Isahluko 14

Ukungakholwa Kwanamuhla—Ingabe Ukufuna Kufanele Kuqhubeke?

“Abantu abasamshayi-mkhuba uNkulunkulu njengenhlalayenza. Kuya kuncipha ukumkhumbula kwabo njengoba beqhubeka nokuphila kwabo noma benza izinqumo zabo. . . . Ezinye izinto sezithathe indawo kaNkulunkulu: iholo nomkhiqizo. Kungenzeka ukuthi wake wabhekwa njengomthombo wenjongo yayo yonke imisebenzi yomuntu, kodwa namuhla usefakwe emigodini engaziwa yomlando. . . . UNkulunkulu usenyamalele ezingqondweni zabantu.”—The Sources of Modern Atheism.

1. (Hlanganisa nesethulo.) (a) Incwadi ethi The Sources of Modern Atheism ikuchaza kanjani ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu phakathi kwabantu namuhla? (b) Ukungakholwa kwanamuhla kuphambene kanjani nezimo ezazikhona eminyakeni engeminingi edlule?

EMINYAKENI engeminingi edlule uNkulunkulu wayenengxenye enkulu ekuphileni kwabantu basezweni laseNtshonalanga. Ukuze amukeleke emphakathini, umuntu kwakudingeka anikeze ubufakazi bokuba nokholo kuNkulunkulu, ngisho noma kungebona bonke ababekuqhuba ngobuqotho lokho ababethi bayakukholelwa. Noma yikuphi ukungabaza nokungaqiniseki kwakugcinwa ngobuhlakani kuyisifuba. Ukukuveza obala kwakungashaqisa, mhlawumbe kuze kukufake ngisho nasengozini yokusolwa kabuhlungu.

2. (a) Kungani abantu abaningi beyekile ukufuna uNkulunkulu? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo okumelwe ibuzwe?

² Nokho, namuhla izinto sezishintshile. Ukuba nanoma iyiphi inkolelo eqinile engokwenkolo abaningi bakubheka njengokuba nengqondo encane, ukuthatheka ungahlolisisanga, ngisho nanjengokushiseka kobuhlanya. Emazweni amaningi, sibona ukungabi nandaba okwandayo, noma ukuntula isithakazelo, kuNkulunkulu nasenkolweni. Abantu abaningi bakuyekile ukufuna uNkulunkulu ngoba abakholelwa ukuthi ukhona noma abaqiniseki ngakho. Eqinisweni, abanye lapho bechaza inkathi yethu baye basebenzisa isichasiso esithi “Eyangemva KobuKristu.” Ngakho-ke, kumelwe kubuzwe imibuzo ethile: Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba umqondo kaNkulunkulu uqhele kangaka ekuphileni kwabantu? Yimaphi amandla abangela lolushintsho? Ingabe zikhona izizathu ezinengqondo zokuqhubeka nokufuna uNkulunkulu?

Imiphumela YeNkathi Yezinguquko

3. Waba yini omunye umphumela weNkathi Yezinguquko yamaProthestani?

³ Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 13, iNguquko yamaProthestani yekhulu le-16 leminyaka yaletha inguquko ephawulekayo endleleni abantu ababelibheka ngayo igunya, ngokwenkolo noma ngenye indlela. Ukuzethemba nenkululeko yokukhuluma kwathatha indawo yokuzivumelanisa nokuzithoba. Nakuba abantu abaningi basala besesimweni senkolo engokwesiko, abanye bahluka kakhulu, bengabaza izinkolelo ezingaphikiswa nezimfundiso eziyisisekelo zamasonto amakhulu. Nokho abanye, bephawula indima eyafezwa inkolo ezimpini, ekuhluphekeni, nasekungalungini kuwo wonke umlando, bamane bayingabaza yonke inkolo.

4. (a) Imibhalo yangalesosikhathi ilichaza kanjani izinga lokungakholelwa kuNkulunkulu eNgilandi naseFrance ekhulwini le-16 nele-17 leminyaka? (b) Obani abavela obala njengomphumela wemizamo eyenziwa phakathi neNkathi Yezinguquko yokugumbuqela ijoka lawopapa?

