"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . . ."–First Amendment. Which statement best explains the meaning of the guarantees provided in this excerpt from the First Amendment? * 1 point

a. Criminal laws and moral public standards do not apply to people who are acting according to their religious beliefs.

b. Governments at all levels in the United States are not allowed to pass laws that aid or encourage particular churches or religion.

c. Each person is free to believe as he or she wishes in religious matters, and government cannot favor any one religion.

d. Due to separation of church and state, the federal government cannot promote religion or protect religious rights.