The Nature of Man and a Politics on Evil: Carl Schmitt and Martin Luther.

This article examines Carl Schmitt's 1922 book *Political Theology* (PT) with a focus on how Schmitt connects his concept of sovereignty to theological debates on the nature of man, particularly through engagement with Martin Luther's writings *On Secular Authority* (1523) and *On the Bondage of the Will* (1525). It compares Schmitt's and Luther's views on human nature, evil, and sovereignty, highlighting that while Schmitt draws on Lutheran ideas—especially regarding human nature as fundamentally flawed and the necessity of authoritative decision-making—he does so ambiguously and without fully embracing Lutheran theological accountability, notably omitting to whom sovereign authority is ultimately responsible. The article also discusses the influence of Lutheran theologian Erik Peterson on Schmitt, emphasizing Peterson's critique of Schmitt's secularized use of theology and his insistence on the distinction between God's kingdom and human government. Overall, the study reveals both convergences and significant differences between Schmitt's political theory and Lutheran theology, particularly concerning the moral and theological grounding of authority.