⁴ Emuva ngo-1572, umbiko onesihloko esithi Discourse on the Present State of England waphawula: “Inkundla ihlukene izingxenye ezintathu, aBalandeli BoPapa, aBangakholelwa KuNkulunkulu, namaProthestani. Zontathu zithandwa ngokufanayo: eyokuqala neyesibili, ngesizathu sokuthi zinabaningi, ngakho akumelwe silokothe sibadumaze.” Okunye ukulinganisa kwanikeza isibalo esingu-50 000 njengenani labangakholelwa kuNkulunkulu eParis ngo-1623, nakuba leligama lalisetshenziswa ngendlela ebanzi. Kunoma yikuphi, kusobala ukuthi iNkathi Yezinguquko, emzamweni wayo wokugumbuqela umbuso wegunya lawopapa, iye yabaveza obala futhi labo abaphonsela isikhundla sezinkolo ezinkulu inselele. Njengoba uWill noAriel Durant bakubeka kuyiStory of Civilization: Part VII—The Age of Reason Begins: “Abantu abacabangayo baseYurophu—abaholi babantu baseYurophu—babengasaxoxi ngegunya likapapa; base bephikisana ngokuba khona kukaNkulunkulu.”

Ukuhlaselwa Isayensi Nefilosofi

5. Yimaphi amandla asheshisa ukudlondlobala kokungakholelwa kuNkulunkulu?

⁵ Ngaphezu kokwahlukana kweLobukholwa ngokwalo, kwakunamanye amandla ayesebenza asenza saba buthakathaka ngokwengeziwe isimo salo. Isayensi, ifilosofi, ukuthanda izwe, nokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo kwafeza izindima zakho ekuvuseni ukungabaza nasekukhuthazeni ukuthandabuza ngoNkulunkulu nangenkolo.

6. (a) Ukwanda kolwazi olungokwesayensi kwazithinta kanjani izimfundiso eziningi zesonto? (b) Yini abanye ababezibheka njengabanolwazi lwamuva abayenza?

⁶ Ukwanda kolwazi olungokwesayensi kwazenza zangabazeka eziningi zezimfundiso zesonto ezazisekelwe ekuchazweni ngokuyiphutha kwezindinyana ezithile zeBhayibheli. Ngokwesibonelo, okwatholwa amadoda anjengoCopernicus noGalileo ngokuphathelene nezinkanyezi kwaphonsa inselele eqondile emfundisweni yesonto yokuthi umhlaba uphakathi nendawo, yokuthi umhlaba uyinkaba yendawo yonke. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuqondwa kwemithetho yemvelo elawula ukusebenza komhlaba wethu, kuze kube manje kwenza kwangabe kusadingeka ukuba kuthiwe izenzakalo ezixakayo, njengokuduma kwezulu nombani noma ngisho nokubonakala kwezinkanyezi ezithile namacomet, kubangelwa uNkulunkulu noma iNhlanhla. “Izimangaliso” kanye ‘nokungenela kwaphezulu’ ezindabeni zabantu nakho kwasoleka. Ngokungazelelwe, uNkulunkulu nenkolo kwabonakala kuyisidala kwabaningi, futhi abanye balabo ababezibheka njengabanolwazi lwamuva bashesha ukumfulathela uNkulunkulu futhi bathuthelekela ekukhulekeleni inkomazi engcwele yesayensi.

7. (a) Ngokungangabazeki yini eyaba igalelo elinzima enkolweni? (b) Amasonto asabela kanjani emfundisweni kaDarwin?

⁷ Ngokungangabazeki, igalelo elinzima enkolweni laliyimfundiso yokuziphendukela kwemvelo. Ngo-1859 isazi semvelo esiyiNgisi uCharles Darwin (1809-82) wakhipha incwadi yakhe ethi Origin of Species futhi waphonsa inselele eqondile emfundisweni yeBhayibheli yokudala kukaNkulunkulu. Amasonto asabela kanjani? Okokuqala abefundisi baseNgilandi nakwezinye izindawo bayigxeka lemfundiso. Kodwa ukuphikisa kwanyamalala ngokushesha. Kwabonakala sengathi ukuqagela kukaDarwin kwakuyizo kanye izaba ezazifunwa abefundisi abaningi ababengabaza ngasese. Ngakho, phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kukaDarwin, “abefundisi abaningi abanengqondo nabahlakaniphile base befinyelele esiphethweni sokuthi ukuziphendukela kwemvelo kwakuvumelana ngokuphelele nokuqondwa okukhanyiselwe kombhalo,” kusho iEncyclopedia of Religion. Kunokuba livikele iBhayibheli, eLobukholwa lanqotshwa ukucindezela kombono wesayensi futhi lazivumelanisa nalokho okwase kwamukeleka. Ngokwenza kanjalo, lakubukela phansi ukuba nokholo kuNkulunkulu.—2 Thimothewu 4:3, 4.

