American Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

According to the Puritans, what is the state of man in a fallen world?

1. Spiritual death

2. Born in sin

3. Separated from God

4. Innocence

The correct answer is: Born in sin

According to the Puritans, the state of man in a fallen world is that they are born in sin. This means that they are inherently sinful and have a tendency towards evil, as a result of the original sin of Adam and Eve. This option is correct because it reflects the Puritans' belief in the depravity of man. Option A, spiritual death, may seem like a close answer, as it suggests that man is cut off from God. However, this is not the same as being born in sin, as it implies that man was spiritually alive but died because of sin. The Puritans believed that man was born with a sin nature and did not have spiritual life to begin with. Option C, separated from God, is also incorrect because it does not fully capture the Puritans' belief in man's inherent sinfulness. While man is indeed separated from God