Causes for the reformation are as follows:
1. Religious causes or existence or abuses: Reformation began with the rebellion against the abuses of the church. The Popes, who claimed to be representatives of God, neglected their religious duties. The Church was ready to sacrifice moral and spiritual values for the sake of money. The clergy became corrupt and idle and naturally, the Church lost its early purity. The principles like simplicity and forgiveness preached by Jesus were completely forgotten. The anger against such evils was one of the chief causes for the Reformation.
2. Intellectual causes: The spirit of enquiry and criticism generated by the Renaissance intellectuals like John Wycliffe and others resulted in protests against the abuses by the Church and corrupt practices of the Clergy. They demanded the purification of the Church organization. They challenged the supremacy of the Pope and declared that the Pope was not the representative of God and every Christian should be guided by the Bible.
3. Political causes: The Roman Catholic Church claimed the spiritual and temporal power over the States of Europe. Kings and people opposed the political power enjoyed by the Church. The growth of nationalism led to the establishment of National Churches with Kings as their heads. They felt that the Church should take interest only in the religious, spiritual and moral domains. They wanted to restrict the power of the Church and these political circumstances prompted reformation.
4. Economic causes: The Roman Church-owned vast lands, money and property. Church property was exempted from all taxes, but the common people were burdened with various taxes, fees, and fines. The Church claimed that the wealth of the Church was the wealth of God and Kings had no rights to tax on church property.
5. Sale of indulgences: The immediate cause of the Reformation was the sale of indulgences by Pope Leo-X, who was badly in need of money for the rebuilding of the St. Peters Church at Rome. Church regardless of all the criticism levelled against it continued to collect money in various ways. Pope LeoX sent his agent, John Tetzel to Germany to sell indulgences. Indulgences were certificates issued by the Pope for money, exempting the people from receiving punishment for their sins. Brokers and Bankers were appointed to sell them and were paid commissions. Martin Luther opposed this sale in his famous 95 points and nailed them to the Church door at Wittenberg. He began to question the Pope and the doctrines.
Reformation produced far-reaching results. The following ones are noteworthy.
1. Reformation destroyed the unity of the Christian Church by the establishment of the Protestant Church.
2. The medieval religious tradition and superstitious beliefs were rejected. The leaders of this movement also rejected the supreme authority of the church accepted the authorities of the true Bible.
3. Reformation freed the Kings of Europe from the control of pope. It gave birth to secular states.
4. Reformation led to reforms in the Catholic Church and also a much clearer statement of Christian doctrines.
5. It had a great economic effect. The properties of the Church were confiscated by the Protestant Nobles and Princes, making them powerful. This wealth was utilised for the economic development and as a result, money lenders, bankers, and financiers earned a high status.
6. It had a great effect on the development of national literature. The translation of the Bible into the vernacular languages spread the knowledge of scriptures among the common people.
7. The religious clashes between the Catholics and the Protestants caused much bloodshed, death, and destruction. It finally gave birth to secular States as the only way for national integration. European Kings adopted religious tolerance.
8. It had further stimulus to the growth of the spirit of nationalism.