8. (a) Yini abagxeki benkolo bekhulu le-19 leminyaka abayingabaza? (b) Yayiyini eminye imibono ethandwayo eyahlongozwa abagxeki benkolo? (c) Kungani abantu abaningi bayamukela ngokushesha imiqondo emelene nenkolo?

⁸ Njengoba ikhulu le-19 leminyaka laliqhubeka, abagxeki benkolo baqunga isibindi esengeziwe ekuhlaseleni kwabo. Benganelisekile ngokumane nje bakhombe ukushiyeka kwamasonto, baqala ukungabaza sona kanye isisekelo senkolo. Baphakamisa imibuzo enjengethi: Yini uNkulunkulu? Kungani kunesidingo sikaNkulunkulu? Ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu kuwuthinté kanjani umphakathi wesintu? Amadoda anjengoLudwig Feuerbach, uKarl Marx, uSigmund Freud, noFriedrich Nietzsche baveza izizathu zabo ngamazwi efilosofi, olwazi lwengqondo, nawolwazi lwezenhlalo. Imibono enjengethi ‘UNkulunkulu umane uwukuvezwa nje komcabango womuntu,’ ‘Inkolo iwumlaliso wabantu,’ nokuthi ‘UNkulunkulu ufile’ yonke yazwakala imisha futhi ijabulisa uma iqhathaniswa nezimfundiso ezingaphikiswa namasiko amasonto okwase kuyisicefe futhi kungenangqondo. Kwabonakala sengathi ekugcineni abantu abaningi base beyitholile indlela ehlakaniphile yokuveza ukungabaza nokusola okwakulokhu kufihlekile ezingqondweni zabo. Ngokushesha nangokuzimisela bamukela lemiqondo njengeqiniso elisha levangeli.

Ukuhlehla Okukhulu

9. (a) Yini amasonto ayenza lapho engaphansi kokuhlaselwa yisayensi nefilosofi? (b) Yaba yini imiphumela yokuhlehla kwamasonto?

⁹ Ngaphansi kokuhlaselwa nokucubungulwa yisayensi nefilosofi, yini amasonto ayenza? Esikhundleni sokumelela lokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo, anqotshwa ukucindezela futhi ahlehla ngisho nasezindabeni zokholo eziyisisekelo njengokudala kukaNkulunkulu nobuqiniso beBhayibheli. Waba yini umphumela? Amasonto eLobukholwa aqala ukulahlekelwa ukukholeka kwawo, futhi abantu abaningi baqala ukulahlekelwa ukholo. Ukwehluleka kwamasonto ukuzivikela wona ngokwawo kwashiya umnyango ugengelezile ukuba izixuku eziningi ziphume. Kubantu abaningi, inkolo yafana nesikhumbuzo nje ekuphileni, okuthile okuphawula amaphuzu ayinhloko ekuphileni komuntu—ukuzalwa, umshado, ukufa. Abaningi bamane nje bakuduba ukufuna uNkulunkulu weqiniso.

10. Imiphi imibuzo ephuthumayo okumelwe icatshangelwe?

¹⁰ Ngenxa yakho konke lokhu, kunengqondo ukubuza: Ingabe isayensi nefilosofi sekuyikhiphile ngempela incwadi yokuthi ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu kufile? Ingabe ukwehluleka kwamasonto kusho ukwehluleka kwalokho athi ayakufundisa, okungukuthi, iBhayibheli? Yebo, ingabe ukufuna uNkulunkulu kufanele kuqhubeke? Ake sizihlole kafushane lezindaba.

Isisekelo Sokukholelwa KuNkulunkulu

11. (a) Yiziphi izincwadi ezimbili ebezilokhu ziyisisekelo sokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu? (b) Lezizincwadi ziye zabathinta kanjani abantu?

¹¹ Kuye kwathiwa kunezincwadi ezimbili ezisitshela ngokuba khona kukaNkulunkulu—“incwadi” yendalo, noma imvelo esizungezile, neBhayibheli. Bezilokhu ziyisisekelo sokukholwa kwezigidi zabantu esikhathini esidlule nesamanje. Ngokwesibonelo, inkosi yekhulu le-11 leminyaka B.C.E., ihlabeke umxhwele ngalokho eyakubona emazulwini anezinkanyezi, yababaza ngokusankondlo yathi: “Amazulu ayalanda ngenkazimulo kaJehova, nomkhathi ushumayela umsebenzi wezandla zakhe.” (IHubo 19:1) Ekhulwini lama-20 leminyaka, umuntu owaya enyangeni, ebuka umhlaba omuhle ekumkhumbi-mkhathi wakhe njengoba wawuzungeza inyanga, washukumiseleka ukuba aphinde: “Ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu wadala izulu nomhlaba.”—Genesise 1:1.

