Ubukirisu bwo mu ntango be n’ibimana vy’i Roma

MW’IKETE buramatari wa Bitiniya yitwa Pline le Jeune yandikiye Umwami w’abami Trajan, yavuze ati: “Uku ni ko nabigenza ku bijanye n’ababa bagirijwe imbere yanje yuko ari abakirisu. Narababaza nimba ari abakirisu, maze bavyemeye, nkababaza ubugira kabiri n’ubugira gatatu ndabatera ubwoba yuko ndabahana. Bagumye bavyemera, naca ntanga itegeko ry’uko bicwa.” Ku bijanye n’ababa bihakanye ubukirisu mu kuvuma Kristu no mu gusenga igishusho c’umwami w’abami be n’ibishusho vy’ibimana Pline yari yarazanye aho yacira imanza, yanditse ati: “Nabona ko ari vyiza kubareka bakigira.”

Abakirisu bo mu ntango barahamwa kubera ko banka gusenga umwami w’abami be n’ibishusho vy’ibimana bitandukanye. Tuvuge iki ku bijanye n’ayandi madini yari hirya no hino mu nganji nganzabami y’Abaroma? Ni ibimana ibihe vyasengwa, kandi Abaroma babibona gute? Ni kubera iki abakirisu bahamwa bahorwa ko banka guha ibimazi ibimana vy’i Roma? Inyishu z’ivyo bibazo ziraza kudufasha kumenya ingene twovyifatamwo mu bintu bisa nk’ivyo bishika muri iki gihe bisaba ko tuguma turi intahemuka kuri Yehova.

Amadini yo muri iyo nganji nganzabami

Ibimana vyasengwa hirya no hino mu nganji nganzabami y’Abaroma vyari vyinshi cane nk’uko abantu baho bavuga indimi nyinshi cane bakongera bakagira imico kama myinshi cane. Naho idini ry’Abayuda ryasa n’iritangaje cane ku Baroma, babona ko ari religio licita, ni ukuvuga idini ryemewe, kandi bararikingira. Kabiri ku musi mu rusengero rw’i Yeruzalemu, imyagazi y’intama ibiri be n’impfizi vyarashikanirwa Sezari n’ihanga ry’Abaroma. Ivyo bimazi vyaba vyaratururuza ikimana kimwe canke ibimana vyinshi, ntivyari bihambaye ku Baroma. Icari gihambaye kuri bo ni uko ico kintu bakora catanga ikimenyamenya gihagije c’uko Abayuda ari intahemuka ku Buroma.

Uburyo bwo gusenga bwo muri ako karere bwari bwuzuyemwo ubupagani butandukanye. Ibitito vy’Abagiriki vyari vyaremewe henshi, kandi ivyo kuragura vyari bimenyerewe. Ivyo bita ngo ni amadini asiga ubwenge yaturuka mu Buseruko yarasezeranira abayoboke bayo ukudapfa, ukubahishurira ibintu ata kindi biciyeko, be n’ukwiyegereza ibimana biciye ku migenzo isiga ubwenge. Ayo madini yarakwiragiye hirya no hino muri iyo nganji nganzabami. Abantu benshi bo mu binjana vyo mu ntango G.C. barasenga ikimana Serapis be n’ikimanakazi Isis vyo mu Misiri, ikimanakazi c’ifi Atargatis co muri Siriya, be n’ikimana-zuba Mithra co mu Buperesi.

