondo ovulekile, siyovuma ukuthi ukwenza kanjalo kokubili kunengqondo futhi kuvumelana nesayensi. Futhi sinesibonelo esinjalo kanye sokusisiza ukuba sibone ukuhlakanipha okukulenkambo.
Ukucwaninga Okuhlelekile Kwasendulo
22. Imibono eminingi yabaseAthene ngawonkulunkulu babo yayithinta kanjani indlela yabo yokukhulekela?
22 Ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka leSikhathi sethu Esivamile, iAthene, eGrisi, yayiyisikhungo esidumile sokufunda. Nokho, phakathi kwabantu baseAthene, kwakunamaqembu amaningi ahlukahlukene, njengamaEpikhuru, namaStoyiku, ngalinye linowalo umbono ngawonkulunkulu. Ngokusekelwe kulemibono ehlukahlukene, kwakuhlonishwa onkulunkulu abaningi, futhi kwaba nezindlela zokukhulekela ezihlukahlukene. Ngenxa yalokho, lomuzi wawugcwele izithombe ezenziwe abantu namathempeli.—IzEnzo 17:16.
23. Yimuphi umbono ohluke ngokuphelele ngoNkulunkulu owalethwa umphostoli uPawulu kwabaseAthene?
23 Cishe ngonyaka ka-50 C.E., umphostoli uPawulu ongumKristu wavakashela iAthene futhi waletha kwabaseAthene umbono ohluke ngokuphelele. Wabatshela: “UNkulunkulu owenza umhlaba nakho konke okukuwo, yena oyiNkosi yezulu nomhlaba, akahlali emathempelini enziwe ngezandla; futhi akakhonzwa ngezandla zabantu ngokungathi udinga utho, yena obapha bonke ukuphila nokuphefumula nakho konke.”—IzEnzo 17:24, 25.
24. Eqinisweni, yini uPawulu ayeyitshela abaseAthene ngokukhulekela kweqiniso?
24 Ngamanye amazwi, uPawulu wayetshela abaseAthene ukuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso, “owenza umhlaba nakho konke okukuwo,” akawona umkhiqizo oqanjwe ukuzicabangela komuntu, futhi akakhonzwa ngezindlela ezingase zisungulwe umuntu. Inkolo yeqiniso ayiwona nje umzamo womuntu waluhlangothi-lunye wokuzama ukugcwalisa isidingo esithile esisengqondweni noma ukuthulisa ukwesaba okuthile. Kunalokho, njengoba uNkulunkulu weqiniso enguMdali, owanikeza umuntu ikhono lokucabanga namandla engqondo, kungokunengqondo ukuthi wayeyonikeza indlela yokuba umuntu afinyelele ebuhlotsheni obanelisayo naYe. NgokukaPawulu, yilokho kanye uNkulunkulu akwenza. “Wazenza izizwe zonke ngagazi linye ukuba zakhe ebusweni bonke bomhlaba, . . . ukuze zifune uNkulunkulu, ingabe zingamuzwa, zimfumane; ingani kakude kulowo nalowo kithi.”—IzEnzo 17:26, 27.
25. Chaza iphuzu eliyisihluthulelo lenkulumo kaPawulu ngemvelaphi yesintu.
25 Phawula iphuzu likaPawulu eliyisihluthulelo: UNkulunkulu “wazenza izizwe zonke ngagazi linye.” Ngisho nakuba namuhla kunezizwe eziningi zabantu, ezihlala kuwo wonke umhlaba, ososayensi bayazi ukuthi ngempela sonke isintu siwuzalo olulodwa. Lomqondo ubaluleke kakhulu ngoba lapho sikhuluma ngokuba kwesintu uzalo olulodwa, kusho okwengeziwe kakhulu kunokuba kwabo nje abahlobene ngoba bezalana nangokwezici zofuzo. Bahlobene nakwezinye izici futhi.
26. Yini eyaziwayo ngolimi esekela iphuzu eliyisihluthulelo likaPawulu?
26 Ngokwesibonelo, phawula lokho incwadi iStory of the World’s Worship ekushoyo ngolimi lwabantu. “Labo abaye bafunda ngezilimi zomhlaba baziqhathanisa, banokuthile abangakusho, futhi yilokhu: Zonke izilimi zingahlelwa ngamaqembu noma izigaba zenkulumo, futhi onke lamaqembu kubonakala aqala emthonjeni owodwa ofanayo.” Ngamanye amazwi, izilimi zomhlaba azizange ziqale ngokuhlukile nangokuzimele, njengoba abakholelwa ekuziphendukeleni kwemvelo bengathanda ukuba sikholelwe. Basikisela umbono wokuthi abantu ababehlala emihumeni eAfrika, eYurophu, naseAsia baqala ngokubhodla nangokugwavuma kwabo futhi ekugcineni bakha izilimi zabo siqu. Lokho akulona iqiniso. Ubufakazi buwukuthi izilimi “zaqala emthonjeni owodwa ofanayo.”
