Isahluko 4
Ukufuna Okungaziwa Ngokusebenzisa Umlingo Nemimoya
1. UPawulu wabatshelani abaseAthene eAreyophagu? Ngani?
“MADODA aseAthene, ngiyabona ngakho konke ukuthi nikhonza kakhulu onkulunkulu.” (IzEnzo 17:22) Yilokho umphostoli uPawulu ongumKristu akutshela isixuku esasibuthene eAreyophagu, noma eGqumeni LikaMars, emzini wasendulo waseAthene, eGrisi. UPawulu washo lawomazwi ngoba wayebonile ngaphambili ukuthi “umuzi ugcwele izithombe.” (IzEnzo 17:16) Wayeboneni?
2. Yini eyayibonisa ukwesaba kwabaseAthene onkulunkulu?
2 Ngaphandle kokungabaza, uPawulu wayebone izinhlobonhlobo zonkulunkulu bamaGreki nabamaRoma kulowomuzi oxube izinhlanga, futhi kwakusobala ukuthi ukuphila kwalabantu kwakuzungezwe ikakhulukazi ukukhulekela kwabo onkulunkulu. Ngenxa yokwesaba ukuthi kungenzeka ngengozi ethile badebeselele ukuhlonipha noma yimuphi unkulunkulu obalulekile noma onamandla ongase acasulwe yilokho, abaseAthene babehlanganise ngisho ‘noNkulunkulu ongaziwa’ ekukhulekeleni kwabo. (IzEnzo 17:23) Lokho kwakukubonisa ngokusobala ukwesaba kwabo onkulunkulu.
3. Ingabe ukwesaba onkulunkulu kutholakala kuphela kwabaseAthene?
3 Yiqiniso, ukwesaba onkulunkulu, ikakhulukazi abangaziwa, akutholakali kuphela kwabaseAthene bekhulu lokuqala leminyaka. Ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka, kuye kwabusa cishe sonke isintu. Ezingxenyeni eziningi zomhlaba, cishe zonke izici zokuphila kwabantu zihlangene ngokuqondile noma ngenye indlela nonkulunkulu othile noma imimoya. Njengoba sibonile esahlukweni esandulelayo, izinganekwane zamaGibithe asendulo, amaGreki, amaRoma, amaChina, nabanye zazigxile ngokujulile emiqondweni yonkulunkulu nemimoya, okwakufeza ingxenye ebalulekile ezindabeni zomuntu siqu nezesizwe. Phakathi neNkathi Ephakathi, izindaba ngososayensi bemithi engozifo zonke, abathakathi besilisa nabesifazane, zazidlangile kuyo yonke indawo yeLobukholwa. Futhi isimo sisenjalo nanamuhla.
Amasiko Nezinkolelo-ze Namuhla
4. Yimaphi amanye amasiko athandwayo ngokusobala ahlangene nawonkulunkulu noma imimoya?
4 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu bayakuqaphela lokhu noma cha, izinto eziningi abazenzayo zihlangene nemikhuba yokukholelwa ezeni noma izinkolelo, ezinye zihlangene nonkulunkulu noma imimoya. Ngokwesibonelo, bewazi yini ukuthi ukugubha usuku lokuzalwa kwaqala ngesayensi yokufunda izinkanyezi, elubheka njengolubaluleke kakhulu usuku oluthe ngqó umuntu azalwa ngalo? Kuthiwani ngekhekhe losuku lokuzalwa? Libonakala lihlobene nonkulunkulukazi wamaGreki uArtemis, usuku lwakhe lokuzalwa olwalugujwa ngamakhekhe enziwe ngoju anesimo senyanga ayesechonywa amakhandlela ngaphezulu. Noma bewazi yini ukuthi ukugqoka izingubo ezimnyama emingcwabeni ekuqaleni kwakuyisu lokubalekela ukuqashelwa imimoya emibi okwakuthiwa yayiqamekela ngezikhathi ezinjalo? Abantu abathile baseAfrika abansundu bazipenda ngokumhlophe, futhi abazilile kwezinye izindawo bagqoka imibala engavamile ukuze imimoya ingababoni.
5. Yiziphi ezinye izinkolelo-ze ezivamile ozaziyo?
5 Ngaphandle kwalemikhuba evamile, abantu kuyo yonke indawo banezinkolelo-ze zabo nokwesaba. ENtshonalanga, ukubulala isibuko, ukubona ikati elimnyama, ukuhamba ngaphansi kwesikhwelo, futhi, kuxhomeke ekutheni ukuphi, uLwesibili noma uLwesihlanu zingu-13 enyangeni konke kubhekwa njengamabika ahlola okuthile okubi. EMpumalanga, abantu baseJapane bagqoka ikimono yabo bekhwicele uhlangothi lwangakwesobunxele ngakwesokudla, ngoba olwangakwesobunxele lusetshenziselwa izidumbu. Izindlu zabo zakhiwa zingenawo amafasitela noma iminyango ebheke enyakatho-mpumalanga ukuze amademoni, okuthiwa avela ngakulolohlangothi, angakwazi ukungena. EPhilippines, abantu bakhumula izicathulo zabafileyo bazibeke eceleni kwemilenze yabo ngaphambi kokubangcwaba ukuze “uSanta” Petru abamukele. Abantu abadala batshela abasebasha ukuba baziphathe kahle ngokubatshela ukuthi isithunzi esisenyangeni ‘singuSanta’ Michael, obheke izenzo zabo futhi azibhale phansi.
6. Abantu bahileleke ngezinga elingakanani ekusebenziseni imimoya namuhla?
6 Nokho, ukukholelwa emimoyeni nakonkulunkulu, akupheleli kuphela emasikweni nezinkolelo-ze okubonakala kungenangozi. Kokubili emiphakathini yobuqaba neyesimanje, abantu baye baphendukela ezindleleni ezihlukahlukene ukuze balawule noma bashweleze emimoyeni esabekayo nokuba bazuze uthando lwaleyo elungile. Ngokuvamile, singase sicabange kuqala ngabantu abahlala emahlathini akude nasezintabeni abaya kwabanamadlozi, abelaphi, nakumashaman (abapristi bemilingo) uma begula noma besezimweni ezinzima ngandlela-thile. Kodwa abantu abasemadolobheni amakhulu namancane nabo bayaya kwabafunda izinkanyezi, abaxhumana nemimoya, ababikezela inhlanhla, nababikezela ngokuzokwenzeka ukuba babuze ngekusasa noma bathole usizo ekwenzeni izinqumo ezibalulekile. Abanye, ngisho nakuba bezisholo ukuthi bangabenkolo ethile, baphishekela imikhuba enjalo ngentshiseko. Abanye abaningi baye benza ukusebenzisa imimoya, ubuthakathi, nokuxhumana namandla angabonakali kwaba yinkolo yabo.
7. Yimiphi imibuzo esidinga ukuyicabangela?
7 Uyini umthombo noma umsuka wayo yonke lemikhuba nezinkolelo-ze? Ingabe kumane nje kuyizindlela ezihlukahlukene zokukhulumisana noNkulunkulu? Futhi okubaluleke kakhulu, zenzani kulabo abazilandelayo? Ukuze sithole izimpendulo zalemibuzo, kumelwe sibheke emuva emlandweni womuntu futhi sibone izindlela zakhe zokukhulekela zakuqala.
