The topic of atheism has become an increasingly researched topic in the United States. With the slow but steady increase of the atheist population in the United States, the investigation is becoming more relevant in modern research. The atheist population in America is considered cognitively deviant because they reject a view that is the majority. They are also one of the most discriminated against groups and carry with them a very large and pervasive stigma. There are a number of recent studies that address the topic of atheism in the United States in various ways. First, “Becoming an Atheist in America: Constructing Identity and Meaning from the Rejection of Theism,” Jesse Smith explores the process by which atheists come to label themselves atheists. This study uses the qualitative research methods of participant observation and in-depth interviews. Smith separates the process into four stages that ultimately end in self-identification as an atheist. Smith makes sure to note that “the construction of an atheist identity is a fluid and dynamic process rather than one that follows a simple pattern or trajectory.” (Smith, 2011) It is worth mentioning that the latest comprehensive study found that there are “Only 1% of Americans [who] identify as atheists” (Caldwell-Harris, 2011). This means that only 1% of Americans go through this process. The first step is a “starting point” (Smith, 2011). He finds that “belief in God and religious practice characterized their lives at some point” (Smith, 2011). Most atheists start out in a religious family and actually practice a religion of some kind for some part of their lives. The United States supports a culture in which “92% of people express belief in God, about 60%… middle of paper… ed1. Caldwell-Harris, C. L., Wilson, A. L., LoTempio, E., & Beit-Hallahmi, B. (2011). Exploring the atheistic personality: Well-being, awe, and magical thinking in atheists, Buddhists, and Christians. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 14(7), 659-672.2. Gervais, W. M., Shariff, A. F., & Norenzayan, A. (2011). Do you believe in atheists? Distrust is central to anti-atheist prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(6), 1189-1206.3. Jones, T. (Director) (2011). Sunset Limited [DVD]4. Saroglou, V., Yzerbyt, V., & Kaschten, C. (2011). Meta-stereotypes of groups with opposing religious views: believers and non-believers. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 21(6), 484-498.5. Smith, J. M. (2011). Becoming an atheist in America: Constructing identity and meaning from the rejection of theism. Sociology of religion,72(2), 215-237.