27. Kungani kunengqondo ukucabanga ukuthi imibono yomuntu ngoNkulunkulu nenkolo yaqala emthonjeni owodwa ofanayo?
27 Uma lokho kuyiqiniso ngento ethile engeyomuntu siqu nengeyabantu ngokuyingqayizivele njengolimi, khona-ke akunakuba okunengqondo yini ukucabanga ukuthi imibono yomuntu ngoNkulunkulu nenkolo kufanele ukuba nayo yaqala emthonjeni owodwa ofanayo? Kakade, inkolo ihlobene nokucabanga, futhi ukucabanga kuhlobene nekhono lomuntu lokusebenzisa ulimi. Akukhona ukuthi zonke izinkolo eqinisweni zavela enkolweni eyodwa, kodwa imibono nemiqondo kufanele isifikise emsukeni othile ofanayo noma emthonjeni wemibono engokwenkolo. Ingabe bukhona ubufakazi bokusekela lokhu? Futhi uma, eqinisweni izinkolo zabantu zavela emthonjeni owodwa, kungase kube yimuphi? Singazi kanjani?
Zihlukene Kodwa Ziyefana
28. Singazi kanjani ukuthi ukhona yini umsuka ofanayo wezinkolo zomhlaba?
28 Singathola impendulo ngendlela efana naleyo izazi zezilimi ezathola ngayo izimpendulo zazo ngomsuka wolimi. Ngokuqhathanisa izilimi nangokuphawula izici zokufana kwazo, isazi semisuka yamagama singathungatha izilimi ezihlukahlukene sifinyelele emthonjeni wazo. Ngokufanayo, ngokuqhathanisa izinkolo, singahlolisisa izimfundiso zazo, izinganekwane, imikhuba enemicikilisho, imikhosi, izinhlelo ezisunguliwe, nokunye futhi sibone ukuthi awukho yini umnonjana wokufana kuzo, futhi uma ukhona, lowomnonjana usiholelaphi.
29. Yini okungathiwa yiyo ebangela ukwehlukana okuningi phakathi kwezinkolo?
29 Ngaphandle, izinkolo eziningi ezikhona namuhla zibonakala zihlukile ngokuphelele enye kwenye. Nokho, uma sembula izinto ezimane nje ziyimihlobiso nezenezelwe kamuva, noma uma sisusa lezozici ezizehlukanisayo eziwumphumela wokulolongwa isimo sendawo, ulimi, izimo ezingavamile ngokwendawo ezikuyo, nezinye izici, iyamangalisa indlela iningi lazo ezitholakala zifana ngayo.
30. Yikuphi ukufana okubonayo phakathi kobuKatolika bamaRoma nobuBuddha?
30 Ngokwesibonelo, abantu abaningi bangacabanga ukuthi azikho izinkolo ezimbili ezihluke enye kwenye njengeSonto lamaRoma Katolika laseNtshonalanga nobuBuddha baseMpumalanga. Nokho, yini esiyibonayo uma sibeka eceleni ukungefani okungathiwa kubangelwa ulimi nempucuko? Uma sikubheka ngomqondo ongabandlululi, kufanele sivume ukuthi lezinkolo ezimbili zinokuningi ezifana ngakho. Kokubili ubuKatolika nobuBuddha kucwile shí emikhubeni enemicikilisho nasemikhosini. Lokhu kuhlanganisa ukusetshenziswa kwamakhandlela, impepho, amanzi angcwele, irosali, imifanekiso yosanta, izincwadi zamaculo nemithandazo, ngisho nophawu lwesiphambano. Zombili lezinkolo zinezinhlelo zezindela nezindelakazi futhi ziqashelwa ngobumpohlo kubapristi, izembatho ezikhethekile, izinsuku ezingcwele, nokudla okukhethekile. Loluhlu aluphelele neze, kodwa lusiza ekucaciseni leliphuzu. Umbuzo uwukuthi, Kungani izinkolo ezimbili ezibonakala zihlukene kangaka zinezinto eziningi kangaka ezifanayo?
