Bentham, Critic of Religion

Abstract

The  aim  is  to  f ind  out  the  compatibility  between  utilitarianism  and  religion.  The inconsistency  would be that between  a conspicuous  scientist  theory and the belief in the otherworldly linked to salvation. Bentham wrote, alone or in collaboration, a few but major works  on religion.  He considered  two versions,  deism  and Anglicanism  and,  within  this last, examines  the possibility  of focusing on an alleged original message of Christ would have been undermined  by Paul of Tarsus.

Bentham is clearly committed  to the reductions  of religion to the private sphere. But this proposal  would  not have  f inished  with  all the problems  that  arise  from  the relationship between religion and happiness.