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Life in the USA Religion in America The Protestants
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The Lutherans
Lutherans number about 9,000,000, with particular strength in the Midwestern states where many immigrants from the Lutheran countries of Germany and Scandinavia settled. Lutheranism has the lowest proportion of blacks of any Protestant group. Lutheranism began in 1517 with Martin Luther's split from the Catholic church. It is the oldest Protestant group. Lutherans emphasize theological doctrine. A young person must engage in a long study of the Lutheran Catechism before becoming a full-fledged church member. Lutherans stress spirituality rather than strict living. Lutheran worship retains many Catholic practices, such as holy communion, in a simplified form. These include altars, crosses, vestments and candles that many other Protestants find too elaborate, but that Lutherans use to enhance their religious devotions. Like most Protestants, however, Lutherans believe that Christ is spiritually present in the sacrament of holy communion, rather than physically present as the Roman Catholics believe.
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