Ukufinyelela Okungaziwa
8. Iyiphi imfanelo eyingqayizivele ehlukanisa abantu ezidalweni eziphansi?
8 Ngokuphambene nalokho abakholelwa ekuziphendukeleni kwemvelo abangase bakusho, umuntu unesici esingokomoya esimenza ehluke futhi aphakame kunezinye izidalwa eziphansi. Uzalwa enomuzwa wokufuna okungaziwa. Ngaso sonke isikhathi ushikashikeka nemibuzo enjengokuthi: Iyini injongo yokuphila? Kwenzekani ngemva kokuba umuntu esefile? Buyini ubuhlobo bomuntu nezwe elibonakalayo futhi, eqinisweni, nendawo yonke? Futhi uqhutshwa isifiso sokufinyelela okuthile okuphakeme noma okunamandla kunaye ukuze akwazi ngandlela-thile ukulawula indawo emzungezile nokuphila kwakhe.—IHubo 8:3, 4; UmShumayeli 3:11; IzEnzo 17:26-28.
9. Esinye isazi sisichaza kanjani “isimo esingokomoya”?
9 UIvar Lissner encwadini yakhe ethi Man, God and Magic wakubeka ngalendlela: “Kuyamangaza ukubona ukukhuthazela umuntu aye walwela ngakho, kuwo wonke umlando wakhe, ukufinyelela okuthile okungaphandle kwakhe. Amandla akhe ayengaqondiswanga kuphela ezidingweni zokuphila. Ngaso sonke isikhathi wayephishekela, ephuthaza indlela yakhe ngokuqhubekayo, efuna ukufinyelela okungenakufinyelelwa. Lomuzwa oyingqayizivele nongaphakathi kumuntu uyisimo sakhe esingokomoya.”
10. Yini ebonisa ukuthi umuntu unomuzwa ongokwemvelo wokufinyelela uNkulunkulu?
10 Yiqiniso, labo abangakholelwa kuNkulunkulu ababheki izinto ngaleyondlela. Ngokuvamile bathi lokhu kuthambekela komuntu kungenxa yezidingo zakhe, ezingokwengqondo noma ezinye, njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 2. Nokho, ingabe akukhona yini okuhlangenwe nakho kwethu okuvamile ukuthi lapho sibhekene nengozi noma isimo sokuphelelwa yithemba, ukusabela kokuqala kwabantu abaningi kuwukucela usizo kuNkulunkulu noma emandleni athile aphakeme? Lokhu kusenjalo nanamuhla njengoba kwakunjalo nasezikhathini ezidlule. Ngakho uLissner waqhubeka ethi: “Akekho oye wenza ukucwaninga phakathi kwabantu abangamaqaba bakudala kakhulu ongeke aqonde ukuthi bonke babenomqondo wobukhona bukaNkulunkulu, ukuthi babekuphaphamela ngentshiseko ukuba khona komuntu ophakeme.”
11. Uyini umphumela womzamo womuntu wokufinyelela okungaziwa? (Qhathanisa nabaseRoma 1:19-23.)
11 Ukuthi babekulwela kanjani ukusanelisa lesosifiso umuntu azalwa naso sokufinyelela okungaziwa kwakungenye indaba. Abazingeli abayimizulane nabelusi babethuthumela ngamandla ezilwane zasendle. Abalimi babejwayelene kakhulu nezinguquko zesimo sezulu nezezinkathi zonyaka. Abahlala kodukathole bamahlathi babesabela ngendlela ehlukile kunabantu abahlala ezingwadule noma ezintabeni. Njengoba babebhekene nalokhu kwesaba nezidingo ezihlukahlukene, abantu basungula izinhlobonhlobo ezikhungathekisayo zemikhuba engokwenkolo ababethemba ukunxusa ngayo konkulunkulu abalungile nokushweleza kwabesabekayo.
12. Yiziphi izici ezivamile ezingabonwa emikhubeni engokwenkolo yabantu kuyo yonke indawo?
12 Nokho, naphezu kokwehlukahlukana okukhulu, kunezici ezithile ezifanayo ezitholakala kulemikhuba engokwenkolo. Phakathi kwazo kunokuhlonipha nokwesaba imimoya engcwele namandla angaphezu kwawomuntu, ukusebenzisa umlingo, ukubhula ikusasa ngezimpawu nangamabika, ukufunda izinkanyezi, nezindlela ezihlukahlukene zokubikezela inhlanhla. Njengoba sihlolisisa lezizici, sizobona ukuthi zibe nengxenye eyinhloko ekulolongeni ukucabanga okungokwenkolo kwabantu kuwo wonke umhlaba futhi kuzo zonke izinkathi, kuhlanganise ngisho nabantu banamuhla.
Imimoya Engcwele Namandla Angaphezu Kwawomuntu
13. Yini okungenzeka ukuthi yayibadida abantu bezikhathi ezidlule?
13 Ukuphila kwabantu ezikhathini zakuqala kwabonakala kugcwaliswe yimfihlakalo. Babezungezwe yizenzakalo ezingachazeki nezikhungathekisayo. Ngokwesibonelo, babengakwazi ukuqonda ukuthi kungani umuntu ongumqemane ngokuphelele engase azunywe ukugula, noma ukuthi kungani isibhakabhaka singase sihluleke ukunikeza imvula ngesikhathi sonyaka esivamile, noma ukuthi kungani umuthi obonakala ungenampilo, ungenamaqabunga, ungase uphenduke ube luhlaza futhi ubonakale ugcwele impilo ngesikhathi esithile sonyaka. Ngisho nesithunzi somuntu siqu, ukushaya kwenhliziyo, nokuphefumula kwakuyizimfihlakalo.
14, 15. Ngenxa yokuntula ukuqonda nesiqondiso, cishe abantu baye bathi okungachazeki kubangelwa yini? (Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Samuweli 28:3-7.)
14 Umuntu enokuthambekela okungokomoya azalwa nakho, kwakumane nje kungokuvamile ukuba athi lezizinto nezenzakalo eziyimfihlakalo zibangelwa amandla athile angaphezu kwawomuntu. Nokho, njengoba ayentula isiqondiso nokuqonda okufanele, ngokushesha izwe lakhe laqala ukugcwala imiphefumulo, imimoya, imingcwi, namademoni. Ngokwesibonelo, amaNdiya angama-Algonquian aseNyakatho Melika abiza umphefumulo womuntu ngokuthi iotahchuk, okusho ukuthi “isithunzi sakhe,” futhi amaMalay aseNingizimu-mpumalanga yeAsia akholelwa ukuthi lapho umuntu efa, umphefumulo wakhe uyaphuma ngamakhala akhe. Namuhla, ukukholelwa emimoyeni nasemiphefumulweni engasekho—nemizamo yokukhulumisana nayo ngandlela-thile—kutholakala cishe kuyo yonke indawo.
15 Ngendlela efanayo, ezinye izinto ezisendaweni engokwemvelo esizungezile—ilanga, inyanga, izinkanyezi, izilwandle, imifula, nezintaba—kwakubonakala kuphila futhi kunethonya eliqondile emisebenzini yabantu. Njengoba lezizinto zazibonakala zinendawo yazo siqu, zenziwa samuntu njengemimoya nawonkulunkulu, eminye ilungile iwusizo, eminye imibi futhi iyingozi. Ukukhulekela izinto ezidaliweyo kwaqala ukuba nendawo evelele cishe kuzo zonke izinkolo.
