Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that originated with the theology of Martin Luther, a 16th-century German friar and reformer. The split between Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Church was made public in 1521 with the Edict of Worms, which banned subjects of the Holy Roman Empire from defending or propagating Luther's ideas. Lutheranism advocates for a doctrine of justification by faith alone and retains many liturgical practices and sacramental teachings of the pre-Reformation Western Church, with a focus on the Eucharist. The name Lutheran originated as a derogatory term used by Roman Catholics, but was eventually adopted by Lutherans themselves.learn more on wikipedia