Introduction: the exceptionalism of American atheism -- Discourse analysis and the definition of atheism -- The story of America -- The United States Supreme Court and American religion -- McCollum v. Board of Education (1948) -- Torcaso v. Watkins (1961)-- Abington v. Schempp/Murray v. Curlett (1963) -- Welsh v. United States (1970) -- Grove v. Newdow (2004) -- Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation (2007) -- Town of Greece v. Galloway (2014)-- Conclusion : atheism, an American religion.