16. Ukukhulekela imimoya, onkulunkulu, nezinto ezingcwele kwabonakaliswa kanjani?
16 Singathola izinkolelo zaloluhlobo ezinkolweni cishe zayo yonke impucuko yakudala. AbaseBabiloni nabaseGibithe babekhulekela onkulunkulu babo belanga, inyanga, nemithala yezinkanyezi. Izilwane zasekhaya nezasendle nazo zaziphakathi kwezinto zabo ezazihlonishwa. AmaHindu aziwa ngohlu lonkulunkulu bawo abamukelekayo, abafinyelela ezigidini. AmaChina abelokhu enezintaba zawo ezingcwele nonkulunkulu bawo bemifula, futhi abonisa ukuzinikela kwawo kokuzithoba ngokukhulekela okhokho. AmaDruid asendulo aseziQhingini zaseBrithani ayebheka imithi ye-oki njengengcwele, futhi ayezihlonipha ngokukhethekile izintandela ezimila emthini we-oki. Kamuva, amaGreki namaRoma aba nengxenye yawo; futhi ukukholelwa emimoyeni, konkulunkulu, emiphefumulweni, emademonini, nasezintweni ezingcwele zazo zonke izinhlobo kwagxiliswa ngokuqinile.
17. Ukukhulekela izinto ezidaliwe kusabonakala ngayiphi indlela namuhla?
17 Nakuba abanye abantu namuhla bengase babheke zonke izinkolelo ezinjalo njengezinkolelo-ze, lemiqondo isatholakala emikhubeni yenkolo yabantu abaningi kuwo wonke umhlaba. Abanye basakholelwa ukuthi izintaba ezithile, imifula, amatshe anezimo ezingandile, imithi emidala, nezinye izinto eziningi kungcwele, futhi bayakukhulekela njengezinto zokuhlonishwa. Bakha ama-altare, izindlu zokukhulekela, namathempeli kulezindawo. Ngokwesibonelo, uMfula iGanges ungcwele kumaHindu, lawo asifiso sawo esiyigugu siwukuba ageze kuwo lapho esaphila futhi umlotha wawo ufafazwe kuwo lapho esefile. AmaBuddha akubheka njengokuhlangenwe nakho okukhethekile ukukhulekela endlini yokukhulekela eBuddh Gaya, eNdiya, lapho kuthiwa uBuddha wazuza khona ukukhanyiselwa ngaphansi komuthi webodhi. AmaKatolika aya eSontweni lawo elidala nelihlonishwayo leNkosazana Yethu laseGuadalupe eMexico egaqa ngamadolo noma ageze emanzini “angcwele” asendlini yokukhulekela eLourdes, eFrance, ngoba efuna ukwelashwa ngokuyisimangaliso. Ukuhlonishwa kwezinto ezidaliweyo kunoMdali kusekhona kakhulu nanamuhla.—Roma 1:25.
Ukudlondlobala Kwemilingo
18. Ukukholelwa emimoyeni nakonkulunkulu kwaholelaphi?
18 Lapho nje lenkolelo yase imisiwe yokuthi izwe lezinto ezingaphili laligcwele imimoya, elungile nemibi, kwaholela kalula esinyathelweni esilandelayo—imizamo yokukhulumisana naleyo emihle ukuze kufunwe isiqondiso nezibusiso neyokushweleza kwemibi. Umphumela waba ukusetshenziswa komlingo, okuye kwachuma cishe kuzo zonke izizwe zesikhathi esidlule nesamanje.—Genesise 41:8; Eksodusi 7:11, 12; Duteronomi 18:9-11, 14; Isaya 47:12-15; IzEnzo 8:5, 9-13; 13:6-11; 19:18, 19.
19. (a) Uyini umlingo? (b) Kungani umlingo ubonakala ukholeka kubantu abaningi?
19 Ngomqondo oyinhloko kakhulu, umlingo uwumzamo wokulawula noma ukuphoqelela amandla emvelo noma angaphezu kwawomuntu ukuba enze intando yomuntu. Bengasazi isisusa sangempela sezenzakalo eziningi zansuku zonke, abantu emiphakathini yakuqala babekholelwa ukuthi ukuphindaphindwa kwamazwi athile omlingo noma imithendeleko, noma ukwenza umkhuba othile onemicikilisho, kungaletha imiphumela ethile efiselekayo. Okwakwenza ukuba loluhlobo lomlingo lukholelwe kwakuwukuthi eminye yemikhuba enemicikilisho yayisebenza ngempela. Ngokwesibonelo, abantu abelaphayo—ikakhulukazi abenzi bemilingo noma ababhuli—baseziQhingini ZaseMentawai entshonalanga yeSumatra kubikwa ukuthi babephumelela ngokumangalisayo ekwelapheni abantu abahlushwa uhudo. Umkhuba wabo ababewumisile owumlingo wawuwukuba abagulayo balale phansi ngezisu eduze nonqenqema lwewa futhi bakhothe inhlabathi njalo ngezikhathi ezithile. Yini eyayenza ukuba usebenze? Inhlabathi esemaweni yayiqukethe ikaolin, ibumba elimhlophe elisetshenziswa ngokuvamile kweminye imithi yanamuhla yohudo.
20. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba umlingo ubuse ukuphila kwabantu?
20 Ukuphumelela okumbalwa kwaloluhlobo kwakusula ngokushesha konke ukwehluleka kwalabelaphi futhi kwabamisela idumela elihle. Ngokushesha baba amalungu ayebhekwa ngokuthuthumela nangenhlonipho enkulu—abapristi, izinduna, abapristi bemilingo, abelaphi, izinyanga, nezangoma. Abantu baya kubo nezinkinga zabo, ezinjengokuphulukisa nokuvimbela izifo, ukuthola izinto ezilahlekile, ukubona amasela, ukuxosha amathonya amabi, nokuziphindiselela. Ekugcineni kwavela indikimba enkulu yemikhuba yokukholelwa ezeni nemikhuba enemicikilisho eyayiphathelene nalezindaba kuhlanganise nezinye izenzakalo zokuphila, njengokuzala, ukuthomba, ukuthembisa, ukushada, ukufa, nokungcwaba. Amandla nemfihlakalo yomlingo ngokushesha kwabusa zonke izici zokuphila kwabantu.
Ukusinela Imvula Neziphonso
21, 22. Yini eshiwo “umlingo wokulingisa”? Bonisa.
21 Naphezu kokwehlukahlukana okukhulu okusemikhubeni yemilingo yabantu abehlukahlukene, imiqondo eyisisekelo eyishukumisile ifana ngendlela ephawulekayo. Okokuqala, kunomqondo wokuthi into oyifisayo ingase ivezwe ngokuyilingisa. Lokhu ngezinye izikhathi kubizwa ngokuthi umlingo wokulingisa. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho ukuntuleka kwemvula kusongela izitshalo zawo, amaNdiya angamaOmaha, eNyakatho Melika ayesina azungeze isigubhu samanzi. Bese omunye wawo ephuza amanye alawomanzi futhi awakhwife emoyeni elingisa umkhemezelo noma isihlambi semvula. Noma umuntu angase agingqike enhlabathini njengebhere elilimele ukuze aqiniseke ukuthi uyophumelela ekuzingeleni kwakhe amabhere.
