Which of these beliefs resulted in widespread witch hunting in Europe during the sixteenth century?

The widespread witch hunts in Europe during the sixteenth century were primarily a result of the belief in witchcraft as an embodiment of evil and heresy. People believed that witches made pacts with the Devil, partaking in nocturnal gatherings known as witches' Sabbaths, and engaged in nefarious activities such as casting spells, cursing people or livestock, and engaging in maleficium (harmful magic). These beliefs were fueled by a mix of superstition, religious fervor, social scapegoating, and the fear of the unknown.

At the time, the Catholic Church and the Protestant denominations were trying to establish and maintain religious orthodoxy during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. Both Catholic and Protestant authorities believed that witches were a significant threat to the Christian social and moral order. The publication of the "Malleus Maleficarum" (The Hammer of Witches) in 1487 by two Dominican inquisitors, Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, also played a significant role in spreading the belief in witches and providing guidelines on prosecuting witchcraft.