The central cause of the Reformation in Western Europe was the widespread discontent with the Catholic Church's practices, particularly concerning corruption, abuses of power, indulgences, and the perceived disconnect between the Church and the laity. Figures like Martin Luther, who famously nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in 1517, criticized these practices and called for reform within Christianity. The movement initially sought to address these issues but ultimately led to the fragmentation of Western Christianity and the establishment of Protestant denominations. The Reformation had profound societal, political, and cultural repercussions that shaped European history for centuries.