22 Abanye abantu babenemikhuba enemicikilisho ehlotshiswe kakhulu, kuhlanganise namaculo neminikelo. AmaChina ayenza udrako omkhulu owenziwe ngephepha noma ngokhuni, unkulunkulu wawo wemvula, bese emasha ewuzungezisa, noma angase athathe isithombe sikankulunkulu wawo asikhiphe ethempelini futhi asibeke elangeni ukuze sizwe ukushisa kwelanga mhlawumbe singase sithumele imvula. Umkhuba onemicikilisho wabantu abangamaNgoni baseMpumalanga Afrika uhlanganisa ukuthela utshwala embizeni embelwe enhlabathini ethempelini lokuthandazela imvula bese bethandaza, “Nkosi Chauta, wenzé inhliziyo yakho yaba lukhuni ngakithina, ufuna ukuba senzeni? Sizokufa ngempela. Nika abantwana bakho imvula, nampu utshwala esikunika bona.” Khona-ke babephuza utshwala obusele. Lokhu kulandelwa ingoma nokusina nokuthintitha amahlamvu acwiliswe emanzini.
23. Ubuthakathi nokuphonsa iziphonso kwaqala kanjani? (Qhathanisa noLevitikusi 19:31; 20:6, 27; Duteronomi 18:10-13.)
23 Omunye umqondo owawubangela imikhuba yemilingo uwukuthi izinto ezazingezomuntu othile ziyaqhubeka zimthonya ngisho nangemva kokuba sezihlukanisiwe naye. Lokhu kwaholela emkhubeni wokuphonsa iziphonso kothile ngokusebenzisa into ethile eyayingeyalowomuntu ngaphambili. Ngisho nasekhulwini le-16 nele-17 leminyaka eYurophu naseNgilandi, abantu babesakholelwa kubathakathi besilisa nabesifazane ababekwazi ukulimaza abantu ngaloluhlobo lwamandla. Ubuciko babo babuhlanganisa izinto ezinjengokwenza isithombe sengcina salowomuntu nokusihlaba ngawokhanjana, ukubhala igama lakhe ephepheni bese ulishisa, ukumbela ingxenye ethile yesembatho sakhe, noma ukwenza ezinye izinto ngezinwele zakhe, izingcezu zezinzipho ezinqunyiwe, umjuluko, noma ngisho nendle. Ukuthi lezizinto neminye imikhuba kwafinyelela izinga elingakanani kungabonakala eqinisweni lokuthi eNgilandi ngo-1542, 1563, nango-1604 kwamiswa imiThetho YasePhalamende eyayibonisa ukuthi ubuthakathi buyicala elinesijeziso sokulengiswa. Ngandlela-thile, loluhlobo lomlingo luye lwaqhutshwa abantu cishe kuzo zonke izizwe kuyo yonke leminyaka.
Isikhathi Esizayo Ngezimpawu Nangamabika
24. (a) Kuyini ukubhula? (b) AbaseBabiloni babebhula kanjani?
24 Ngokuvamile umlingo usetshenziselwa ukwambula ukwaziswa okufihlakele noma ukubheka esikhathini esizayo ngezimpawu nangamabika. Lokhu kwaziwa ngokuthi ukubhula, futhi abaseBabiloni babephawuleka ngakho. Ngokwencwadi iMagic, Supernaturalism, and Religion, “babeyizingcweti zobuciko bokubona okungakenzeki, bebikezela ikusasa ngokufunda izibindi namathumbu ezilwane ezibuleweyo, ngokubheka umlilo nentuthu, nangokubheka ukubengezela kwamatshe ayigugu; babebikezela izenzakalo ngokuhlokoma kwemifudlana nangesimo sezitshalo. . . . Izimpawu zesimo somoya osemkhathini, imvula, amafu, umoya, nombani zazichazwa njengamabika amashwa; ukuqhekeka kwempahla yasendlini namapulangwe kwakubikezela izenzakalo zesikhathi esizayo. . . . Izimpukane nezinye izinambuzane, kanye nezinja, kwakuthwala izigijimi ezivela emimoyeni engabonakali.”
25. UHezekeli noDaniyeli babhekisela kanjani emkhubeni wokubhula eBabiloni lasendulo?
25 Incwadi yeBhayibheli kaHezekeli ibika ukuthi komunye umkhankaso wezempi, “inkosi yaseBabele [yama] egumbini lezindlela engosini yezindlela zombili ukuba ibhule; ixhakazisa imicibisholo, ibuza amatherafi, ibheka esibindini.” (Hezekeli 21:21) Abenzi bemilingo, ababhuli, nabapristi abenza imilingo nabo babeyingxenye evamile yekomkhulu laseBabiloni.—Daniyeli 2:1-3, 27, 28.
26. Yiluphi olunye uhlobo lokubhula olwaluthandwa phakathi kwamaGreki?
26 Abantu bezinye izizwe, kokubili abaseMpumalanga nabaseNtshonalanga, nabo bahileleka ezinhlotsheni eziningi zokubhula. AmaGreki ayebuza abapristi bawo bawonkulunkulu ngokuphathelene nezenzakalo ezinkulu zezombangazwe kuhlanganise nezindaba ezivamile zangasese njengokushada, ukuthatha uhambo, nabantwana. Umpristi wawonkulunkulu odume kakhulu kulaba kwakungumpristi waseDelphi. Izimpendulo, okwakucatshangelwa ukuthi zivela kunkulunkulu uApollo, zazinikezwa ngompristikazi, noma uPythia, ngamazwi angenangqondo futhi ayechazwa abapristi ukuze badale izinkulumo ezinomqondo okabili. Isibonelo esivamile sasiyimpendulo eyanikezwa uCroesus, inkosi yaseLydia, eyathi: “Uma uCroesus engawela iHalys, uzobhubhisa umbuso onamandla.” Kwatholakala ukuthi umbuso onamandla owabhujiswa kwakungowakhe. UCroesus wanqotshwa uCyrus wasePheresiya lapho ewela iHalys ukuba ayohlasela eCappadocia.
27. AmaRoma ahileleka ekubhuleni ngezinga elingakanani?
27 ENtshonalanga ubuciko bokubhula bafinyelela iqophelo eliphakeme kumaRoma ayebambeke kakhulu ngamabika nezibonakaliso cishe kuyo yonke into ayeyenza. Abantu bazo zonke izigaba zomphakathi babekholelwa ekufundweni kwezinkanyezi, ubuthakathi, izintelezi, ukubikezela inhlanhla, nakwezinye izinhlobo eziningi zokubhula. Futhi ngokwesinye isazi somlando wamaRoma, uEdward Gibbon, “izinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zokukhulekela, ezazandile ezweni lamaRoma, zonke zazicatshangelwa abantu njengeziyiqiniso ngokulinganayo.” Isikhulu sikahulumeni negagu elidume kakhulu uCicero sasiyingcweti ekubhekeni amabika ekundizeni kwezinyoni. Isazi-mlando esingumRoma uPetronius saphawula ukuthi uma sibheka ubuningi bezinkolo namahlelo emadolobheni athile aseRoma, kumelwe ukuba kwakunonkulunkulu abaningi kunabantu ababekuwo.
