Bondage Instead of Freedom? How Can Lutheran Theology Prevent the Use of Sola Scriptura as an Entrance to Pathological Theology?

Abstract

The principle of Sola Scriptura was originally intended to liberate the Church from external authorities, ensuring that no power other than the Word of God dictated its teachings and practices. It served a critical role over against human authorities that demanded obedience to doctrines and practices that were not grounded in Scripture. The following analysis explores the shadow side of this principle, inspired by some elements in the psychology of religion. The reason for this approach is that the meaning of theology is not found solely in its articulation but in its practical effects—how it orients life, shapes identity, and enables or constrains human flourishing. To examine this, I will also employ Hanna Reichel's concept of theology as design. Her approach addresses “bad theology,” or theology that fosters pathological dynamics, and this can also be the case with the principle in question.