Benthams Compatibility With Christianity

Question 1

Against

Answer 1

1. Formed independently of belief in God
   God = irrelevant to theory - inconsistent with any religious form of moral decision making. Bentham thought in future - religion = irrelevant - why he left his body up for display and dissection - neither he nor any god would have further use of it
2. UT = self interest is inevitable,Christianity lacks this focus
   Envisage a properly UT Soc = secular - religious belief perverted principe of utility eso as encouraged inds to act against their own interests and that of community as whole, since Christianity puts self- interest to one side - not comp
3. Religion has spiritual dimension unlike UT
   God= happiness in Christianity - rooted in heaven and god but for Bentham happiness = pointless if not quantifiable within Soc
   Act UT makes decisions spec. To situation , Christianity w/ will of god and reward of life after death
4. Christianity = focus on weaker members of society when moral decision making
   Not comp w/ this approach since it insists that every inds happiness counts as one

Question 2

For

Answer 2

Bentham doesn’t exclude religion: comes under ‘self interest’ (prospect of divine rewards or punishment) and comes under ‘sympathy’ links as Bentham thinks man is governed by pleasure and pain, self interest and sympathy but Bentham doesn’t believe in god but sees positive force in religion - love of others only possible if you love yourself

When Jesus asked what auth he used- pointed to healing of ppl and feeding hungry as illustrating sort of change his ministry brought about, ppl judged according to their response to situation of needs
Jesus = UT - put needs of others first and judges people by how they respond to needy

Jesus made decisions by means of the ‘golden rule’ so do utilitarians - treat others how you would like to be treated