28. AbaseChina babebhula kanjani ezikhathini zasendulo?
28 EChina, kuye kwavubukulwa izingcezu zamathambo namagobolondo okubhula okungaphezu kuka-100 000 okuhlehlela emuva kusukela enkulungwaneni yesibili yeminyaka B.C.E. (ukubusa kohlanga lwamaShang). Kwakusetshenziswa abapristi bohlanga lwamaShang ekufuneni isiqondiso saphezulu kunoma yini kusukela esimweni sezulu kuya ekuviveni kwamabutho. Abapristi babebhala imibuzo ngombhalo wasendulo kulamathambo. Khona-ke babewashisa lamathambo futhi bahlole izimfa ezivelile futhi babhale izimpendulo kuwo wona lawomathambo. Ezinye izazi zikholelwa ukuthi indlela yokubhala yabaseChina yavela kulombhalo wasendulo.
29. Yisiphi isimiso sokubhula esichazwa kuyi-I Ching?
29 Indaba elotshiwe eyaziwa kakhulu yamaChina asendulo ngokubhula yileyo ethi I Ching (UMthetho Wezinguquko; ephinyiselwa ngokuthi Yee-Jing), okuthiwa yalotshwa ababusi bokuqala ababili bamaChou, uWen Wang noChou Kung, ekhulwini le-12 leminyaka B.C.E. Iqukethe izincazelo eziningiliziwe ngokusebenzelana kwamandla amabili aphikisanayo iyin neyang (ukukhanya nobumnyama, ukuvuma nokungavumi, owesilisa nowesifazane, ilanga nenyanga, izulu nomhlaba, nokunye), okungamandla amaChina amaningi asakholelwa ukuthi ayizimiso ezibusayo ezilawula zonke izindaba zokuphila. Inikeza umqondo wokuthi yonke into iyashintsha njalo futhi akukho lutho oluhlala phakade. Ukuze umuntu aphumelele kunoma yikuphi akwenzayo, kumelwe aqaphele futhi enze ngokuvumelana nazo zonke izinguquko zangalesosikhathi. Ngakho, abantu babuza imibuzo futhi benza izinkatho bese bebheka i-I Ching ukuze bathole izimpendulo. Kuwo wonke amakhulu eminyaka i-I Ching ibilokhu iyisisekelo sazo zonke izindlela zokubikezela inhlanhla, ukubhula ngezici zokuma kwezwe, nezinye izinhlobo zokubhula eChina.
Ukusuka Olwazini Ngezinkanyezi Kuya Ekufundeni Izinkanyezi
30. Chaza ukukhula kolwazi lwezinkanyezi lwakuqala.
30 Sekuyisikhathi eside ukuhleleka kwelanga, inyanga, izinkanyezi, namaplanethi kuthakazelisa kubantu emhlabeni. Izincwadi ezichaza izinkanyezi ezihlehlela emuva ku-1800 B.C.E. ziye zatholakala eMesopotamiya. Ngokusekelwe kulokho kwaziswa, abaseBabiloni babekwazi ukubikezela izenzakalo eziningi eziphathelene nezinkanyezi, njengokufiphala kwenyanga, ukuphuma nokunyamalala kwemithala yezinkanyezi, nokunye ukunyakaza kwamaplanethi. AbaseGibithe, abaseAsiriya, abaseChina, abaseNdiya, amaGreki, amaRoma, nabanye abantu basendulo ngokufanayo babeqaphela isibhakabhaka futhi begcina imibhalo eningiliziwe yezenzakalo zezinkanyezi. Ngalemibhalo bakha amakhalenda abo futhi bahlela imisebenzi yabo yaminyaka yonke.
31. Ulwazi ngezinkanyezi lwakuveza kanjani ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi?
31 Kulokhu kuqashelwa kwezinkanyezi, kwaba okuphawulekayo ukuthi izenzakalo ezithile emhlabeni zazibonakala zihambisana nezenzakalo ezithile zasesibhakabhakeni. Ngokwesibonelo, ukuguquka kwezinkathi zonyaka kwakulandela eduze ukunyakaza kwelanga, amaza olwandle ayehla futhi aphakame ngokuhambisana nenyanga, ukugcwala kwaminyaka yonke komfula iNayile ngaso sonke isikhathi kwakulandela ukubonakala kweSirius, inkanyezi egqame kunazo zonke. Isiphetho esivamile sasiwukuthi izindikimba ezisezulwini zinengxenye ebalulekile ekubangeleni lezizenzakalo nezinye emhlabeni. Eqinisweni, abaseGibithe babebiza inkanyezi iSirius ngokuthi uMngenisi weNayile. Umqondo wokuthi izinkanyezi zazithonya izenzakalo emhlabeni ngokushesha waholela emqondweni wokuthi kungathenjelwa ezindikimbeni zasezulwini ukuze kubikezelwe ikusasa. Ngakho ulwazi ngezinkanyezi lwazala ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi. Ngokushesha, amakhosi nababusi bagcina abafunda izinkanyezi abangokomthetho ezigodlweni zabo ukuze babheke izinkanyezi ngokuphathelene nezenzakalo zesizwe ezibalulekile. Kodwa abantu abavamile ngokufanayo nabo babheka ezinkanyezini ngokuphathelene nezinhlanhla zabo zomuntu siqu.
32. AbaseBabiloni babefunda izinkanyezi ngaziphi izindlela?
32 AbaseBabiloni bayaphinda futhi bayahileleka. Babebheka izinkanyezi njengezindawo zokuhlala zasezulwini zonkulunkulu, njengoba nje amathempeli ayeyizindawo zabo zokuhlala zasemhlabeni. Lokhu kwaveza umqondo wokuhlanganisa izinkanyezi ngemithala kanye nokukholelwa ekutheni ukuphazamiseka ezulwini, njengokufiphala noma ukuvela kwezinkanyezi ezithile ezigqamile noma amacomet, kwakungamabika ahlola usizi nempi emhlabeni. Amakhulu emibiko evela kwabafunda izinkanyezi iya emakhosini yatholakala phakathi kwezinto ezavubukulwa eMesopotamiya. Ngokwesibonelo, eminye yalena yayithi uma inyanga iseduze nokufiphala kwakuyisibonakaliso sokuthi isitha esithile sasizonqotshwa noma ukuvela kweplanethi ethile emthaleni wezinkanyezi othile kwakubikezela “intukuthelo enkulu” emhlabeni.
33. Yini uIsaya ayisho ‘ngababheka izinkanyezi’ baseBabiloni?
33 Izinga abaseBabiloni ababencika ngalo kuloluhlobo lokubhula lungabonakala ngokwengeziwe emazwini okubagcona omprofethi uIsaya lapho ebikezela ngokubhujiswa kweBabiloni: “Yima manje neziphonso zakho nobuningi bamalumbo akho okhandlekile kukho kwasebusheni bakho . . . mabasukume, bakusindise abadabula izulu, nababheka izinkanyezi, nabazisa ngezinyanga ezintsha ukuthi kuphi lapho kuzakuvela khona lokhu okuzakukwehlela.”—Isaya 47:12, 13.
34. Zazingobani “izazi” ezeza ukuzobona umntwana uJesu?
34 Ukusuka eBabiloni, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kwadluliselwa eGibithe, eAsiriya, ePheresiya, eGrisi, eRoma naseArabiya. EMpumalanga, amaHindu namaChina nawo ayenezimiso zawo eziyinkimbinkimbi zokufundwa kwezinkanyezi. “Izazi” umvangeli uMathewu abika ukuthi zeza ukuzobona umntwana uJesu, ‘zaziyizazi [“zokufundwa kwezinkanyezi,” NW] ezivela empumalanga.’ (Mathewu 2:1, 2) Ezinye izazi zikholelwa ukuthi labafundi bezinkanyezi kungenzeka babengabeqembu lokufundwa kwezinkanyezi lamaKaledi namaMede namaPheresiya elalivela eParte, eyayiyisifundazwe sePheresiya futhi kamuva eyaba uMbuso WaseParte ozibusayo.
