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What did Epicurus teach about the gods?

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Bronze bust of Epicurus with a full beard and draped clothing, displayed on a round inscribed base at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. — Epicureanism Epicurus, bronze bust from a Greek original, c. 280–270 bce; in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.

Epicurus taught that the gods exist as beatified and immortal beings, but he maintained that they are completely extraneous to the happenings of the world. Because they are removed from human affairs, he argued that they do not exercise providence or intervene in the lives of individuals.12

Consequently, Epicurus believed that the gods should not be feared. He viewed the fear of divine intervention as a major source of human unhappiness and anxiety. By understanding that the gods are indifferent to worldly events, one can achieve peace of mind, which is a central component of the Epicurean pursuit of happiness. This perspective is summarized in the Tetrapharmacon, which states: "The gods are not to be feared".3