12. Incwadi yendalo neBhayibheli kuye kwahlaselwa kanjani?

¹² Nokho, lezincwadi ezimbili zingaphansi kokuhlaselwa yilabo abathi abakholelwa kuNkulunkulu. Bathi ukuhlola okungokwesayensi umhlaba osizungezile kuye kwabonisa ukuthi ukuphila akubanga khona ngendalo ehlakaniphile kodwa ngenhlanhla engaqondiswa nangenqubo eyenzeka ngengozi yokuziphendukela kwemvelo. Ngakho-ke, baphikisa ngokuthi wayengekho uMdali nokuthi lokhu kusho ukuthi indaba kaNkulunkulu iyihaba. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abaningi babo bakholelwa ukuthi iBhayibheli limane nje liyisidala futhi alinangqondo, ngakho-ke, alikufanele ukukholelwa. Ngenxa yalokho, kubo, asisekho neze isisekelo sokukholelwa ebukhoneni bukaNkulunkulu. Ingabe konke lokhu kuyiqiniso? Amaqiniso abonisani?

Ngenhlanhla Noma Ngomklamo?

13. Yini okwakuyomelwe yenzeke ukuze ukuphila kube khona ngenhlanhla?

¹³ Uma wayengekho uMdali, khona-ke kumelwe ukuba ukuphila kwaziqalela ngokuzenzekelayo ngenhlanhla. Ukuze ukuphila kube khona, ngandlela-thile kwakumelwe kuhlangane amakhemikhali afanele ngobuningi obufanele, ngaphansi kwezinga lokushisa namandla omoya osemkhathini okufanele nezinye izici ezilawulayo, futhi konke kwakumelwe kuhlale kunjalo isikhathi eside ngokufanelekile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuze ukuphila kuqale futhi kusekelwe emhlabeni, lezizenzakalo zenhlanhla kwakuyomelwe ziphindaphindwe izinkulungwane zezikhathi. Kodwa lingakanani ithuba lokuba ngisho nesenzakalo esisodwa esinjalo senzeke?

14. (a) Lincane kangakanani ithuba lokuba imolecule eyodwa nje yeprotein yakheke ngenhlanhla? (b) Ukubala kwezibalo kuwuthinta kanjani umqondo wokuzivelela kokuphila ngokuzenzekelayo?

¹⁴ Izazi zokuziphendukela kwemvelo ziyavuma ukuthi ithuba lokuba ama-athomu afanele namamolecule afanele kuhlangane ukuba kwakhe imolecule eyodwa nje yeprotein linye kwangu-10¹¹³, noma u-1 olandelwa ozero abangu-113. Lelinani likhulu kunengqikithi elinganiselwayo yama-athomu asendaweni yonke! Izazi zezibalo zibheka noma yini enethuba lokuba yenzeke elingaphansi kwelilodwa kwakungu-10⁵⁰ njengengasoze yenzeka. Kodwa kudingeka okungaphezu kwemolecule eyodwa nje yeprotein ukuze kube khona ukuphila. Kudingeka amaprotein ahlukahlukene angaba ngu-2 000 ukuze nje ingqamuzana elilodwa liqhubeke lisebenza, futhi ithuba lokuba wonke avele azenzekele nje linye kwangu-10^40 000! “Uma umuntu engalolongiwe izinkolelo zomphakathi noma ukuqeqeshwa okungokwesayensi ukuba akholelwe ukuthi ukuphila kwasunguleka [ngokuzenzekelayo] eMhlabeni, lezibalo nje ezilula ziwususa uphele nyá lowomqondo,” kusho usonkanyezi uFred Hoyle.

15. (a) Yini ososayensi abaye bayithola ekuhloleni kwabo umhlaba wethu? (b) Uprofesa wesayensi yemithetho yemvelo wathini ngemithetho esemvelweni?

¹⁵ Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ngokuhlola umhlaba wethu, kusukela ezintweni ezincane kakhulu zama-athomu amancane kuya emithaleni emikhulu kakhulu, ososayensi baye bathola ukuthi zonke izinqubo zemvelo ezaziwayo zibonakala zilandela imithetho ethile eyisisekelo. Ngamanye amazwi, baye bathola ukuthi kunokuhlakanipha nokuhleleka kuyo yonke into eyenzekayo endaweni yonke, futhi baye bakwazi ukuchaza lokho kuhlakanipha nokuhleleka ngezindlela zezibalo ezilula. “Bambalwa ososayensi abangeke bahlatshwe umxhwele ubulula nobuhle cishe obungachazeki balemithetho,” kubhala uprofesa wesayensi yemithetho yemvelo, uPaul Davies, kumagazini iNew Scientist.

