John Milton: igitabo cye cyari cyarabuze

ABANDITSI bagize ingaruka zikomeye cyane ku bantu bo ku isi, nk’izo umwanditsi witwa John Milton wanditse igisigo cy’Icyongereza kivuga ibya paradizo yazimiye (Paradise Lost) yagize, si benshi. Dukurikije uko umwanditsi umwe w’ibyabaye mu mibereho y’abantu yabivuze, Milton “yakundwaga n’abantu benshi, akangwa na bamwe, ariko bake ni bo bari bataramwumva.” Kugeza ubu, hari byinshi ubuvanganzo bw’Abongereza n’umuco wabo bikomora ku bitabo bye.

Ni gute John Milton yaje kugira ingaruka nk’izo ku bantu? Ni iki cyatumye igitabo cye cya nyuma kivuga ibihereranye n’imyizerere ya gikristo (On Christian Doctrine), gitinda kwemerwa ku buryo cyamaze imyaka 150 kitarasohorwa?

Akiri muto

John Milton yavukiye mu muryango ukize w’i Londres mu mwaka wa 1608. Milton yagize ati “data yankundishije kuziga ibihereranye n’ubuvanganzo nkiri muto. Narabikunze cyane ku buryo kuva mfite imyaka cumi n’ibiri, incuro nke cyane ni zo nagiye ndeka kwiga nkajya kuryama mbere ya saa sita z’ijoro.” Milton yari umuhanga cyane kandi yaboneye impamyabumenyi y’ikirenga muri Kaminuza ya Cambridge mu mwaka wa 1632. Nyuma yaho yakomeje gusoma ibitabo bivuga iby’amateka n’iby’ubuvanganzo bwa kera.

Milton yifuzaga kuba umusizi, ariko icyo gihe mu Bwongereza hari imivurungano itoroshye ya revolisiyo. Inteko Ishinga Amategeko yabanje kuyoborwa na Oliver Cromwell, yashyizeho urukiko rwakatiye urwo gupfa Umwami Charles I mu mwaka 1649. Milton yakoze inyandiko igizwe n’interuro ndende kugira ngo yemeze ko urwo rupfu rwari rukwiriye, kandi yaje no kuba umuvugizi wa guverinoma ya Cromwell. Mu by’ukuri, mbere y’uko John Milton aba umusizi w’icyamamare, inyandiko ze z’ibya politiki n’umuco zari zaratumye amenyekana.

Ubwami bumaze gusubizwaho hakimikwa Charles II mu mwaka wa 1660, imishyikirano Milton yari afitanye na Cromwell yatumye ajya mu kaga. Milton yarahunze kandi iyo ataza kugira incuti zikomeye, ntiyari kurusimbuka. Muri ibyo bintu byose yanyuzemo, yakomeje kuba umuntu ushishikazwa n’ibintu by’idini.

Yasuzumye imyizerere akoresheje Bibiliya

Milton yasobanuye ukuntu yatangiye gushishikazwa n’ibintu by’idini agira ati “nitangiye kwiga nshishikaye Isezerano rya Kera n’Isezerano Rishya mu ndimi z’umwimerere nkiri muto.” Milton yabonye ko Ibyanditswe Byera ari bwo buyobozi bwiringirwa bwonyine bwayobora abantu mu by’umuco no mu birebana n’idini. Ariko kandi, gusuzuma ibitabo byo mu rwego rw’idini bya kera byariho mu gihe cye, byatumye amanjirwa cyane. Nyuma yaho yanditse agira ati “numvaga ntashobora gushingira ukwizera kwanjye cyangwa ibyiringiro byanjye kuri ibyo bitabo by’idini.” Milton yiyemeje gusuzuma ibyo yizeraga atajenjetse “akoresheje Bibiliya.” Yatangiye atondeka imirongo ya Bibiliya y’ingenzi munsi y’imitwe rusange, maze akajya yifashisha urwo rutonde rw’imirongo mu kwandukura amagambo ayigize mu nyandiko ze.

Muri iki gihe, abantu bibukira cyane John Milton kuri cya gisigo kivuga ibya paradizo yazimiye. Icyo gisigo kivuga ibihereranye n’inkuru za Bibiliya zerekana ukuntu umuntu atakomeje gutungana (Itangiriro, igice cya 3). Cyasohotse bwa mbere mu mwaka wa 1667, ahanini kikaba ari cyo cyatumye Milton aba umwanditsi w’icyamamare, cyane cyane mu bihugu bivuga Icyongereza. Hanyuma yaje  gukomereza inkuru ye mu kindi gisigo kivuga ibihereranye na paradizo yongera gushyirwaho (Paradise Regained). Ibyo bisigo byombi bigaragaza umugambi Imana yari ifitiye abantu, ni ukuvuga ubuzima butunganye muri paradizo ku isi, kandi bivuga uko Imana izagarura paradizo ku isi binyuze kuri Kristo. Urugero, muri cya gisigo kivuga ibya paradizo yazimiye, marayika mukuru Mikayeli yahanuye igihe Kristo “azagororera abantu bamubera indahemuka akabakira mu munezero w’iteka, haba mu ijuru cyangwa ku isi; kuko icyo gihe isi yose izaba yahindutse paradizo. Imibereho ndetse n’uko iyo paradizo izaba iteye bizaba bishimishije cyane kurusha uko byari bimeze muri Edeni.”

