Lutheranism

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Lutheranism is a denomination of Christianity based on the teachings of Martin Luther. It is the dominant Christian denomination in Scandinavia and parts of Germany. The two main branches of Lutheranism in the United States are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the more conservative Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

The Lutheran denomination is the first Protestant church to have formed. The main cause for the schism from the Catholic church was Luther's belief in justification by faith alone. Lutherans also believe that the bible, as a divinely inspired book, is the source of all revealed divine knowledge. While Lutherans use a similar liturgical format to the Catholics, it is also similar to that followed by the Methodists and Episcopalians.

In 2007, the Lutheran Church voted to allow ministers in homosexual relationships to keep their posts.

Lutheran Churches

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
• Church of Sweden
• Church of Norway
• Church of Finland
• Church of Denmark
• Church of Iceland