How did Epicurean ideas about the gods differ from Stoic beliefs in divine providence?

The philosophical divide between Epicureanism and Stoicism regarding the divine centers on the concept of providence.

The Stoics believed in divine providence, viewing the universe as an ordered system governed by an active, rational, and spiritual principle known as the logos. To the Stoics, this logos was synonymous with nature, god, and the soul of the universe, actively permeating and structuring all reality.12

In contrast, Epicureanism maintained that while gods exist, they are beatified, immortal beings who are entirely detached from the world. As described by the Latin poet Lucretius in his work De rerum natura, these gods neither created nor manipulate the cosmos; they live in remote tranquility, unconcerned with human affairs. Epicurus taught this view to liberate humanity from the fear of divine intervention and religious superstition, positioning the gods as distant examples of perfect happiness rather than active rulers of human destiny.342