I know of no crime that has not been defended by the church, in one form or other. The church is not a pioneer; it accepts a new truth, last of all, and only when denial has become useless.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The church often defends past wrongs and adopts new truths only after they are undeniable.
- In plain terms
- Religious institutions rarely lead change and instead defend old ways until change is forced.
- What can you take from it?
- Institutions often resist progress until it is inevitable.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do institutions resist necessary change?
- When does truth become undeniable?
Another view
The quote generalizes the behavior of all churches across history.
More from Robert G. Ingersoll
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