Well, along time ago, the Lutheran religion believed in getting saved and going to heaven by faith. The Roman Catholic religion believed in going to heaven by doing good works.

Another Answer:

IMO, there isn't too much of a difference with the passing of time as is evident of the great efforts of reconciling 'daughter' churches to the 'mother' Church. The original split was with Martin Luther who posted his 95 Thesis in 1517. He strongly disagreed with the Catholic Church and its 'selling' of indulgences - buying with money a 'freedom' from the punishment of God for a person's sins. Many would say this was the straw that broke the camel's back for this German Monk/priest

Luther challenged the authority of the Pope - still a major factor of separation - and believed the Bible as the sole authority on divinely revealed knowledge. He was also against priest being the intermediary for the people - called sacerdotalism (same as OT structure). Luther translated the Scripture from Latin where only a few could understand/read it, to the venacular or common language having a tremendous impact on the then ruling Church and German society as a whole.

Lutheranism has some who do not ascribe to the 'Mary-ology' they perceive the Catholic Church having. Some also, do not consider statues of 'saints' to be in Church which causes some people to pray to them. But the Scripture reveals a future time when there will be One World Church and it will not be the true one.

The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and well respected, even by several non Catholics.

Answer:

At the time of Luther, the Pope was essentially a king and obedience to his every whim was mandatory. Luther was simply pointing out obvious facts (like the child in "The Emperors New Clothes" who pointed out the obvious fact that the king was naked - true but not appreciated.)

His points and actions were:

• salvation is not earned by good deeds but received only as a free gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus as redeemer from sin.
• he challenged the authority of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge
• he opposed the selling of inulgences
• he opposed sacerdotalism by considering all baptized Christians to be a holy priesthood.
• he translated the Bible into the language of the people (instead of Latin) to mKE it more accessible
• he wrote hyms which influenced the development of singing in churches
• he advocated and practiced the practice of clerical marriage, allowing Protestant clergy to marry

Luther's thesis were evidently seen as the start of a new order in the world where human intellect was to overcome hidebound obedience. This was a threat to the existing social order and reaction was severe. Apparently they were right and Luther's actions initiated the Protestant Reformation.