Igitabu co muri Bibiliya c’Ibikorwa kiravuga mu buryo butomoye ubupagani bwari bukikuje ubukirisu bwo mu ntango. Nk’akarorero,  buramatari w’Umuroma wa Shipure yarifatanya n’umupfumu w’Umuyuda. (Ibik. 13:6, 7) I Lusitira abantu baho biyumviriye ko Paulo na Barunaba ari ibimana Herume na Zeyu vyo mu Bugiriki. (Ibik. 14:11-13) Igihe Paulo yari i Filipi, yarahuye n’umusukukazi yaragura. (Ibik. 16:16-18) I Atene iyo ntumwa yarabonye ko abantu baho “[ba]sa n’abihebeye ugutinya ibimana kurusha abandi.” Muri ico gisagara yari yarahabonye kandi igicaniro canditseko ngo “Ku Mana Itazwi.” (Ibik. 17:22, 23) Abantu baba i Efeso barasenga ikimanakazi Arutemi. (Ibik. 19:1, 23, 24, 34) Kw’izinga Malita, abantu bavuze ko Paulo yari imana kubera ko ata co yabaye igihe yakomorwa n’inzoka. (Ibik. 28:3-6) Mu bintu nk’ivyo, abakirisu bari bakeneye kwirinda utwosho twari gushobora kwonona ugusenga kwabo gutyoroye.

Amadini y’Abaroma

Uko inganji nganzabami y’Abaroma yaguma yaguka, bagenda baremera ibimana bishasha, bakaba babona ko ari ibimana bari basanzwe bazi vyaba vyigaragaje mu bundi buryo. Aho gukuraho ugusenga kw’abanyamahanga, Abaroma baba bigaruriye uturere tunaka baremera ukwo gusenga bakongera bakagukurikiza. Amadini y’i Roma yahavuye rero aba ayatandukanye cane nk’uko abanyagihugu baho bari bafise imico kama itandukanye. Amadini y’Abaroma ntiyasaba abantu gusenga imana imwe gusa. Abantu barashobora gusengera icarimwe ibimana bitandukanye bitari bike.

Ikimana gikuru mu vyo Abaroma bari basanzwe basenga cari Jupiter, ico bita Optimus Maximus, ni ukuvuga ikimana ciza kuruta ibindi vyose kandi gihambaye kuruta ibindi vyose. Abantu biyumvira ko cigaragariza mu muyaga, mu mvura, mu muravyo, no mu muturagaro. Gishiki ca Jupiter kikaba n’ikigore caco ari co Juno, ico bitiranya n’ukwezi, cavugwa ko ari co gicungera ibintu vyose bijanye n’ubuzima bw’abagore. Igikobwa ca Jupiter ari co Minerva cari ikimanakazi c’ubuzi, utugenegene be n’intambara.

Abaroma bemera ibimana vyinshi cane. Icitwa Lares be n’icitwa Penates vyari ibimana vy’imiryango. Icitwa Vesta cari ikimanakazi c’iziko. Ikimana Janus cari gifise mu maso habiri cari ikimana c’amatanguriro yose. Igikorwa cose cari gifise ikimana kigihagarikira. Abaroma mbere bari bafise ibimana vy’ibintu bidafadika. Pax cari ikimana cazigama amahoro, Salus kikazigama amagara, Pudicitia kikazigama ukwifata ruto n’ukutandura, Fides kikazigama ukudahemuka, Virtus kikazigama uburindutsi, Voluptas na co kikazigama agahimbare. Igikorwa cose Abaroma bakorera ku mugaragaro canke mu mwiherero vyiyumvirwa yuko categerezwa gukorwa nk’uko ibimana bibigomba. Kugira ngo rero umuntu yiyemeze neza  ko ico agira akore kizogenda neza, ikimana kijanye n’ivyo agiye gukora categerezwa gutururuzwa mu gutura amasengesho ajanye n’imigenzo, mu gutanga ibimazi no mu kugira imisi mikuru.

Uburyo bumwe bakoresha kugira ngo bamenye ivyo ibimana bigomba kwari ukurondera kumenya ibimenyetso vyerekana ibizoba. Umugenzo nyamukuru muri iyo kwari ugusuzuma ibihimba vyo mu nda vy’ibitungwa vyatangwako ibimazi. Vyiyumvirwa yuko ukuntu ivyo bihimba vyaba bimeze be n’ukuntu vyaba bisa vyerekana nimba ibimana bitemera ico umuntu yaba agira akore canke ko bigishima.

