What was one outcome of Martin Luther's criticisms of the Catholic Church?

Martin Luther's criticisms of the Catholic Church led to the founding of the Lutheran Church, which marked a significant shift in the religious landscape of Europe. Luther's 95 Theses, famously nailed to the church door in Wittenberg, publicly challenged practices such as the sale of indulgences and called for reforms within the Church. His emphasis on faith alone for salvation, the authority of Scripture, and the priesthood of all believers resonated with many who were disillusioned with the Church's practices at the time.

The establishment of the Lutheran Church represented the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, which fragmented the unity of Christianity in Western Europe and led to the formation of various other Protestant denominations in the years that followed. Luther's actions not only initiated a wave of reformist thought but also inspired others, thus contributing to a broader movement that questioned the authority and teachings of the Catholic Church.