Epikouros was certainly not an atheist by the progressive definition of the phrase. https://datingranking.net/indian-dating/ He sensed in the existence of deities, however, the guy considered that brand new gods was basically ethically best beings and they had no wedding at all when you look at the people items. In his Letter to Menoikeus, one of several about three extant characters which can be a portion of the source for many off whatever you learn about their theories, Epikouros himself produces, since the translated toward English from the Robert Received Hicks:
“Very first believe that [a goodness] are a living being immortal and pleased, according to the idea of a goodness expressed from the prominent sense of humankind; and therefore from your whatever was at believes not which have regarding the him any sort of get support both his happyness along with his immortality. To own truly there are gods, and you may expertise in her or him is obvious; but they are not such as the variety faith, seeing as people don’t steadfastly maintain the impression it function valuing them. Not the one who rejects new gods worshipped from the lot, however, the guy just who affirms of your gods exactly what the multitude thinks about the subject is actually impious.