Mu mpera z’ikinjana ca kabiri B.G.C., Abaroma bari bamaze gushika ku ciyumviro c’uko ibimana vyabo bikuru vyari bihuye n’ibimana bimwebimwe vy’Abagiriki, ni ukuvuga ko Jupiter yari ihuye na Zeyu, Juno igahura na Hera, n’ibindi n’ibindi. Abaroma kandi bari basigaye bemera ibitito vyavuga ibijanye n’ibimana vy’Abagiriki. Ivyo bitito ntivyavuga neza na gato ivyo bimana, bino bikaba vyari bifise utunenge be n’ivyo bidashoboye cokimwe n’abantu. Nk’akarorero, Zeyu yerekanwa nk’ikimana gifata abakenyezi ku nguvu kandi gisambanya abana, cashurashura n’abantu bapfa be n’ibimanakazi vyiyumvirwa ko bidapfa. Ibintu biteye isoni ivyo bimana vyakora, ivyo wasanga kenshi bihayagizwa cane mu bibanza vya kera vyaberamwo ibikino, vyatuma ababisenga babona ko na bo nyene bashobora kwisuka mu ngeso zataye ubuntu.

Birashoboka yuko abantu bize bari ku rushi ari bo bemera ivyo bitito nk’uko vyavugwa. Bamwebamwe babifata ko ari imvugo ngereranyo. Ivyo bishobora kuba ari vyo vyatumye Ponsiyo Pilato abaza ca kibazo kizwi cane kigira giti: “Ukuri ni iki?” (Yoh. 18:38) Vyavuzwe ko giserura “iciyumviro cari kimenyerewe mu bantu bize, c’uko ata muntu yoshobora kwemeza ko azi ukuri kwuzuye ku vyerekeye ikintu na kimwe.”

Ugusenga umwami w’abami

Ingoma ya Ogusito (iyaganje kuva mu 27 B.G.C. gushika muri 14 G.C.) ni yo yabaye intango y’ugusenga abami b’abami. Canecane mu ntara zavugwamwo ikigiriki zo mu Buseruko, abantu benshi barumva bakengurukira vy’ukuri Ogusito, uno akaba yari yaratumye haboneka ugusagamba n’amahoro inyuma y’ikiringo kirekire cari kihaciye hari intambara. Abantu baripfuza kuguma bakingiwe n’umuntu w’ububasha bashobora kubona. Baripfuza ubutegetsi bwari gushobora gutorera umuti amacakubiri yarangwa mu madini, bugatsimbataza agatima ko gukunda igihugu birenze urugero, bukongera bugatuma abantu baba batwarwa n’uwo bita ngo ni umurokozi bunga ubumwe. Ivyo vyatuma umwami w’abami afatwa nk’imana.

Naho Ogusito atemereye abandi ko bamwita imana igihe yari akiriho, yarashimitse ku vy’uko Uburoma bubonwa nk’ikimanakazi maze bugasengwa, bakaba babwita ngo Roma Dea. Ogusito amaze gupfa yaciye afatwa nk’imana. Ivyiyumviro abantu bo muri izo ntara bari bafise mu vy’idini be n’ukuntu bakunda igihugu birenze urugero baciye rero bavyerekeza ku murwa mukuru w’iyo nganji nganzabami be no ku bategetsi bayo. Ukwo gusenga umwami w’abami gushasha, ukutatevye gukwiragira mu ntara zose, kwahavuye kuba uburyo bwo guserurira igihugu icubahiro n’ukudahemuka.

Domitien, uwabaye umwami w’abami kuva mu 81 gushika mu 96 G.C., ni we yabaye umutegetsi wa mbere w’Umuroma yasavye ko asengwa nk’imana. Mu gihe ciwe, Abaroma bari baratandukanije abakirisu n’Abayuda kandi bararwanya ico babona ko ari ugusenga gushasha. Birashoboka ko mu gihe c’ingoma ya Domitien ari ho intumwa Yohani yajanwa mu bunyagano kw’izinga Patimo ahorwa “ugushingira intahe Yezu.”​—Ivyah. 1:9.