35. Yini eyathuthukiswa ekufundweni kwezinkanyezi kusukela ngesikhathi samaGreki?
35 Nokho, kwakungamaGreki athuthukisa ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kwaba sesimweni okuqhutshwa ngaso namuhla. Ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka C.E., uClaudius Ptolemy, isazi sezinkanyezi esingumGreki eAlexandria, eGibithe, saqoqa konke ukwaziswa okwase kukhona okuphathelene nezinkanyezi kwaba izincwadi ezine, ezibizwa ngokuthi Tetrabiblos, eziye zasebenza njengombhalo oyisisekelo wokufundwa kwezinkanyezi kuze kube manje. Kulokhu, kwavela lokho okubizwa ngokuvamile ngokuthi ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi ngesikhathi sokuzalwa, okungukuthi, isimiso esibikezela ikusasa lomuntu ngokuhlolisisa ishadi lokuzalwa kwakhe, noma ukuma kwezinkanyezi—ishadi elibonisa ukuma kwelanga, inyanga, namaplanethi ahlukahlukene phakathi kwemithala yezinkanyezi njengoba kubonakala endaweni umuntu azalelwa kuyo ngesikhathi sokuzalwa kwakhe.
36. Buyini ubufakazi bokuthi ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kwaba okuhloniphekayo?
36 Ngekhulu le-14 nele-15 leminyaka, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kwase kwamukeleka kabanzi eNtshonalanga. Amayunivesithi akufundisa njengesifundo, esasidinga ulwazi oluhle lwezilimi nezibalo. Abafunda izinkanyezi babebhekwa njengezazi. Izincwadi zikaShakespeare zigcwele amazwi abhekisela emathonyeni ezinkanyezi ezindabeni zabantu. Zonke izigodlo zasebukhosini nabantu abaningi abaphakeme babenabafunda izinkanyezi ababebaqashile ukuze bahlale belungele ukubuzwa. Awukho umsebenzi—kungaba impi, ukwakha, ibhizinisi, noma uhambo—okwakwenziwa ngaphandle kokuba kubhekwe izinkanyezi kuqala. Ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kwase kuhlonishwa.
37. Ukuthuthuka kwesayensi kukuthinte kanjani ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi?
37 Ngisho nakuba izincwadi zezazi zezinkanyezi ezinjengoCopernicus noGalileo, kanye nokuthuthuka kokucwaninga ngendlela engokwesayensi, kuye kwakuhlaba kakhulu ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi njengesayensi engokomthetho, kuye kwaqhubeka kukhona kuze kube namuhla. (Bheka ibhokisi elisekhasini 85.) Lobuciko obuyimfihlakalo, obasungulwa abaseBabiloni, bathuthukiswa amaGreki, bandiswa ngokwengeziwe ama-Arabhu, busenethonya elikhulu namuhla kubabusi boHulumeni nakubantukazana, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bangabezizwe ezithuthukile ngokwezobuchwepheshe noma bangabasemadolobhaneni akude emazweni asathuthuka.
Ukudalelwa Komuntu Okulotshwe Ebusweni Nasentendeni Yesandla
38. Yini eyaholela ezinhlotsheni ezengeziwe zokubhula eziphathelene nesandla somuntu nobuso?
38 Uma ukubheka emazulwini ukuze kutholakale izibonakaliso namabika ngekusasa kubonakala kungenakufinyelelwa, kunezinye izindlela ezisheshayo nezifinyeleleka kalula ezitholakalayo kulabo abahileleka ebucikweni bokubhula. IZohar, noma iSefer ha-zohar (ngesiHeberu, iNcwadi Yobukhazikhazi), umbhalo wekhulu le-13 leminyaka wezimfihlakalo zamaJuda, yathi: “Esibhakabhakeni esisibekele indawo yonke, sibona izimo eziningi ezakhiwa izinkanyezi namaplanethi. Zembula izinto ezifihlakele nezimfihlakalo ezinkulu. Ngokufanayo, esikhumbeni sethu esisibekele umuntu kunezimo nezici eziyizinkanyezi zemizimba yethu.” Lefilosofi yaholela ezindleleni ezengeziwe zokubhula, noma ukubikezela ikusasa, ngokuhlolisisa ubuso nentende yesandla ukuze kutholakale izibonakaliso eziyiziprofetho. Kokubili eMpumalanga naseNtshonalanga, imikhuba enjalo isasakazeke kabanzi. Kodwa kusobala ukuthi imisuka yayo ivela ekufundweni kwezinkanyezi nemilingo.
39. Yini iphysiognomy, futhi iye yasetshenziswa kanjani?
39 Elithi physiognomy lisho ukubikezela inhlanhla ngokuhlolisisa izici zobuso, njengesimo samehlo, impumulo, amazinyo, nezindlebe. EStrasbourg ngo-1531, uJohn othile waseIndagine wanyathelisa incwadi ekhuluma ngalokhu, kuyona anikeza imifanekiso ecacile yobuso obunezimo ezihlukahlukene zamehlo, impumulo, izindlebe, nokunye kanye nezincazelo zakhe. Ngokuthakazelisayo, wacaphuna amazwi kaJesu Kristu kuMathewu 6:22 athi, “Ngakho uma iso lakho lilihle, uzakukhanya umzimba wakho wonke,” njengesisekelo sokuthi amehlo amakhulu, akhanyayo, nayizindilinga aphawula ubuqotho nempilo enhle, kuyilapho amehlo ayizigobhe namancane eyizimpawu zomona, inzondo nokuzindlekela. Nokho, encwadini efana nayo, iCompendium of Physiognomy, eyakhishwa ngo-1533, umlobi uBartolommeo Cocle wathi amehlo amakhulu nayizindilinga awuphawu lomuntu othatheka kalula futhi oyivila.
40. (a) Yini ichiromancy? (b) Lasetshenziswa kanjani iBhayibheli ekusekeleni ukubikezela ngokufunda intende yesandla?
40 Ngokwezangoma, ngaphandle kwekhanda, izandla zibonisa amandla avela phezulu ukwedlula noma yiziphi ezinye izingxenye zomzimba. Ngakho, ukufunda imigqa esesandleni ukuze kubonwe ubuntu bomuntu nokudalelwa kwakhe kungenye yezindlela ezithandwa kakhulu zokubhula—okuthiwa ichiromancy, okubhekiselwa kukho ngokuvamile ngokuthi ukubikezela ngokufunda intende. Ababikezela ngokufunda intende beNkathi Ephakathi baphenya eBhayibhelini befuna ukusekela ubuciko babo. Baqhamuka namavesi anjengelithi “Uyanamathelisa izandla zabantu bonke ukuba bonke abantu bazi imisebenzi yakhe” nelithi “Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, nakwesokhohlo kukhona ingcebo nodumo.” (Jobe 37:7; IzAga 3:16) Amaqhubu noma izindawo ezingacolisekile esandleni nazo zazicatshangelwa ngoba kwakucatshangwa ukuthi zimelele amaplanethi futhi kanjalo zembula okuthile ngalowomuntu nekusasa lakhe.
