According to the establishment clause, can a government support religion?

The establishment clause is found in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another. This means that the government cannot take actions that would endorse or promote any specific religion, which encompasses various forms of support, whether financial, institutional, or otherwise.

Choosing the option that states the government cannot support any religion aligns with the fundamental principle of the separation of church and state, which protects the freedom of religious practice by preventing government entanglement with religion. This ensures that all citizens have the right to practice their beliefs without interference from the government and that no religion is privileged over another in public policy.

The other options suggest various forms of support that the government could provide to religion, which would violate the intent of the establishment clause. For instance, allowing financial support or selectively supporting popular religions would create a disparity among religious groups, undermining the foundational rights provided by the First Amendment. Similarly, promoting general morality while indicating support for religion can lead to entanglement, which the establishment clause aims to avoid.