Those who believed that poverty was due to laziness or sinful behavior were most likely to believe in
a) the “gospel of wealth” essay.
b) the social gospel movement.
c) the social darwinism movement.
d) the evolution of the human species.

I believe the answer is: B. Social gospel movement

The social gospel movement was popular during the 19th century, which promote the way of life that similar to what Jesus Christ advocated for in their bible. They had the concept of 7 deadly sins that must be avoided by the followers. Laziness is one of the 7 deadly sins.

B) The social gospel movement

The social gospel movement lined up with the Progressive movement that began in the USA in the late 19th century. Progressives sought to implement programs or patterns so that people's lives are improved and society reformed. The social gospel movement emphasized that godly people should be helping their neighbors in this world, not just preparing for a life in heaven after this world. Helping them meant teaching them also to apply biblical principles to their own lives and become thrifty and industrious, rather than engaging in sinful or lazy patterns that hurt their lives.

One could also argue that Andrew Carnegie's "Gospel of Wealth" essay factored into this movement, since Carnegie advocated that those with wealth should use their wealth in ways that would encourage "the slothful, the drunken, the unworthy," as he put it.

the answer is jerusalem