41. Abantu baseMpumalanga babhula kanjani?
41 Ukubikezela inhlanhla ngokufunda izici zobuso nezesandla kuthandwa kakhulu eMpumalanga. Ngaphandle kwabafunda lezozici abangochwepheshe nabeluleki abanikela ngezinkonzo zabo, kwande izimfunda-makhwela nabazenzelayo ngenxa yokuthi izincwadi zawo wonke amazinga zitholakala kabanzi. Abantu ngokuvamile bahileleka ekufundeni intende njengomthombo wokuzijabulisa, kodwa abaningi babheka izindaba ezinjalo ngokungathi sína. Nokho, sebebonke, akuvamile ukuba abantu baneliseke ngokusebenzisa uhlobo olulodwa nje lokubhula. Lapho bebhekene nezinkinga ezingathi sína noma izinqumo ezibalulekile, baya ethempelini labo, kungaba elobuBuddha, elobuTao, elobuShinto, noma elinye, ukuba babuze konkulunkulu, bese beya kwabafunda izinkanyezi ukuba babuze ezinkanyezini, baye kwababikezela inhlanhla ukuze bafunde intende yabo futhi babheke nobuso babo, kuthi ngemva kwakho konke lokho, baye ekhaya bayobuza emadlozini. Banethemba lokuthi kwenye indawo bazoyithola impendulo ebonakala ifanelekile kubo.
Ingabe Kuwukuzijabulisa Okungenangozi?
42. Isifiso esingokwemvelo sabantu sokufuna ukwazi ngekusasa sibaholele kuphi?
42 Kungokwemvelo ukuba wonke umuntu afune ukwazi ukuthi ikusasa liphetheni. Isifiso sokuthola inhlanhla nokugwema okungase kube okulimazayo sikuyo yonke indawo. Kungalesosizathu abantu kuyo yonke leminyaka baye babheka emimoyeni nakonkulunkulu ukuba bathole isiqondiso. Ngokwenza kanjalo, bahileleka ekusebenziseni imimoya, imilingo, ukufunda izinkanyezi, nakweminye imikhuba ewukukholelwa ezeni. Abantu esikhathini esidlule babefaka izigqabo nezintelezi ukuze bazivikele, futhi babephendukela kubantu abelaphayo nakubapristi bemilingo ukuze belashwe. Abantu namuhla basaphatha izimendlela ‘zikaSanta’ Christopher noma bafake izigqabo ‘zenhlanhla,’ futhi basenabantu abakhulumisana nemimoya, amabhodi eOuija, amabhola ekristalu, amashadi okuma kwezinkanyezi, namakhadi okubikezela inhlanhla. Lapho kuhileleke khona ukusebenzisa imimoya nokukholelwa ezeni, isintu sibonakala singashintshile kakhulu.
43. (a) Abantu abaningi bazizwa kanjani ngokusebenzisa imimoya, umlingo, nokubhula? (b) Imiphi imibuzo ngemikhuba yokukholelwa ezeni edinga ukuphendulwa?
43 Yiqiniso, abantu abaningi bayaqaphela ukuthi lezizinto azilutho zimane nje ziwukukholelwa ezeni nokuthi asikho isisekelo sangempela sazo. Futhi bangase banezele ngokuthi bakwenzela nje ukuzijabulisa. Abanye baze baphikise ngokuthi umlingo nokubhula eqinisweni kuyazuzisa ngoba kunikeza isiqiniseko esingokwengqondo kubantu obekungathi ngaphandle kwakho besatshiswe kakhulu izithiyo ababhekana nazo ekuphileni. Kodwa ingabe konke lokhu kumane nje kuwukuzijabulisa okungenangozi noma ukwanelisa isifiso esingokwengqondo? Uyini ngempela umthombo wemikhuba yokusebenzisa imimoya nemilingo esiyicabangele kulesahluko neminye eminingi esingazange siyiphawule?
44. Ngokuyisisekelo, yini engashiwo ngesisekelo sayo yonke imikhuba enjalo?
44 Phakathi nokuhlolisisa izici ezihlukahlukene zokusebenzisa imimoya, umlingo, nokubhula, siye saphawula ukuthi kuhlangene eduze nokukholelwa emiphefumulweni engasekho nasebukhoneni bemimoya, emihle nemibi. Ngakho, ngokuyisisekelo, ukukholelwa emimoyeni, emlingweni, nasekubhuleni kusekelwe ohlotsheni oluthile lokukhulekela onkulunkulu abaningi okumsuka wakho usezimfundisweni zokungafi komphefumulo womuntu. Ingabe lokhu kuyisisekelo esiqinile umuntu angakhela kuso inkolo yakhe? Ingabe ubungabheka ukukhulekela okusekelwe esisekelweni esinjalo njengokwamukelekayo?
45. Yimuphi umbuzo ngokudla okunikelwa ezithombeni amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka abhekana nawo?
45 AmaKristu ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka abhekana nemibuzo efanayo. Ayezungezwe amaGreki namaRoma, nawonkulunkulu bawo abaningi kuhlanganise nemikhuba yawo enemicikilisho yokukholelwa ezeni. Omunye umkhuba onemicikilisho kwakuwumkhuba wokunikela ukudla ezithombeni bese behlanganyela ekudleni lokho kudla. Ingabe noma ubani owayethanda uNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi owayenesithakazelo sokumthokozisa wayengahlanganyela emikhubeni enjalo enemicikilisho? Phawula indlela umphostoli uPawulu awuphendula ngayo lowombuzo.
46. Yini uPawulu namaKristu okuqala ababekukholelwa ngoNkulunkulu?
46 “Ngakho-ke maqondana nokudla okuhlatshelwe izithombe siyazi ukuthi asikho isithombe ezweni nokuthi akakho omunye uNkulunkulu, munye kuphela. Ngokuba noma kukhona okuthiwa onkulunkulu, nokuba kusezulwini nokuba kusemhlabeni, njengokuba bakhona onkulunkulu abaningi namakhosi amaningi, nokho kithina kukhona uNkulunkulu munye, uYise, okuvela kuye konke, nathi sikhonela yena.” (1 Korinte 8:4-6) KuPawulu namaKristu ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, inkolo yeqiniso yayingekhona ukukhulekela onkulunkulu abaningi, kodwa yayiwukuzinikela ‘kuNkulunkulu munye, uYise,’ ogama lakhe iBhayibheli elilembulayo lapho lithi: “Bazi ukuthi nguwe wedwa ogama lakho linguJehova; ungoPhezukonke emhlabeni wonke.”—IHubo 83:18.
47. UPawulu wakwembula kanjani lokho ‘onkulunkulu namakhosi ezulwini noma emhlabeni’ eqinisweni abayikho?
47 Nokho, kufanele siphawule ukuthi nakuba umphostoli uPawulu athi “asikho isithombe,” akazange athi abekho ‘labonkulunkulu namakhosi,’ abantu ababephendukela kubo ngemilingo yabo, ukubhula, nangemihlatshelo. Pho-ke wayesho ukuthini? UPawulu wakwenza kwacaca kamuva encwadini efanayo lapho abhala: “Kodwa ngithi: Lokho okuhlatshwa ngabezizwe bakuhlabela amademoni, kabakuhlabeli uNkulunkulu.” (1 Korinte 10:20) Yebo, ngalabonkulunkulu namakhosi azo, lezizwe eqinisweni zazikhulekela amademoni—izidalwa eziyizingelosi, noma zomoya, ezahlubuka kuNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi zazihlanganisa nomholi wazo, uSathane uDeveli.—2 Petru 2:4; Juda 6; IsAmbulo 12:7-9.