31. Yikuphi ukufana okubonayo phakathi kwezinye izinkolo?
31 Njengoba ukuqhathaniswa kwalezinkolo ezimbili kuye kwabonakala kusikhanyisela kangaka, kungenziwa okufanayo nangezinye izinkolo. Uma senza kanjalo, sithola ukuthi izimfundiso ezithile nezinkolelo cishe zitholakala emhlabeni wonke phakathi kwazo. Abaningi bethu bajwayelene nezimfundiso ezinjengokungafi komphefumulo womuntu, umvuzo wasezulwini wabo bonke abantu abalungileyo, ukuhlushwa phakade kwabantu ababi ezweni elingaphansi, isihlanzo, unkulunkulu onguziqu-zintathu noma unkulunkulu owenziwa onkulunkulu abaningi, nonkulunkulukazi ongunina kankulunkulu noma oyindlovukazi yezulu. Nokho, ngaphandle kwalokhu, kunezinganekwane eziningi nezinsumansumane ezijwayeleke ngokufanayo. Ngokwesibonelo, kunezinganekwane ngokulahlekelwa komuntu umusa waphezulu ngenxa yomzamo wakhe ongemthetho wokuzuza ukungafi, isidingo sokunikela ngemihlatshelo yokushweleza ngesono, ukufuna umuthi wokuphila noma umthombo wobusha, onkulunkulu nonkulunkulu abangabantu ababephila phakathi kwabantu futhi abaveza inzalo engaphezu kwabantu abavamile, nozamcolo oyinhlekelele owabhubhisa cishe sonke isintu.a
32, 33. (a) Singaphetha ngokuthini ngokufana okuphawulekayo phakathi kwezinkolo zomhlaba? (b) Yimuphi umbuzo odinga impendulo?
32 Singaphetha ngokuthini kukho konke lokhu? Siphawula ukuthi labo abakholelwa kulezinganekwane nezinsumansumane babehlala kude kakhulu komunye nomunye ngokwendawo. Impucuko yabo namasiko kwakuhlukene futhi kuhlukile. Amasiko abo omphakathi ayengahlobene. Nokho, uma kuziwa ezinkolweni zabo, babekholelwa emibonweni enjengalena efanayo. Nakuba kungebona bonke labantu ababekholelwa kuzo zonke lezinto eziphawuliwe, bonke babekholelwa kwezinye zazo. Umbuzo osobala uwukuthi, Kungani? Kwakunjengokungathi kwakunomthombo ofanayo inkolo ngayinye eyakha kuwo izinkolelo zayo eziyisisekelo, ezinye zakha eziningi, ezinye zakha ezimbalwa. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lemibono eyisisekelo yahlotshiswa futhi yathuthukiswa, futhi ezinye izimfundiso zavela kuyo. Kodwa incazelo eyisisekelo isobala.
33 Ngokunengqondo, ukufana emiqondweni eyisisekelo yalezinkolo eziningi zomhlaba kuwubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi azizange ziqale ngayinye ngendlela yayo ehlukile nezimele. Kunalokho, uma sihlehlela emuva ngokwanele, imibono yazo kumelwe ukuba yavela emsukeni ofanayo. Wawuyini lowomsuka?
Inkathi Yasendulo Yokuchuma Nenjabulo
34. Iyiphi inganekwane mayelana nesiqalo somuntu ekhona ezinkolweni eziningi?
34 Ngokuthakazelisayo, phakathi kwezinganekwane ezivamile ezinkolweni eziningi, kunenye ethi isintu saqala enkathini yokuchuma nenjabulo lapho umuntu ayengenacala khona, ehlala ngokujabula nangokuthula esebudlelwaneni obuseduze noNkulunkulu, futhi ekhululekile ekuguleni nasekufeni. Nakuba imininingwane ingase ihluke, umqondo ofanayo wepharadesi eliphelele elake laba khona uyatholakala ezincwadini nasezinganekwaneni zezinkolo eziningi.
