Martin Luther promoted the Protestant Reformation, the origin of Lutheranism.
Lutheranism is the doctrine developed by the Catholic friar and theologian Martin Luther in the 16th century . It is a branch of Christianity that is part of the whole of Protestantism .
Before moving forward with the idea of Lutheranism , it is important to mention that Christianity is the religion that is based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth . In Christianity we can find several divisions, such as Catholicism (which is recognized as the continuation of the church founded by Saint Peter and which has the pope as its leader) and Protestantism (established by those who promoted a reform to reject, among other issues, the primacy of Saint Peter , the apostolic succession of the popes and several of the sacraments).
Luther
Luther (1483–1546), en este marco, fue el responsable de promover cambios en el cristianismo dentro del territorio alemán. Sus postulados y acciones fueron la inspiración de la reforma Protestant y la base de la doctrina que recibe la denominación de lutheranism.
In 1517 , this religious man published “Questioning the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” a text referred to as Luther's 95 Theses . This work laid the foundations of Lutheranism, which proposed a return to original biblical values.
Protestant Reformation
The aforementioned movement that Luther began in the 16th century, which is also known simply as the Reformation , caused a division in the Catholic Church and gave rise to several others, as well as certain currents that are part of what we know as Protestantism. . Note that for various students of history, this movement is called the Protestant revolution ; Thus, for example, we can find it in the work of Ricardo García Villoslada .
The origin of this movement is found in the proposals and criticisms issued by various intellectuals of the time, both from the political, religious and philosophical spheres of Europe, with the intention of generating a profound change in everything that made the Catholic Church. Furthermore, they sought to ensure that the pope did not continue to enjoy power over the entire Christian culture. In fact, from the strict point of view of Protestantism, the pope is simply the bishop of his city.
Foundations of Lutheranism
Lutheranism believes in the Holy Trinity (in a God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and in the existence of Jesus as the founder of Christianity. However, for Luther , God forgives men for their faith and not for their good actions. This point is very important, since in orthodox theory, for example, God relies on the merits of each individual, which emerge from their actions, to decide whether to grant them salvation.
Lutheranism opposed many of the pillars of the Catholic Church.
Furthermore, Lutheranism rejects the veneration of figures and images and the mediation of virgins and saints. Luther was also responsible for denouncing the exchange of material goods for forgiveness, indulgence or even positions within the Church, something that is not accepted at all within the framework of Lutheranism. The denial of purgatory, the rejection of belief in the papacy as a divine institution and the authorization of ministers to marry and have children are other characteristics of Lutheranism.
Returning to the saints and other characters traditionally worshiped by the Catholic Church, Lutheranism also does not accept that believers pray to them, and this includes the Virgin Mary herself. Another concept that appeared with Lutheranism was the Universal Priesthood , also called of all believers , a doctrine according to which all the faithful have the possibility of approaching God without needing help from a third party. This does not diminish the importance of pastors when it comes to bringing the sacraments and the Holy Scriptures closer to the faithful, but rather it diminishes the exclusivity that the Catholic Church gives them by turning them into channels to and from God.