16. (a) Yiziphi ezinye zezinto ezingaguquki eziyisisekelo ezisemithethweni yemvelo? (b) Yini engenzeka uma inani noma amandla kwalezizinto ezingaguquki kungashintsha kancane nje? (c) Yini uprofesa wesayensi yemithetho yemvelo aphetha ngayo ngendawo yonke nangokuba khona kwethu?

¹⁶ Nokho, iphuzu elithakazelisa kakhulu ngalemithetho liwukuthi kuyona kukhona izinto ezithile ezinani namandla azo kumelwe kungashintshi nakancane ukuze indawo yonke njengoba siyazi, ihlale ikhona. Phakathi kwalezinto ezingaguquki eziyisisekelo kunamandla kagesi akuyiproton, izindimbane zezinto ezithile ezincane eziyisisekelo, kanye nomthetho kaNewton wendawo yonke wamandla adonsela phansi ongaguquki, ngokuvamile oboniswa ngohlamvu uG. Ngalokhu, uProfesa Davies uyaqhubeka: “Ngisho nokuguquka okuncane kakhulu enanini noma emandleni ezinye zazo kungasishintsha kakhulu isimo seNdawo Yonke. Ngokwesibonelo, uFreeman Dyson uye waphawula ukuthi ukuba amandla aphakathi kwamanucleon (amaproton namaneutron) ayenganda ngamaphesenti ambalwa kuphela, iNdawo Yonke ibingeke ibe nayo ihydrogen. Izinkanyezi ezinjengeLanga, kungasaphathwa amanzi, bezingeke zibe khona. Ukuphila, okungenani njengoba sikwazi, bekungenakwenzeka. UBrandon Carter uye wabonisa ukuthi izinguquko ezincane kakhulu kuyiG beziyoguqula zonke izinkanyezi zibe ezinokushisa okungaphezu kokuvamile noma ezinokushisa okungaphansi kakhulu kokuvamile, kube nemiphumela engathi sína ngokufanayo ekuphileni.” Ngakho, uDavies uyaphetha: “Kulendaba kunengqondo ukuthi kungaba neNdawo Yonke eyodwa kuphela. Uma lokho kunjalo, kuwumqondo ophawulekayo ukuthi ukuba khona kwethu siqu njengabantu abanengqondo kuwumphumela wokuhlakanipha ongenakugwenywa.”—Omalukeke sizenzele.

17. (a) Yini umklamo nenjongo okusendaweni yonke okuyibonisa ngokukhanyayo? (b) Lokhu kuqinisekiswa kanjani eBhayibhelini?

¹⁷ Singaphetha ngokuthini kukho konke lokhu? Okokuqala nje, uma indawo yonke ilawulwa imithetho, khona-ke kumelwe kube nomniki-mthetho ohlakaniphile owayisungula noma wayimisa lemithetho. Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba lemithetho elawula ukusebenza kwendawo yonke ibonakala yenziwe kucatshangwa ngokuphila okuyoba khona nezimo ezivuna ukusekelwa kwako, injongo ihileleke ngokucacile. Umklamo nenjongo—lezi akuzona izimpawu zenhlanhla engaqondiswa; ziyilokho kanye obekungabonakaliswa uMdali ohlakaniphile. Futhi yilokho kanye iBhayibheli elikubonisayo lapho lithi: “Lokho okwazekayo ngoNkulunkulu kusobala phakathi kwabo; ngokuba uNkulunkulu ukubonakalisile kubo. Ngokuba okungabonwayo kwakhe, kuthi amandla akhe aphakade nobuNkulunkulu bakhe kubonakala kwasekudalweni kwezwe, ngokuba kuqondakala ngezenzo zakhe.”—Roma 1:19, 20; Isaya 45:18; Jeremiya 10:12.

Ubufakazi obuningi Obusizungezile

18. (a) Yikuphi futhi lapho kungabonakala khona umklamo nenjongo? (b) Yiziphi izibonelo ezijwayelekile zomklamo ohlakaniphile ongazinikeza?

