The German theologian Dorothee Sölle (1929-2003) is usually regarded for her approach to combine feminist systematic theology with an activist stance that aims to create a more just society. Hence, quite a lot of her theological ideas were presented in the form of public engagement, for example on podiums at the German "Kirchentag" (as for example published in: Dorothee Sölle, „Löse die Fesseln der Freiheit", Freiburg i. Br. 2010). The paper will explore how Sölles's use of "repentance" and related concepts such as "sin" or "evil" can be seen as ambivalent narratives that create social cohesion as well as social tension - while aiming to find a way to cope with certain kinds of social tension, namely unjust structures. The paper will 1) elaborate on the research question and the way ambivalent narratives relate to social cohesion, 2) contextualize Dorothee Sölle's public theological engagement at the "Kirchentag", 3) focus on the way an ambivalence is created, maintained and used by Sölle, especially in regard to her use of the concept of repentance as a way to create social cohesion, 4) the way Sölle's theology was received as creating social cohesion for some (e. g. a specific political oriented group in German Protestantism) as well as social tension for others (in the Churches as well as in politics), 5) conclude on how (re-)arranging ambivalent narratives such as repentance in a public context can be seen as way to stabilize and de-stabilize societal structures.