There were several long term and short term causes of the Protestant reformation.
             The immediate cause that started the reformation was Martin Luther's act of posting the Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral in the Holy Roman Empire. Luther was a priest in the Catholic faith in 1517 when he posted the Theses. Luther posted the Theses in response to the sale of indulgences in nearby towns. The Church sold these indulgences as a way to raise money for people who wished their loved ones' souls to go from purgatory to heaven. However, Luther found fault with this practice because he believed that an indulgence was to be given for penance for wrongdoing. By selling indulgences, the Church was giving people who were not sorry for their sins forgiveness. He felt that these people had not lived the lives of saints. The Treasury of Merit said that the indulgences came from the extra goodness of the saints. The people of the surrounding area were buying these indulgences from the salesman Tetzel in order to raise money for Pope Leo X for the renovation of St. Peter's cathedral. Luther worried for these people's souls, so he posted the Ninety-five Theses in order to debate the sale of indulgences. He wrote the Theses in Latin.
             While Luther's Theses were the immediate cause of the Reformation, there were several long-term causes as well. One of these causes was the background of agitation between the Church and individuals and groups that preceded Luther.
             One of the first of these was the Albigensian heresy in the mid 11th century. It gained a large following, but was rejected by the Church because of some of its teachings. The Albigensians taught the difference between good and evil, but did not believe in the sacraments. The Catholic Church viewed the sacraments as necessary for salvation. Wars were fought between the Albigensians and the Church, eventually resulting in the...