Are Bentham and Kant compatible with Christianity?

• Bentham is compatible with Christianity

  - Modelled on Jesus actions. Teleological —> so is Bentham's theory

  - Jesus went against the rules on occasion —> no rules to abide by utilitarianism

  - Christianity is about selflessness and putting others first —> so it utilitarianism in order to benefit the majority
• Bentham is not compatible with Christianity

  - Christianity is concerned with the outcasts or minorities —> utilitarianism is only concerned with the majority

  - Rooted in religion and spiritual kingdoms —> based on a hedonist interpretation of life and secular in its approach

  - Christian goal is justice —> utilitarian goal is happiness
• Kant is compatible with Christianity

  - Jesus had the golden rule to treat everyone as you would want to be treated, universal —> universal law

  - Christians see humans unique, should not be used by others —> a person should not be treated as a means to an end, people have intrinsic worth

  - Christian rules like 10 commandments are deontological —> Kant's theory is deontological, duty
• Kant is not compatible with Christianity

  - moral knowledge is revealed by God —> moral law is revealed through reason and experience

  - Christianity is reached through achieving an afterlife —> summum bonum is achieved, but only in this life

  - Love is the heart of Christianity —> love is too emotional and should not guide any moral thinking