Atheism was introduced to America many years ago. Atheism, less common than Christianity, is the belief that there is no higher power and that science holds the explanations for the origin of Earth as a planet and us as a society. Atheism has been around for hundreds of years. Those with religious beliefs may say that many atheists feel an immediate dislike toward those with religious associations. Atheists are a group of people who live their lives believing in themselves; they prefer to live their lives with faith in humanity and themselves rather than in a higher power. Atheism is on the rise among American youth; the younger generation is beginning to move away from their family's traditional religious beliefs and embrace new age beliefs that there is no higher power. As a society, we have made it one of our values ​​to allow our citizens to have faith in whatever they want, but often religion causes people to be judged and segregated. Atheism offers people a way to move away from the judgment and segregation that often comes with formal religion. Atheism also offers people the opportunity to get closer to themselves, to fully understand who they are. Atheists believe that there is no supreme being. The word atheism comes from a, (without) and theism (belief in God or gods). Atheism is the belief that science has explained many reasons for the origin of the universe, the evolution of society, and why humans can live on planet Earth. There are two different types of atheists. As Figure 1 shows, some agnostic atheists believe that God does not exist, but nevertheless think it is possible that they are wrong. Gnostic atheists, on the other hand, believe that there is no possibility...... middle of paper ......dIssitt, Micah and Geraldine Wagner. “Athism is a philosophy of social development.” EBSCOHost. MackinVial, 2014. The web. February 19, 2014. [Database] Chittom, Lynn-nore and Matt Donnelly. “Atheism is a useless faith.” EBSCOHost. MackinVial, 2013. The web. February 19, 2014. Foster, Peter. “Is America Losing Faith?” Atheism on the rise but still in the shadows. The telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, March 6, 2005. Web. February 19, 2014. Pope, Stephen J. “Only Religion Can Teach Morality and Ethics.” » Point of view reference center. EBSCO, 2009. Web. February 20, 2014. Atheism versus theism versus agnosticism versus gnoticism. 2013. Photography. Sandiego Laughingsquid.com. By Pablo Stanley. Kimber Streams, September 26, 2013. Web. February 20, 2014. Major Religious Traditions in the United States 2013. Photograph. Washington, DC.Pewforum.org. Pew Charitable Trusts, 2013. Web. February 20. 2014