"As liberty and intelligence have increased the people have more and more revolted against the theological dogmas that contradict common sense and wound the tenderest sensibilities of the soul"

This quote by Catharine Beecher speaks with the power of flexibility and knowledge in difficult standard religious beliefs. As individuals become more informed and free to think for themselves, they are most likely to turn down spiritual mentors that oppose their own understanding of the world. This is specifically real when those mentors are seen to be upsetting or destructive to the human spirit. Beecher is recommending that when people are provided the chance to believe for themselves, they will frequently decline religious mentors that do not line up with their own values and beliefs. This is an effective statement about the value of flexibility and education in allowing people to make their own decisions about their faith. It likewise speaks with the significance of respecting the beliefs of others, even if they differ from our own.