In the The Crucible, Hale's authority on witches reflects the Puritan belief in

Select one:

a. A literal interpretation of the Bible.

b. The physical existence of the Devil.

c. The view that sin resided in all people.

d. All of the answers

The correct answer is: all of the answers.

A. A literal interpretation of the Bible.

The most characteristic feature of Puritanism was its respect for the Scripture (the Bible) and its desire to know and carry out all its prescriptions. They viewed the Bible as authoritative for all issues on morals and faith. They followed the Bible's spiritual practices without any criticism.

B. The physical existence of the Devil.

The Puritans believed in the physical existence of the Devil and many demons. The Devil was able to posses and cause harm to a man or a woman. The Puritans were petrified of the Devil, they believed it gave power to witches and that's why they engaged in witch hunts.

C. The view that sin resided in all people.

To the Puritans, people were not only sinful but also susceptible to temptation and sin. They believed there was no horrendous crime people were not capable of committing.