35. Chaza inkolelo yabalandeli bakaZoroaster basendulo ngenkathi yasendulo yokuchuma nenjabulo.
35 IAvesta, incwadi engcwele yenkolo yabalandeli bakaZoroaster basePersia yasendulo, isitshela ‘ngoYima olungile, umalusi omuhle,’ owayengumuntu wokuqala, uAhura Mazda (umdali) axoxa naye. Wayalezwa uAhura Mazda ukuba “anakekele, abuse, futhi agade izwe [lakhe].” Ukuze enze kanjalo, kwakumelwe akhe “iVara,” indawo yokuhlala engaphansi komhlaba, yazo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo. Kulendawo, “babungekho ubushiqela noma umoya wenzondo, kungekho ukulwa noma ubudlova, engekho ompofu noma inkohliso, engekho obuthakathaka ngokomzimba noma ogogekile, engekho onezingovolo noma abantu abayimidondoshiya. Izakhamuzi zazingahlushwa ukungcoliswa yimimoya emibi. Zazihlala phakathi kwemithi enephunga elimnandi nezinsika zegolide; lemithi yayimikhulu kunayo yonke, ingeyohlobo oluhle futhi imihle kunayo yonke emhlabeni; bona ngokwabo babewuhlanga lwabantu abade futhi abahle.”
36. Imbongi engumGreki uHesiod yayichaza kanjani “iNkathi Yegolide”?
36 Phakathi kwamaGreki asendulo, inkondlo kaHesiod ethi Works and Days ikhuluma ‘ngeziNkathi Eziyisihlanu Zomuntu,’ eyokuqala yazo ‘kwakuyiNkathi Yegolide’ lapho abantu babejabulela khona injabulo ephelele. Wabhala:
“Onkulunkulu abangafi, ababenyathela emagcekeni asezulwini,
Okokuqala benza uhlanga lwabantu oluyigolide.
Babephila njengawonkulunkulu, benemiphefumulo ejabulayo, engakhathazeki ngalutho,
Bekhululekile ekukhandlekeni nasebuhlungwini; futhi benganyonyobelwa
Isigebengu esiwukuguga, kodwa konke ukuphila kwabo babekuchitha
Besemadilini, nezitho zabo zazingazi lushintsho.”
Ngokwezinganekwane zamaGreki, leyonkathi yokuchuma nenjabulo esezinganekwaneni yalahleka lapho uEpimetheus amukela uPandora omuhle njengomkakhe, isipho esasivela kunkulunkulu waseOlympus, uZeus. Ngolunye usuku uPandora wavula isivalo sesitsha sakhe esikhulu, futhi ngokushesha kwaphuma izinkathazo, izinhlupheko, nokugula isintu esasingasoze silulame kukho.
37. Chaza ukulandisa okusezinganekwaneni zasendulo zamaChina ‘ngepharadesi’ ekuqaleni komlando.
37 Izinganekwane zasendulo zamaChina nazo zisitshela ngenkathi yokuchuma nenjabulo ezinsukwini zikaHuang-Ti (uMbusi Ophuzi), okuthiwa wabusa iminyaka eyikhulu ekhulwini lama-26 leminyaka B.C.E. Kuthiwa nguye owasungula yonke into ephathelene nempucuko—izembatho nezindawo zokukhosela, izinqola zokuthutha, izikhali nokulawulwa kwezempi, ukuphathwa kwezwe, izimboni zokukhiqiza, imikhiqizo kasilika, umculo, ulimi, izibalo, ikhalenda, nokunye. Phakathi nokubusa kwakhe, kuthiwa, “amasela ayengekho futhi kungekho nokulwa eChina, futhi abantu babehlala ngentobeko nangokuthula. Imvula nesimo sezulu okwakuba ngesikhathi sakho kwakuphumela enaleni yesivuno unyaka ngamunye. Okumangalisa kakhulu ukuthi ngisho nezilwane zasendle zazingabulali, futhi izinyoni ezidla inyama zazingalimazi. Kafushane, umlando waseChina waqala ngepharadesi.” Kuze kube namuhla, amaChina asazisholo ukuthi ayinzalo yoMbusi Ophuzi.
38. Yisiphi isiphetho esingafinyelela kuso ngakho konke lokhu kulandisa okufanayo okusezinganekwaneni ngesiqalo somuntu?
38 Ukulandisa okufanayo kwezinganekwane zangesikhathi senjabulo nokuphelela ekuqaleni komlando womuntu, kungatholakala ezinkolweni zabanye abaningi—abaseGibithe, abaseTibet, abasePeru, abaseMexico, nabanye. Ingabe kwenzeka ngengozi ukuba bonke labantu, ababehlala kude komunye nomunye nababenempucuko ehlukene ngokuphelele, izilimi, namasiko, bonke babe nemibono efanayo ngomsuka wabo? Ingabe kwenzeka ngenhlanhla noma kwamane nje kwahlangana ukuba bonke bakhethe ukuchaza iziqalo zabo ngendlela efanayo? Ukucabanga ngomqondo ohluzekile nokuhlangenwe nakho kusitshela ukuthi lokhu akunakwenzeka. Ngokuphambene, kuzo zonke lezinganekwane, kumelwe ukuba kuhlanganiswe izici ezithile ezifanayo eziyiqiniso ngesiqalo somuntu nenkolo yakhe.