¹⁸ Yebo, umklamo nenjongo akubonakali nje kuphela ekusebenzeni ngokuhlelekile kwendawo yonke kodwa futhi nasendleleni izidalwa eziphilayo, ezilula neziyinkimbinkimbi, ezifeza ngayo imisebenzi yazo yansuku zonke, kanye nasendleleni ezisebenzelana ngayo zona zodwa kanye nendawo ezizungezile. Ngokwesibonelo, cishe zonke izitho zomzimba wethu wobuntu—ubuchopho, iso, indlebe, isandla—zibonisa umklamo oyinkimbinkimbi kangangokuthi isayensi yanamuhla ayinakuwuchaza ngokugcwele. Khona-ke kunomkhakha wezilwane nezitshalo. Ukuthutha kwaminyaka yonke kwezinyoni ezithile zindiza izinkulungwane zamakhilomitha ezweni nasolwandle, inqubo yezitshalo yokwenza ukudla ngokukhanya kwelanga, ukukhula kweqanda elilodwa elivuthisiwe libe yinto ephilayo eyinkimbinkimbi enezigidi zamangqamuzana ahlukahlukene anemisebenzi ekhethekile—uma sinikeza izibonelo ezimbalwa nje—konke kuwubufakazi obuvelele bomklamo ohlakaniphile.a

19. (a) Ingabe incazelo engokwesayensi yendlela ezinye izinto ezisebenza ngayo ibonisa ukuthi awukho umklamo noma umklami ohlakaniphile? (b) Yini esingayifunda ngokuhlola umhlaba osizungezile?

¹⁹ Nokho, abanye baphikisa ngokuthi ulwazi olwandisiwe lwesayensi luye lwanikeza izincazelo ngeziningi zalezenzakalo ezinkulu. Yiqiniso, isayensi iye yachaza, ngezinga elithile, izinto eziningi ezaziyindida. Kodwa ukuthola komntwana ukuthi iwashi lisebenza kanjani akubonisi ukuthi iwashi aliklanywanga futhi lenziwa ngothile. Ngokufanayo, ukuqonda kwethu izindlela ezimangalisayo izinto eziningi emhlabeni wethu ezisebenza ngayo akubonisi ukuthi akekho umklami ohlakaniphile owaziklama. Ngokuphambene, lapho sazi okwengeziwe ngomhlaba osizungezile, kuyilapho siba nobufakazi obengeziwe bokuba khona koMdali ohlakaniphile, uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, ngomqondo ovulekile, singavuma nomhubi njengoba avuma: “Jehova, yeka ubuningi bemisebenzi yakho; yonke uyenzile ngokuhlakanipha; umhlaba ugcwele izidalwa zakho.”—IHubo 104:24.

IBhayibheli—Ingabe Ungalikholelwa?

20. Yini ebonisa ukuthi ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu akwanele ukuba kushukumisele umuntu ukuba amfune?

²⁰ Nokho, ukukholelwa ebukhoneni bukaNkulunkulu akwanele ukuba kushukumisele abantu ukuba bamfune. Namuhla kunezigidi zabantu abangakulahlanga ngokuphelele ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu, kodwa lokho akuzange kubashukumisele ukuba bafune uNkulunkulu. Umhloli wemibono yabantu waseMelika uGeorge Gallup, Jnr., uphawula ukuthi “eqinisweni awuwutholi umehluko omkhulu phakathi kwabasontayo nabangasonti ezindabeni zokukhohlisa, ukugwema intela, nokweba, ikakhulukazi ngoba kunenkolo eningi yezenhlalo.” Unezela ngokuthi “abaningi bamane bazenzele inkolo ebanikeza ukunethezeka nebakitazayo nengenayo inselele. Omunye wayibiza ngokuthi iyinkolo ozikhethela okuthandayo kuyo. Yilobo ubuthakathaka obuyinhloko bobuKristu kulelizwe [eU.S.A.] namuhla: Akukho ukukholelwa okuqinile.”

21, 22. (a) Yini eyenza iBhayibheli libe incwadi evelele? (b) Yibuphi ubufakazi obuyisisekelo bobuqiniso beBhayibheli? Chaza.

²¹ Lobo “buthakathaka obuyinhloko” ikakhulukazi buwumphumela wokuntula ulwazi nokholo eBhayibhelini. Kodwa yisiphi isisekelo esikhona sokukholelwa eBhayibhelini? Okokuqala nje, kumelwe kuphawulwe ukuthi kuyo yonke iminyaka, cishe ayikho enye incwadi eye yagxekwa ngokungafanele, yasetshenziswa kabi, yazondwa, futhi yahlaselwa ngaphandle kweBhayibheli. Nokho, liye lasinda kukho konke lokho futhi lagcina liyincwadi ehunyushwa futhi esakazwa kabanzi emlandweni. Lokho ngokwakho kwenza iBhayibheli libe incwadi evelele. Kodwa kunobufakazi obuningi, ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda, bokuthi iBhayibheli liyincwadi ephefumlelwe nguNkulunkulu nekufanele ukuba siyikholelwe.—Bheka ibhokisi, emakhasini 340-1.

