"It is an old habit with theologians to beat the living with the bones of the dead"

This quote by Robert Green Ingersoll is a criticism of theologians who rely too heavily on the teachings of the past. He is suggesting that theologians ought to not be so rigid in their beliefs and need to rather be open to originalities and analyses. He thinks that theologians ought to not be so fast to evaluate and condemn the beliefs of others, however instead need to be willing to gain from them. He is likewise suggesting that theologians ought to not be so quick to depend on the mentors of the past, as these mentors may no longer matter in today day. Ingersoll is motivating theologians to be open to originalities and analyses, and to be happy to learn from the beliefs of others. He is suggesting that theologians must not be so quick to evaluate and condemn the beliefs of others, but instead should want to learn from them. Ingersoll's quote is a pointer that theologians must be open to originalities and analyses, and should not be so quick to rely on the mentors of the past.