Causation
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When looking at any historical event, it is vital to utilize logic, and not allow pride and other emotions to interfere. In order to understand a historical concept as intricate as, for example, multiple causation, a special, scholarly reasoning must be applied. Rather than trying to discover what one wishes to unearth, it is best to study documents with a “spirit of humility.” That being said, it cannot be disputed that multiple causation was indeed responsible for the Protestant Reformation.
Using the elementary line of thought, which dictates that a single event caused the Reformation, is fruitless. It is important to elucidate the various events that are actually attributed to causing the Reformation. To summarize, it was Luthers activities, the number of supporters he gained, the papal control of the Church, their corrupt “sales of indulgences,” the invention of the printing press, emerging social forces, Charles Vs dilemma, the internal conflict between the papacy and the council, and the rise of the national state over the Church, that worked in tandem with one another to cause the outbreak of the Reformation. The point of stringing them together in a list is to solidify the evidence. Not one of these causes could have, on its own, caused such a monumental event. With any historical event, the causes can operate on several planes to instigate a situation. Essentially, these operations are examples of causation.
One such example is the “domino effect,” where one event sets off another, and then another, and the chain will continue until an event, or conclusion, occurs. Yet another frequent concept is the “powder keg” theory. Events continue to swirl tumultuously together, and additional incidents continue to fall into the keg, or, literally, to be added into the fray. Sooner or later, a spark, in the guise of a law, an event, or a person, will set off a larger and more impacting historical event. These are prime examples of causation, or “cause and effect” scenarios. Causation demands a move away from assuming that the immediate cause should be emphasized and solely blamed for a historical event. It is suggested that a “chain of development” links various elements or events together, leading to one grand event. This is entirely correct. Irrational, superficial attitudes, which state that a single cause leads to a grandiose development, are unjustified and wholly uneducated. Gustavson wishes for all humanity to be able to analyze and deconstruct “the deeper forces at work.” This level of thinking will be beneficial in allowing a better general understanding of history.
Conclusively, the Reformation resulted from a juxtaposition of political issues, radical new ideas, social forces, and technological advances. Martin Luthers actions were the first clear step in setting about events. Luther was acclaimed mainly because everyone could relate to his argument, which denounced the sale of indulgences. If Luther had gotten technical, people would not have been so eager to rally to his cause. Strength in numbers not only gave him popularity, but also a power to indoctrinate new visions for the future. His 95 Theses paved the way for the Reformation, but did not cause it. In fact, had the printing press not been created, Luthers writings would never have been distributed. It would have taken him a great deal of time to vocalize his theses orally. By the time he would have spread his word across Europe, the Church might have quelled his uprising. Gustavson notes that “whatever the reasons for the Reformation were, they were operative to a considerable degree long before Luther.” He is referring to the problems associated with the Churchs absolute power from years before Luthers time. The intent was never to separate from the Church, but rather to reform it, or enlighten it. Luther merely did not appreciate the activities the Church