²² Ngisho nakuba abantu abaningi ngandlela-thile beye bathatha ngokuthi iBhayibheli alivumelani nesayensi, liyaziphikisa, futhi liyisidala, amaqiniso abonisa okwehlukile. Ukulotshwa kwalo okuyingqayizivele, ukunemba kwalo ngokomlando nangokwesayensi, neziprofetho zalo ezingageji konke kukhomba esiphethweni esisodwa esingenakugwenywa: IBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe. Njengoba umphostoli uPawulu akubeka: “Yonke imibhalo iphefumulelwe nguNkulunkulu futhi inenzuzo.”—2 Thimothewu 3:16, NW.

Ukuhlangabezana Nenselele Yokungakholwa

23. Singaphetha ngokuthini ngokuqondene neBhayibheli uma sibheka amaqiniso?

²³ Njengoba sesibucabangele ubufakazi obusencwadini yendalo neBhayibheli, singaphetha ngokuthini? Kalula nje, ngokuthi namuhla lezincwadi zisasebenza ngendlela efanayo nebezilokhu zisebenza ngayo. Uma sizimisele ukuhlola lendaba njengoba injalo kunokuba siphazanyiswe yimiqondo esesinayo kakade, sithola ukuthi noma yikuphi ukuphikisa kunganqotshwa ngendlela enengqondo. Izimpendulo zikhona, kuphela uma sizimisele ukuzifuna. UJesu wathi, “Funani, khona nizakufumana.”—Mathewu 7:7; IzEnzo 17:11.

24. (a) Kungani abaningi beye bakuduba ukufuna uNkulunkulu? (b) Yikuphi esingathola induduzo kukho? (c) Yini ezocatshangelwa engxenyeni esele yalencwadi?

²⁴ Ekuhlaziyeni kokugcina, abantu abaningi abaye bakuduba ukufuna uNkulunkulu abenzanga kanjalo ngoba bebuhlolisisile ubufakazi ngokwabo futhi bathola iBhayibheli lingamanga. Kunalokho, abaningi baye badunyazwa ukwehluleka kweLobukholwa ukumelela uNkulunkulu weqiniso weBhayibheli. Njengoba umlobi ongumFulentshi uP. Valadier asho: “Yisiko lobuKristu elaveza ukungakholelwa kuNkulunkulu njengesithelo salo; laholela ekubulaweni kukaNkulunkulu konembeza babantu ngoba labanikeza uNkulunkulu ongakholeki.” Noma kungaba njalo, singaduduzwa amazwi omphostoli uPawulu: “Khona-ke, iqiniso liyini? Uma abanye bengazange babonise ukholo, ingabe ukuntula kwabo ukholo mhlawumbe kuyokwenza ukwethembeka kukaNkulunkulu kube yize? Sengathi lokho kungenzeke nakanye! Kodwa uNkulunkulu makatholakale eneqiniso, ngisho noma wonke umuntu engatholakala engumqambimanga.” (Roma 3:3, 4, NW) Yebo, zikhona zonke izizathu zokukuqhubekisela phambili ukufuna uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Ezahlukweni ezisele zalencwadi, sizobona indlela ukufuna okuye kwaqhubeka ngayo kwaze kwaba sesiphethweni esiphumelelayo nalokho ikusasa elikuphathele isintu.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 340, 341]

Ubufakazi Bobuqiniso BeBhayibheli

Ukulotshwa Okuyingqayizivele: Kusukela encwadini yalo yokuqala, uGenesise, kuya kweyokugcina, isAmbulo, iBhayibheli lakhiwa izincwadi ezingu-66 ezalotshwa abalobi abangu-40 ababenezizinda ezihlukene kakhulu ngokwenhlalo, imfundo, nomsebenzi. Ukuloba kwenziwa enkathini engaphezu kweminyaka engamakhulu angu-16, kusukela ngo-1513 B.C.E. kuya ku-98 C.E. Nokho, umphumela uyincwadi evumelanayo nehlangene, echaza ukuthuthukiswa okunengqondo kwesihloko esivelele—ukulwelwa kukaNkulunkulu nenjongo yakhe ngoMbuso wobuMesiya.—Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 241.