48. Iyiphi ingozi ekufuneni ulwazi ngamandla angabonakali esekhona nanamuhla, futhi ingagwenywa kanjani?
48 Ngokuvamile, abantu bayabazwela labantu okuthiwa bangamaqaba ababegqilazwe yizinkolelo-ze zabo nokwesaba. Bathi ibahlasimulisa igazi imihlatshelo ehambisana nokuchitha igazi namasiko obulwane. Futhi kusuke kufanelekile. Nokho, kuze kube namuhla sisezwa ngevoodoo, ukukhulekelwa kukaSathane, ngisho nangemihlatshelo yabantu. Nakuba lokhu kungase kube izindaba ezenzeka kude, noma kunjalo zibonisa ukuthi ukuba nesithakazelo emandleni angaphezu kwavamile kusekhona kakhulu. Kungase kuqale ‘ngokuzijabulisa okungenangozi’ nelukuluku lokwazi, kodwa ngokuvamile umphumela uyinhlekelele nokufa. Yeka ukuthi kuhlakaniphe kangakanani ukulalela isixwayiso seBhayibheli: “Qondani, nilinde. Isitha senu, uSathane, siyahamba njengebhubesi elibhodlayo sifuna esingamgwinya.”—1 Petru 5:8; Isaya 8:19, 20.
49. Yini ezohlolisiswa ezahlukweni ezilandelayo zalencwadi?
49 Njengoba siye sacabangela indlela inkolo eyaqala ngayo, ukwehlukahlukana okusezinganekwaneni zasendulo, nezinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zokusebenzisa imimoya, umlingo, nokukholelwa ezeni, manje sizoguqulela ukunakekela kwethu ezinkolweni ezinkulu ezihleleke kakhudlwana zomhlaba—ubuHindu, ubuBuddha, ubuTao, ubuConfucian, ubuShinto, ubuJuda, amasonto eLobukholwa, nobuIslām. Zaqala kanjani? Zifundisani? Yiliphi ithonya ezinalo kumakholwa azo? Lemibuzo neminye izocatshangelwa ezahlukweni ezilandelayo.
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 76]
Eminye imilingo yayibonakala isebenza
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 85]
Ingabe Ukufundwa Kwezinkanyezi Kuyavumelana Nesayensi?
Ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kuthi ilanga, inyanga, izinkanyezi, namaplanethi kungathonya izenzakalo emhlabeni nokuthi isimo salezindikimba zasezulwini ngesikhathi sokuzalwa komuntu sifeza indima ethile ekuphileni kwakhe. Nokho, okutholwe isayensi kuveza izinselele ezesabekayo:
▪ Izincwadi zezazi zezinkanyezi ezinjengoCopernicus, uGalileo, noKepler ziye zabonisa ngokucacile ukuthi umhlaba awuyona inkaba yendawo yonke. Futhi kuyaziwa manje ukuthi ngokuvamile izinkanyezi ezibonakala zenze umthala eqinisweni azihlangene njengeqembu. Ezinye zazo kungenzeka zisekujuleni emkhathini, kuyilapho ezinye kungenzeka ziseduze uma kuqhathaniswa. Ngakho, izici ezingokokuma kwemithala ehlukahlukene yezinkanyezi zimane nje ziwukucabangela.
▪ Amaplanethi iUranus, iNeptune, nePluto ayengaziwa kwabafunda izinkanyezi bakuqala ngoba ayengakatholakali kwaze kwaba yilapho kusungulwa khona isibona-kude. Khona-ke, kwakungakhulunywa kanjani ‘ngamathonya’ awo emashadini okufundwa kwezinkanyezi adwetshwa emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili? Ngaphezu kwalokho, kungani “ithonya” lenye iplanethi lingaba “elihle” elenye libe “elibi,” kuyilapho isayensi manje yazi ukuthi ngokuyisisekelo wonke ayizingqimba zamatshe noma amagesi angenampilo, azungeza emkhathini?
▪ Isayensi yezici zofuzo isitshela ukuthi isisekelo sezici zobuntu bethu asakhiwa ekuzalweni, kodwa ekukhulelweni, lapho elilodwa lamangqamuzana esidoda ayizigidi avela kubaba lihlangana nengqamuzana leqanda elilodwa elivela kumama. Nokho, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kuhlela ishadi lomuntu lokuma kwezinkanyezi ngesikhathi sokuzalwa kwakhe. Lomehluko wezinyanga eziyisishiyagalolunye kufanele unikeze umuntu isimo sobuntu esihlukile ngokuphelele ngokokufundwa kwezinkanyezi.
▪ Ukubala isikhathi sohambo lwelanga phakathi kwemithala njengoba kubonakala kumuntu obukele osemhlabeni namuhla kusemuva ngenyanga eyodwa kulokho okwakuyikho eminyakeni eyizi-2 000 edlule lapho kudwetshwa amashadi okufundwa kwezinkanyezi. Ngakho, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kungase kuthi umuntu ozalwe ekupheleni kukaJune noma ekuqaleni kukaJuly uwela ngaphansi komthala iCancer (oshesha ukuzwela, oneconsi, oyisithuli). Nokho, eqinisweni ilanga ngalesosikhathi lisuke lisemthaleni iGemini, okufanele kwenze umuntu abe othanda ukuxoxa, onamahlaya, nokhulumela futhi.
Ngokucacile, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi akunaso isisekelo esizwakalayo noma esingokwesayensi okungamiwa kuso.
[Isithombe ekhasini 71]
Izibuko ezifile, amakati amnyama, nezinombolo ezithile kuyisisekelo sezinkolelo-ze. Uhlamvu lwesiChina olumelele “isine” lunomsindo ofanayo negama elithi “ukufa” ngesiChina nangesiJapane
[Izithombe ekhasini 74]
Ngakwesobunxele, iSonto lamaKatolika elidala nelihlonishwayo leNkosazana Yethu laseGuadalupe, eMexico, lapho amaKatolika ethandazela khona ukwelashwa ngokuyisimangaliso.
Ngakwesokudla, iStonehenge, eNgilandi, lapho kuthiwa amaDruid asendulo ayekhulekela khona ilanga
[Isithombe ekhasini 80]
Abanye abantu baya kubapristi bemilingo nasezinyangeni
[Izithombe ekhasini 81]
Abanye banabantu babo abakhulumisana nemimoya, amabhodi eOuija, amabhola ekristalu, amakhadi okubikezela inhlanhla, nababikezeli babo benhlanhla
[Izithombe ekhasini 82]
EMpumalanga, ukubhula ngokusebenzisa imibhalo elotshwe emagobolondweni ezimfudu nophawu lweyin-yang, kunomlando omude
[Isithombe ekhasini 87]
Abantu abaningi babheka amashadi okuma kwezinkanyezi, bekholelwa ukuthi ukuma kwelanga, inyanga, amaplanethi, nezinkanyezi ngesikhathi sokuzalwa kuyakuthinta ukuphila kwabo
[Izithombe ekhasini 90]
Ngokuxukuza uthi lwenhlanhla luphume emxhakeni, umuntu oshisekela imimoya uthola isigijimi nencazelo yaso