Igitabu c’Ivyahishuwe canditswe igihe Yohani yari mu bunyagano. Muri ico gitabu, aravuga ibijanye na Antipa, uno akaba yari umukirisu yiciwe i Perugamo, ico kikaba cari ikibanza gihambaye mu bijanye no gusenga umwami w’abami. (Ivyah. 2:12, 13) Muri ico gihe, intwaro y’iyo  nganji nganzabami ishobora kuba yari imaze gutangura gusaba abakirisu kugira imigenzo yagirwa mw’idini ry’igihugu. Vyaba ari ukwo vyari vyifashe canke atari ukwo, mu mwaka wa 112 G.C., nk’uko vyerekanywe muri rya kete ryarungikirwa Trajan ryavuzwe mu ntango y’iki kiganiro, Pline yariko arasaba abakirisu b’i Bitiniya ko bagira mwene iyo migenzo.

Trajan yarashemagije ukuntu Pline yariko aracira imanza abo bantu barengutswa imbere yiwe kandi yategetse yuko abakirisu banse gusenga ibimana vy’Abaroma bicwa. Trajan yanditse ati: “Ariko rero, igihe uwo muntu ahakanye ko ari umukirisu kandi akavyerekana mu gusenga ibimana vyacu, numubabarire (naho woba wahora umwikeka) kubera ko yigaye.”

Abaroma ntibashobora gutahura idini ryasaba abaririmwo gusenga imana imwe gusa. Kubera ko ibimana vy’Abaroma bitasaba ico kintu, ntibatahura igituma Imana y’abakirisu yagisaba. Vyabonwa yuko gusenga ibimana vy’ico gihugu vyerekana gusa ko abantu bemera ingene ivya politike vyari bitunganije. Ku bw’ivyo, kwanka kubisenga vyafatwa ko ari uguhemukira igihugu. Nk’uko Pline yabibonye, nta buryo na bumwe bwariho bwo kugobera abakirisu benshi ngo bahemuke. Kuri bo, gukora ikintu nk’ico vyasobanura guhemukira Yehova, kandi abakirisu bo mu ntango benshi bahitamwo gupfa aho kuja mu vyo gusenga ibigirwamana mu gusenga umwami w’abami.

Kubera iki dukwiye kwitwararika ivyo bintu muri kino gihe? Mu bihugu bimwebimwe, vyitezwe yuko abanyagihugu bahayagiza ibimenyetso biranga igihugu. Kubera ko turi abakirisu, nta gukeka ko twubaha ubukuru bw’intwaro zo muri iyi si. (Rom. 13:1) Ariko rero, ku bijanye n’imisi mikuru irimwo n’ivyo guhayagiza amabendera y’ibihugu, turitwararika ivyo Yehova Imana asaba ashimitse yuko ari we wenyene dukwiye kwihebera, tukitwararika n’impanuro iri mw’Ijambo ryiwe idusaba “[guhunga] ugusenga ibigirwamana” no ‘kwirinda ibigirwamana.’ (1 Kor. 10:14; 1 Yoh. 5:21; Nah. 1:2) Yezu yavuze ati: “Yehova Imana yawe ni we utegerezwa gusenga, kandi ni we wenyene utegerezwa gukorera igikorwa ceranda.” (Luka 4:8) Ese rero twobandanya kuguma turi intahemuka ku Mana dusenga.

[Iciyumviro nyamukuru ku rup. 5]

Abakirisu b’ukuri bihebera Yehova wenyene

[Amafoto ku rup. 3]

Abakirisu bo mu ntango baranka gusenga umwami w’abami canke ibishusho vy’ibimana

Umwami w’abami Domitien

Ikimana Zeyu

[Abo dukesha ifoto]

Umwami w’abami Domitien: Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com; Zeyu: Ifoto yafashwe na Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com, yakuwe muri Archaeological Museum of Istanbul

[Amafoto ku rup. 4]

Abakirisu b’i Efeso baranka gusenga ikimanakazi casengwa n’abantu benshi citwa Arutemi.​—Ibik. 19:23-41