39. Yimuphi umfanekiso ohlangene ongaqoqwa ezicini ezisezinganekwaneni eziningi ngesiqalo somuntu?
39 Ngempela, kunezici eziningi ezifanayo ezibonakala kuzo zonke izinganekwane ezihlukene ngesiqalo somuntu. Uma sizihlanganisa ndawonye, kuqala ukuvela umfanekiso ophelele ngokwengeziwe. Usitshela ngendlela uNkulunkulu adala ngayo indoda yokuqala nowesifazane wababeka epharadesi. Ekuqaleni babanelisekile futhi bejabule kakhulu, kodwa ngokushesha baqala ukuhlubuka. Lokho kuhlubuka kwaholela ekulahlekelweni ipharadesi eliphelele, elathathelwa indawo ukusebenza kanzima nokukhandleka, ubuhlungu nokuhlupheka. Ekugcineni isintu saba sibi kangangokuthi uNkulunkulu wasijezisa ngokuthumela uzamcolo omkhulu wamanzi owabhubhisa bonke abantu ngaphandle komkhaya owodwa. Njengoba lomkhaya wanda, abanye babantwana bawo bahlangana ndawonye futhi baqala ukwakha umbhoshongo omkhulu bedelela uNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu washafisa icebo labo ngokusanganisa ulimi lwabo nangokubasakazela emagumbini akude omhlaba.
40. Chaza ubuhlobo beBhayibheli nezinganekwane ezimayelana nomsuka wezinkolo zomuntu.
40 Ingabe lomfanekiso ohlangene umane nje ungumphumela wokusebenza kwengqondo yomuntu othile? Cha. Ngokuyisisekelo, lowo umfanekiso onikezwayo eBhayibhelini, ezahlukweni zokuqala ezingu-11 zencwadi kaGenesise. Nakuba lapha singeke sixoxe ngobuqiniso beBhayibheli, makuphawulwe ukuthi ukulandisa kweBhayibheli ngomlando wokuqala womuntu kuyavela ezicini eziyisihluthulelo ezitholakala ezinganekwaneni eziningi.b Umbhalo ogciniwe wembula ukuthi njengoba abantu baqala ukusakazeka besuka eMesopotamiya, bahamba nezinkumbulo zabo, okuhlangenwe nakho, nemibono nomaphi lapho babeya khona. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lemibono yakhuliswa futhi yashintshwa yaba isisekelo senkolo kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba. Ngamanye amazwi, uma sibuyela emuva ekuqhathaniseni okusetshenziswe ngaphambili, ukulandisa kukaGenesise kwakha umthombo wokuqala ocwebe njengekristalu okwavela kuwo imibono eyisisekelo ngesiqalo somuntu nokukhulekela etholakala ezinkolweni ezihlukahlukene zomhlaba. Kulemibono zanezela izimfundiso nemikhuba yazo siqu, kodwa iketanga elihlanganisayo lisobala.
41. Yini okufanele ibe sengqondweni njengoba ufunda izahluko ezilandelayo kulencwadi?
41 Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo zalencwadi, sizoxoxa ngokuningiliziwe ngendlela izinkolo ezithile ezaqala futhi zathuthuka ngayo. Uzokuthola kukukhanyisela ukuphawula hhayi kuphela indlela inkolo ngayinye ehluke ngayo kwezinye kodwa nendlela efana ngayo nazo. Uzokwazi futhi ukuphawula indlela inkolo ngayinye engena ngayo ohlelweni lwezikhathi lomlando wabantu nomlando wenkolo, indlela incwadi noma izincwadi zayo ezingcwele ezihlobana ngayo nezinye, indlela umsunguli noma umholi wayo athonywa ngayo eminye imibono engokwenkolo, nendlela eye yathonya ngayo ukuziphatha kwesintu nomlando. Ukuhlola ukufuna kwesintu uNkulunkulu kwesikhathi eside unalamaphuzu engqondweni kuzokusiza ukuba ulibone ngokucace kakhulu iqiniso ngenkolo nezimfundiso ezingokwenkolo.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Ukuze uthole ukuqhathaniswa okuningiliziwe kwezinganekwane ezihlukahlukene ngozamcolo ezitholakala phakathi kwabantu abahlukahlukene, siza ubheke incwadi i-Insight on the Scriptures, eyanyatheliswa yiWatchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 1988, Umqulu 1, amakhasi 328, 610, no-611.
b Ukuze uthole ukwaziswa okuningiliziwe ngalesihloko, siza ubheke incwadi ethi IBhayibheli—Izwi LikaNkulunkulu Noma Elomuntu?, eyanyatheliswa yiWatchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., ngo-1989.
