Epicureans believe in respect for your fellow human beings, generosity, friendship, treating others as you wish to be treated yourself, rationality based on science, politeness, care of people less able to look after themselves than you are, and exercising a sense of humour. Epicureanism stands for moderation in everything, rejection of fear-mongering styles of religion, and teaches that human beings have both rights and responsibilities to others.

Epicureanism is tolerant and isn’t hostile to religion per se, if it leads to peace of mind and contentment. They know that most decent Christians will have nothing to do with intolerance of homosexuals or other minorities; that they support family planning and abortion for poor women, for instance, and probably don’t think much of bishops, regalia, or ecclesiastical real estate. On the other hand Epicureans do not believe in the supernatural or punishment in some after-life. On the contrary, Epicureanism stands for happiness and and a pleasant life, not fear of future torment for some sin or other. They are independent-minded, think for themselves, and reject social control by politicians, billionaires and priests.