[Double Tap]

Sorry, your the one playing word games. The amendment clearly states that congress can not make laws that respect one establishment, or organized group, of religion over another. The original intent was to make sure that the government did not make a state religion, or favor one religion over another. That all religions, of lack of belief, could be practiced freely.

[Notwithstanding]

You are flat out wrong.

In a legal and historical context, your definition of "establishment" is in error.

History also PROVES you wrong in that some state constitutions in effect at the same time (both before and after the US Constitution was retifies) forbade establishment while these same states mandated that local communities collect taxes to fund Christian worhip services.

Likewise, after the US Constitution was ratified Congress funded Christian chaplains for itself. Likewise, Congress continues to fund military chaplains (and has done so for 200 years).

[Double Tap]

"of lack of" should be "or lack of"

[rface]

The original intent was to make sure that the government did not make a state religion, or favor one religion over another. That all religions, of lack of belief, could be practiced freely.

Well, I guess we agree....imagine that!