foil the standard and often distorted views of Epicureanism fostered by its enemies.2917 If some compared Christians to atheists and Epicureans, Origen employed the title “Epicurean” to insult Celsus.2918 Excursus: Stoicism Stoic thought was widespread and affected popular culture by the first century.2919 The emperor Claudius employed the Stoic philosopher Seneca to educate members of the household; by the end of the first century, Rome’s leaders also favorably viewed the Stoic Musonius Rufus (Tac.