Igitabo kivuga imyizerere ya gikristo

Mu gihe cy’imyaka myinshi, Milton yifuje noneho kwandika igitabo cyari kuvuga neza ibihereranye n’imibereho n’amahame bya gikristo. Nubwo mu mwaka wa 1652 yari yaramaze guhuma neza neza, yakoranye imbaraga mu kwandika icyo gitabo abifashijwemo n’abanyamabanga be kugeza apfuye mu mwaka wa 1674. Icyo gitabo cya Milton cya nyuma kivuga ibihereranye n’imyizerere ya gikristo hifashishijwe Ibyanditswe Byera gusa (A Treatise on Christian Doctrine Compiled From the Holy Scriptures Alone). Mu iriburiro ryacyo yagize ati “abanditsi benshi bagize icyo bavuga kuri iyi ngingo . . . bagiye berekeza ku mirongo ya Bibiliya mike inyigisho zabo zose zishingiyeho, bakayandika mu mikika gusa. Jyewe ariko, nihatiye kuzuza amapaji imirongo yandukuwe uko yakabaye ivuye mu bice byose bigize Bibiliya.” Nk’uko Milton yabyivugiye, icyo gitabo cyerekeje incuro zisaga 9.000 ku mirongo y’Ibyanditswe cyangwa kirayandukura.

Nubwo mu mizo ya mbere Milton atigeze yifata mu kugaragaza uko yabonaga ibintu, icyo gihe bwo yirinze gucapisha icyo gitabo. Kubera iki? Impamvu imwe ni uko yari azi ko ibisobanuro bihuje n’Ibyanditswe yari yatanze, byari bihabanye cyane n’inyigisho z’idini zari zemewe. Ikindi kandi, gusubizaho ubwami byatumye atakaza ubutoni yari afite kuri guverinoma. Ku bw’ibyo, ashobora kuba yari ategereje igihe agahenge kari kubonekera. Uko byaba biri kose, Milton amaze gupfa, ni bwo umunyamabanga we yafashe iyo nyandiko y’intoki yo mu Kilatini ayijyana mu icapiro, ariko banga kuyicapa. Icyo gihe Minisitiri w’Ububanyi n’Amahanga w’u Bwongereza yafatiriye iyo nyandiko maze arayibika. Byasabye imyaka 150 kugira ngo iyo nyandiko ya Milton ibone kongera kugaragara.

Mu mwaka wa 1823, ni bwo umukarani yaje kugwa ku nyandiko y’uwo musizi w’icyamamare izingiye ahantu. Icyo gihe Umwami George IV w’u Bwongereza yategetse ko icyo gitabo cyahindurwa kikavanwa mu Kilatini abantu bakagisoma. Ubwo cyasohokaga mu Cyongereza nyuma y’imyaka ibiri, cyatumye habaho amakimbirane akomeye mu bya tewolojiya no mu by’ubuvanganzo. Hari Umusenyeri wahise avuga ko iyo nyandiko yari yuzuyemo ibinyoma. Yahakanye ko Milton, wabonwaga ko ari umusizi ukomeye kuruta abandi mu by’idini mu Bwongereza, yaba ari we wahakanye yivuye  inyuma inyigisho zemewe z’idini. Umuhinduzi w’icyo gitabo yari yaraketse ko ibintu nk’ibyo byari kuzaba, maze kugira ngo yemeze ko Milton ari we wanditse icyo gitabo koko, agaragaza ahagana hasi ku mapaji ingero 500 zerekana ihuriro nyaryo riri hagati y’icyo gitabo cye kivuga ibihereranye n’imyizerere ya gikristo na cya gisigo cye kivuga ibya paradizo yazimiye. *

Imyizerere ya Milton

Igihe Milton yariho, u Bwongereza bwari bwararetse inyigisho za Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma, bugendera ku nyigisho z’Ivugurura ry’Abaporotesitanti. Muri rusange Abaporotesitanti bemeraga ko Ibyanditswe Byera byonyine ari byo bikwiriye gutanga ubuyobozi mu bijyanye n’ukwizera n’umuco, ko bidatangwa na Papa. Icyakora muri icyo gitabo kivuga ibihereranye n’imyizerere ya gikristo, Milton yagaragaje ko inyigisho nyinshi n’imihango myinshi by’Abaporotesitanti na byo bitari bihuje n’Ibyanditswe. Milton yashingiye kuri Bibiliya maze yamagana inyigisho ya Calvin ivuga ko ibiba ku muntu biba byaranditswe mbere y’igihe, ahubwo avuga ko umuntu aba afite umudendezo wo kwihitiramo. Yateje imbere imikoreshereze yiyubashye y’izina ry’Imana ari ryo Yehova, arikoresha incuro nyinshi mu nyandiko ze.

