Lutheranism

The Luther Rose, a common symbol of Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a denomination of Christianity that is named after Martin Luther, who led a protest against the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. He was a German priest, theologian, and university professor in Wittenberg. He originally wanted to improve Catholic theology and practices, primarily by ending the Pope's indulgences and abuses of power.

Lutheranism came to be a separate church by Luther and his followers being excommunicated by the Pope. Luther’s ideas started a movement called the Protestant Reformation. Other Reformation leaders who separated from the Catholic Church agreed with Luther on some things but criticized him for keeping too much Catholic doctrine (see John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli).

Law and Grace, by Lucas Cranach the Elder

Lutherans believe the Bible is the first and only authoritative source for Christian faith and teaching. Like other Christians, they believe that the Trinity exists, Jesus Christ is both God and man, all humans are sinful since Adam and Eve (see original sin), and humans are saved by Jesus' death on the Cross. Lutherans believe in the Five solas, and that the central idea to all of their beliefs is that humans are saved by grace alone through faith alone because of Jesus alone (see justification). The main points of Lutheran theology were summed up in 1530 by Philip Melanchthon in his Augsburg Confession.

Similarities with Catholicism include the liturgy and the doctrines of the Real Presence of the Eucharist, baptism, and original sin. Unlike in Catholicism, however, Lutheran pastors and bishops are allowed to marry, do not pray for intercession with the saints (including Mary), and reject the authority and the infallibility of the Pope and the Magisterium.

Major American denominations include the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS), the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), and the North American Lutheran Conference (NALC).

Lutheranism Media

• 

  Lutheran priest elevating the host during the Mass at Alsike Church, Sweden

• 

  The high altar of Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, a parish of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Milwaukee

• 

  Bronze statue of Martin Luther, in front of the Lutheran Church of Our Lady in Dresden (1885).

• 

  The title page of the Swedish Gustav Vasa Bible, translated by brothers Olaus Petri and Laurentius Petri and Laurentius Andreae

• 

  Toleranzbethaus Fresach, Carinthia. Plaster copy of a part of the Hundskirche in der Kreuzen, municipality Paternion.

• 

  The University of Jena in Germany, the center of Gnesio-Lutheran activity leading up to the Formula of Concord, and a center of Lutheran orthodoxy

• 

  Danish Queen Sophie Magdalene expressed her Pietist sentiment in 1737 by founding a Lutheran convent.

• 

  A 19th century Haugean conventicle

• 

  The Olbers, one of the ships that carried Old Lutherans to the Western Hemisphere

• 

  Representing a continuous tradition of the Finnish Awakening, youth are confirmed at Paavo Ruotsalainen's homestead in Nilsiä, Finland.