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 23]
Ukufika kokucwaninga okuhlelekile okungo-kwesayensi nombono wokuziphendukela kwemvelo kwabangela abaningi ukuba bangabaze inkolo
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 34]
Kunjengokungathi kwakunomthombo ofanayo inkolo ngayinye eyakha kuwo izinkolelo zayo eziyisisekelo
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 28]
Kungani Umuntu Ethanda Inkolo?
▪ UJohn B. Noss encwadini yakhe ethi Man’s Religions uthi: “Zonke izinkolo ngandlela-thile zithi umuntu akakwazi ukuzimela futhi akanakukwazi. Uhlobene ngokubalulekile namandla aseNdalweni naseMphakathini angaphandle kwakhe futhi uncike kuwo. Kalufifi noma ngokucacile, uyazi ukuthi akawona umnyombo wamandla ozimele okwaziyo ukuzimela uhlukile ezweni.”
Ngokufanayo, incwadi iWorld Religions—From Ancient History to the Present ithi: “Ukuhlola inkolo kwembula ukuthi isici sayo esibalulekile siwukulangazelela inzuzo ekuphileni, inkolelo yokuthi ukuphila akukhona okwenzeka ngengozi nokungenanjongo. Ukufuna injongo kuholela ekukholelweni emandleni amakhulu kunawomuntu, futhi ekugcineni ekuhlakanipheni okusendaweni yonke noma okungaphezu kokomuntu ovamile okunenhloso nentando yokulondoloza izimiso eziphakeme kakhulu zokuphila kwabantu.”
Ngakho inkolo yanelisa isidingo somuntu esiyisisekelo, njengoba nje nokudla kwanelisa ukulamba kwethu. Siyazi ukuthi ukudla ngokungakhethi lapho silambile kungase kuqede umphangazane; nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kuyolimaza impilo yethu. Ukuze siphile ukuphila okunempilo, sidinga ukudla okuhlwabusayo nokunomsoco. Ngokufanayo, sidinga ukudla okungokomoya okuhlwabusayo ukuze silondoloze impilo yethu engokomoya. Kungalesosizathu iBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi: “Umuntu akaphili ngesinkwa sodwa; kepha ngakho konke okuphuma emlonyeni kaJehova.”—Duteronomi 8:3.
[Ibalazwe elisekhasini 39]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
Njengoba abantu babehlakazeka besuka eMesopotamiya, bahamba nemibono yabo engokwenkolo nezinkumbulo
IBABILONI
ILIDIYA
ISIRIYA
IGIBITHE
IASIRIYA
IMEDIYA
IELAMU
IPHERESIYA
[Izithombe ekhasini 21]
Abantu abanjengoBuddha, uConfucius, noLuther bashintsha izimiso zenkolo ezazikhona; abazange basungule inkolo
[Isithombe ekhasini 25]
Umhlaziyi wezimbangela zezifo zengqondo waseAustria uSigmund Freud wathi inkolo yayibangelwe ukwesaba umuntu onjengoyise
[Isithombe ekhasini 27]
Isisekelo sokuthi umhlaba wawuyinkaba yendawo yonke saholela eziphethweni ezinephutha ngokunyakaza kwamaplanethi
[Izithombe ekhasini 33]
UbuBuddha nobuRoma Katolika—kungani bubonakala bunezinto eziningi ezifanayo?
Unkulunkulukazi womusa wamaBuddha aseChina nosana
INcasakazi Engcwele yamaKatolika noJesu olusana
UmBuddha waseTibet esebenzisa isondo lemithandazo nerosali
UmKatolika esebenzisa irosali
[Isithombe ekhasini 36]
Izinganekwane zamaChina zikhuluma ngenkathi yokuchuma nenjabulo phakathi nesikhathi sokubusa kukaHuang-Ti (uMbusi Ophuzi) ezikhathini zezinganekwane