Milton yakoresheje Ibyanditswe maze avuga ko ubugingo bw’umuntu bupfa. Yagize icyo avuga ku murongo wo mu Itangiriro 2:7 agira ati “Ibyanditswe bivuga ko igihe umuntu yaremwaga muri ubwo buryo, yaje guhinduka ubugingo buzima. . . . Nk’uko abantu benshi babitekereza, ntabwo umuntu agizwe n’ibintu bibiri bitandukanye kimwe ukwacyo ikindi ukwacyo, ni ukuvuga ubugingo n’umubiri. Ahubwo, umuntu uko yakabaye ni ubugingo, kandi ubugingo ni umuntu.” Hanyuma Milton yabajije iki kibazo: ese umuntu uko yakabaye arapfa, cyangwa ni umubiri we gusa upfa?” Amaze kwerekana imirongo ya Bibiliya igaragaza neza ko umuntu wese uko yakabaye apfa, yongeyeho ati ‘ariko ibisobanuro biruta ibindi nshobora gutanga byemeza ko ubugingo bupfa ni ibitangwa n’Imana, biboneka muri Ezek[iyeli 18:]20, bivuga ko ubugingo bukora icyaha ari bwo bupfa.’ Milton nanone yavuze indi mirongo nk’uwa Luka 20:37 n’uwa Yohana 11:25 agaragaza ko ibyiringiro abantu baba bafite ku bapfuye ari uko bazazuka bakareka gusinzirira mu rupfu.

Ni iki cyatumye cya gitabo kivuga ibihereranye n’imyizerere ya gikristo kirushaho kwangwa cyane? Byatewe n’uko Milton yatanze ibimenyetso byoroheje ariko bifite imbaraga bishingiye kuri Bibiliya, byemeza ko Kristo, Umwana w’Imana, ari uwa kabiri ku Mana Data. Milton amaze kwandukura amagambo yo muri Yohana 17:3 n’ayo muri Yohana 20:17, yarabajije ati “niba Data ari we Mana ya Kristo kandi akaba Imana yacu, kandi niba hariho Imana imwe yonyine, ni nde wundi waba Imana uretse Data?”

Milton yongeyeho ati “mu byo Umwana ubwe n’intumwa bavugaga kandi bandikaga, bari bazi ko Data akomeye cyane muri byose kuruta Umwana” (Yohana 14:28). “Koko rero Kristo ni we wavuze muri Matt. xxvi. 39: ati ‘Data, niba bishoboka, iki gikombe kindenge, ariko bye kuba uko jyewe nshaka, ahubwo bibe uko wowe ushaka.’ . . . Kuki yasenze Se wenyine, aho kwisenga, niba koko na we ubwe yari Imana? Niba we ubwe yari umuntu akaba n’Imana isumba byose, kuki yasenze asaba ikintu we ubwe yari afitiye ububasha bwo gukora? . . . Kubera ko aho Umwana yabaga ari hose yasengaga Se wenyine, ni yo mpamvu yatwigishije kubigenza dutyo.”

Aho ubushobozi bwa Milton bwagarukiraga

John Milton yashakishije ukuri. Icyakora, ubushobozi bwe bwari bufite aho bugarukira, kandi ibintu bibi yahuye na byo bishobora kuba byaragize ingaruka ku bitekerezo bye. Urugero, nyuma gato y’aho amariye gushaka, uwo mugeni we wavukaga mu mfura z’ibwami, yaramutaye maze yisubirira iwabo amarayo hafi imyaka itatu. Muri icyo gihe, Milton yanditse inyandiko zisobanura ko gutana bidaterwa gusa n’ubusambanyi, ari cyo kintu cyonyine Yesu yemeye ko cyatuma abashakanye batana, ahubwo ko nanone byaterwa n’uko abantu bafite ibyo batumvikanaho (Matayo 19:9). Milton yumvikanishije icyo gitekerezo muri cya gitabo kivuga imyizerere ya gikristo.

Nubwo hari aho Milton yagize intege nke, muri icyo gitabo cye agaragaza neza icyo Bibiliya ivuga ku bihereranye n’inyigisho nyinshi z’ingenzi. Kugeza ubu, icyo gitabo gituma abagisoma basuzuma ukwizera kwabo bakurikije uburyo bukwiriye bwo gusuzuma imyizerere, ari bwo bwo gukoresha Ibyanditswe Byera.

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Milton yigaga Bibiliya ashishikaye

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Courtesy of The Early Modern Web at Oxford

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Igisigo cyatumye Milton yamamara

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Courtesy of The Early Modern Web at Oxford

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Inyandiko ya nyuma ya Milton yamaze imyaka 150 yarabuze

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Image courtesy of Rare Books and Special Collections, Thomas Cooper Library, University of South Carolina

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Image courtesy of Rare Books and Special Collections, Thomas Cooper Library, University of South Carolina