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I know it's a loaded term with tons of baggage, but the word that maybe best describes what you're proposing is evangelism. We have discovered Epicurus's philosophy. We have found it to be valuable. We want to spread that valuable message of "good news" to others - the original meaning of evangelize: "bring good news." I fully realize the word has been almost trademarked by the Christians, but even DeWitt used it to describe Epicureanism.

Or we take the word back from the Christians! In looking at the Liddell & Scott at Perseus, the word evangelize and its variants was used by Lucian, Pausanias, Aristophanes, and other ancient authors before being co-opted by the Christians. Although I know exactly where Godfrey is coming from - emoji and all It's not like Christians have cornered the market on "good news." But I get what Mathitis Kipouros and Godfrey are saying about the goal here on the forum: opportunities for collaboration, e…

(Quote from Cassius) LOL! Well, if the DeWitticism fits... (Quote from Cassius) Didn't realize that was out there. Have to dig around a little. (Quote from Cassius) You bet! It's Greek: ευ- "eu-" good as in euthanasia (good death), eulogy (good words), etc. + άγγελος "angelos" messenger as in "angel" (again, co-opted by the Christians). It literally just meant the bearer of good news (like victory in a battle) or to bring good news as a verb. The ευ/eu- got the "ev" pronunciation instead of "you…

(Quote from camotero) The links just misspelled. Try https://www.epicureanfriends.com/wiki/

(Quote from camotero) Excellent questions and points to consider, Mathitis Kipouros . This, too, is something I grapple with. This is how I'm beginning to reach a conclusion for myself. I hope this helps to see i too am struggling. We grow up in and live in a culture that wants to have absolutes. Religions want to have god-given absolute laws of right and wrong. Some people want to insist on universal rights like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The US Declaration of Independence state…

It's more than okay for you to add your thoughts In fact, I think your fresh perspective is quite valuable. Thanks! (Quote from Philia) Oddly enough, the original Epicureans including in the time of Epicurus himself dealt with this exact problem, too. People back then couldn't get over the idea of pleasure as the guide for life and attributed all kinds of fancy food stereotypes and debauchery to the Epicureans. However, just liked the modern Stoics have, I think we can eventually work through th…

Kalosyni , I wanted to add that, if you haven't run into it yet, I find the Tetrapharmakos (literally, "four ingredient medicine") a good starting place to think about what Epicurus's philosophy entails. Some on this forum may beg to differ, but I find it one of the most condensed, succinct summaries and it has ancient origins (quoted or written by Philodemus himself). Here's a personal translation: Nothing to fear from gods. Not to be anxious about death The Good (pleasure) is easy to find; An…