Ukunemba Okungokomlando: Izenzakalo ezilotshwe eBhayibhelini zivumelana ngokugcwele namaqiniso aqinisekisiwe angokomlando. Incwadi ethi A Lawyer Examines the Bible iyaphawula: “Nakuba izincwadi zothando, izinganekwane nobufakazi obungamanga kuqikelela ukuba kubeke izenzakalo ezilandiswayo endaweni ethile ekude nasesikhathini esithile esingaziwa, . . . ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kusinikeza usuku nendawo yezinto ezilandiswayo ngokunembe ngokuphelele.” (Hezekeli 1:1-3) Futhi iNew Bible Dictionary ithi: “[Umlobi wezEnzo] uhlela ukulandisa kwakhe ngokuvumelana nomlando wangalesosikhathi; amakhasi omlando wakhe agcwele ukubhekisela ezimantshini zamadolobha, kubabusi bezifundazwe, emakhosini angaphansi kwamanye, njalonjalo, futhi lokhu kubhekisela ngokuphindaphindiwe kubonakala kuvumelana ngokuphelele nendawo nesikhathi okukhulunywa ngakho.”—IzEnzo 4:5, 6; 18:12; 23:26.

Ukunemba Okungokwesayensi: Imithetho ephathelene nokwehlukaniswa kwabanezifo ezithathelwanayo nokuhlanzeka ngokomzimba yanikezwa amaIsrayeli encwadini kaLevitikusi kuyilapho izizwe ezizungezile zazingazi lutho ngemikhuba enjalo. Umjikelezo wemvula nomhwamuko osuka olwandle, okwakungaziwa ezikhathini zasendulo, kuchazwe kumShumayeli 1:7. Ukuthi umhlaba uyisiyingelezi futhi uphanyekwe ezeni, okwakungazange kuqinisekiswe isayensi kwaze kwaba sekhulwini le-16 leminyaka, kuphawulwe kuIsaya 40:22 nakuJobe 26:7. Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-2 200 ngaphambi kokuba uWilliam Harvey akhiphe lokho akuthola ngokujikeleza kwegazi, izAga 4:23 zaveza umsebenzi wenhliziyo yomuntu. Ngakho, nakuba iBhayibheli lingeyona incwadi yesayensi, lapho lithinta khona izindaba eziphathelene nesayensi, libonisa ukujula kokuqonda okusidlula kakhulu isikhathi salo.

Iziprofetho Ezingageji: Ukubhujiswa kweTire lasendulo, ukuwa kweBabiloni, ukwakhiwa kabusha kweJerusalema, nokudlondlobala nokuwa kwamakhosi amaMede namaPheresiya neGrisi kwabikezelwa ngokuningiliziwe kangangokuthi abagxeki balimangalela ngokuthi leziprofetho zalotshwa ngemva kokuba sezenzekile kodwa bangaphumelela. (Isaya 13:17-19; 44:27–45:1; Hezekeli 26:3-7; Daniyeli 8:1-7, 20-22) Iziprofetho ezaziphathelene noJesu ezenziwa emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambi kokuzalwa kwakhe zagcwaliseka ngemininingwane. (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 245.) Iziprofetho zikaJesu ngokwakhe ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema zagcwaliseka ngokunembile. (Luka 19:41-44; 21:20, 21) Iziprofetho eziphathelene nezinsuku zokugcina ezanikezwa uJesu nomphostoli uPawulu ziyagcwaliseka esikhathini sethu. (Mathewu 24; Marku 13; Luka 21; 2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Nokho, iBhayibheli lithi zonke leziprofetho zivela eMthonjeni owodwa, uJehova uNkulunkulu.—2 Petru 1:20, 21.

[Umdwebo/Isithombe ekhasini 337]

Ukuphila nendawo yonke kwakungeke kube khona uma izinto ezithile ezihleliwe zazingachezuka esilinganisweni sazo ngisho nangeqhezu elincane nje

[Umdwebo]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IZAKHI ZEATHOMU YEHYDROGEN

Isiyingi Ielectron ejikeleza kuso

IPROTON + Inucleus

IELECTRON −

[Izithombe ekhasini 333]

UDarwin, uMarx, uFreud, uNietzsche, nabanye bahlongoza imibono eyakubukela phansi ukuba nokholo kuNkulunkulu

[Izithombe ekhasini 335]

“Incwadi” yendalo neBhayibheli kunikeza isisekelo sokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu

[Izithombe ekhasini 338]

Lapho sazi okwengeziwe ngomhlaba osizungezile, kulapho siba nobufakazi obengeziwe boMdali ohlakaniphile