The prohibition goes beyond endorsement, it says "promote the establishment of", to endorse something is promoting its establishment, but its not the only thing that would promote its establishment.
Jarhead, you have to actually understand the meaning of the words before you can comprehend what the amendment says. "Establishment" means "to establish" or, to 'fix something in place.' In this case, it pertains to Religion.
Now, you have to put this in context of the times, and why we were forming an amendment to a Constitution to begin with. The place from which we declared independence, established a religion for the people, The Church of England. I'll let you Google them, and discover what the inherent problems were, with a government establishment of a national church, but it was one of the primary reasons we declared independence and formed our own nation. (The other being taxation.)
The Founding Fathers intended, literally, for the 1st Amendment to mean, our Congress can never 'create, promote, endorse, or establish' a national religion. That does NOT mean that we can't pass laws or create legislation based on religious teachings, religious ethics, religious beliefs, or religious thought! The more you examine that viewpoint, the more ridiculous and absurd it becomes, because almost EVERY law, is rooted in someone's religious beliefs or philosophy... WHY? Because, religious belief centers around what is "right" and our laws are established to distinguish what is "right" from what is "wrong!" There is no practical way to divorce religious ethics and teachings from our laws and rules governing our society.... it's impossible to do so, and remain a civilized society.
We need look no further than George Washington's Farewell Address, for what the intent of the Founding Fathers was, with the Establishment Clause.
Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?
Now how can anyone who isn't completely retarded, read those words, from our
PREMIER Founding Father, and argue that our government is forbidden from passing laws and legislation on the basis of religious beliefs or principles? The 1st Amendment actually makes it possible to do so, without the fear it will lead to a national religion being established. That's the brilliance and beauty of the Constitution, in my opinion.
CAPTAIN KIRK FOR PRESIDENT!