What did the Epicureans believe about life and death?
Epicureans believed death ends all existence, so life should be spent in present pleasure—eat, drink, and be merry—since tomorrow they would die. They gave no thought to meeting God or to eternity, viewing themselves like animals: here today, gone tomorrow, with no resurrection.
Les explains that the Epicureans held a pagan outlook: eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you die anyway. They had no thought of ever meeting God or of eternity in one place or another. They considered themselves just like animals—here today, gone tomorrow—so they lived for the moment. Paul uses this to say that if there is no resurrection, then 'have at it.' Les notes this mindset is becoming America's mindset today, focused on instant gratification. The admonition is 'Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners' (1 Corinthians 15:33), and he points to Proverbs 13:20.
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.