Ingabe Kusheshile Noma Kwephuzile?

KUNINGI okushiwoyo manje ngokuqala kwekhulu lama-21 kanye nenkulungwane yesithathu yeminyaka ngemva kokuzalwa kukaJesu Kristu. Umagazini i-Newsweek wathi “ikhulu lama-20, elaqala liyiKhulu Leminyaka LeMpi Ebhuqayo kodwa laphenduka iNkathi Ye-athomu, kubonakala sengathi liyophela liyiNkathi Yokuzijabulisa.” Umagazini wayo ka-January 22, 1997, wabika: “Kakade asegcwele wonke amahhotela emhlabeni” ukuze kube nemikhosi yosuku olwandulela uNcibijane, ngo-December 31, 1999.

Nokho, abanye abantu bathi le mikhosi isheshile ukugujwa. Bathi ngokuphambene nalokho abaningi abakukholelwayo, ikhulu lama-21 kanye nenkulungwane yesithathu yeminyaka ayiqali ngo-January 1, 2000, kodwa iqala ngo-January 1, 2001. Ngenxa yokuthi wawungekho unyaka ongu-0, ikhulu lokuqala leminyaka laqala ngonyaka ka-1 kuya ku-100, ikhulu lesibili laqala ku-101 kuya ku-200, njalonjalo. Ngakho kuboniswa ukuthi ikhulu lama-20, elaqala ngo-January 1, 1901, kanye nenkulungwane yesibili yeminyaka, eyaqala ngo-January 1, 1001, iyophela ngo-December 31, 2000.

Kunelinye iphuzu okufanele licatshangelwe. Ikhalenda lethu lihlukanisa isikhathi ngokuthi kungaphambi noma kungemva kokuzalwa kukaKristu. Izazi manje ziyaqaphela ukuthi uJesu wazalwa esikhathini esingaphambi kwaleso esasicatshangwa ngaphambili, okwenza isikhathi sokushintsha kwekhalenda sibe yiphutha. Kunemibono ehlukahlukene ngokuthi uJesu wazalwa nini, kodwa uhlelo lwezikhathi zeBhayibheli lukhomba onyakeni ka-2 B.C.E. Ngokubala ngaleyo ndlela, inkulungwane yesithathu ngemva kokuzalwa kukaKristu eqinisweni iqalé ekwindla kulo nyaka! Ukwaziswa okwengeziwe kungatholakala komagazini i-Phaphama! ka-May 22, 1997, ikhasi 28, nowesiNgisi ka-December 22, 1975, ikhasi 27.a

Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yikuphi, kuwukuhlakanipha ukugwema ukugomela ukuthi ikhulu lama-21 nenkulungwane yesithathu yeminyaka iyoqala ngemva nje kwamasonto ambalwa. Nokho, ngenxa yemibono eyandile, i-Phaphama! inomuzwa wokuthi kuyafaneleka manje ukudingida isihloko esithi “Ikhulu Lama-20—Iminyaka Yoshintsho Ebucayi.”

[Umbhalo waphansi]