Compare and contrast religious ethics with one other ethical theory.

How does a Christian decide what is right and wrong? Catholic Christianity has traditionally maintained that there are absolutes that cannot be changed by the circumstances. This deontological theory will contrast with the teleological theory of Utilitarianism, evoking contrast, while coinciding with one another when considering an approach to sexual ethics and in particular focusing on adultery.

Jeremy Bentham’s Utilitarian theory is based on ‘the greatest good for the greatest number.’ It is a theological approach based on consequences; it is not concerned with motives only the outcomes.

Bentham believes that the reasons for having sex are as follows: Value of pleasure, consensual sex creates much good, avoid harm to other persons.  

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Utilitarian’s would want to maximise the good things about sex and minimise the down sides. Using utilitarianism to assess the morality of adultery, we need to go back to the main principle of the theory which is ‘the greatest good for the greatest number.’ From this angle it would seem that the adulterous relationship would be tolerated as long as the other married partner did not find out and the affair was kept secret. Therefore harm is avoided and pleasure is still gained for most people, representing the ‘greatest good for the greatest number.

On the other, the adulterous relationship ...

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