Robert McBain, Ph.D.

Exploring mental health, religion, and society

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The Rise of Contextual Theology

My second video in this series, where I explore the rise of contextual theology and its relationship to practical theology.

For centuries, Christian theology was assumed to be fixed and universal—a set of doctrines applied to all cultures without change. But in the 20th century, a major shift occurred: Theology began to be seen as shaped by culture, history, and human experience. This led to the rise of contextual theology, a movement that redefined how theology is done.

🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Video:
✅ How missionaries first noticed that Christianity was interpreted through cultural lenses
✅ How movements like Liberation Theology & Black Theology reshaped theology as a response to oppression and social struggle
✅ How Shoki Coe introduced the term “contextual theology” and why it changed theological thinking
✅ Why theology is no longer just about interpreting ancient texts but about engaging with real-life experiences
✅ The big question this raises today: Is truth universal? Or is all theology shaped by history and culture?

 

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Robert McBain, Ph.D.

Welcome

I’m a researcher exploring the intersection of mental health, religion, and society. I aim to break down complex ideas into engaging, accessible discussions for inquiring minds.

Expect content on:
🔹 How faith shapes mental health
🔹 The social dynamics of religious belief
🔹 Practical insights for emotional resilience
🔹 Academic research made simple

Join me as we explore how beliefs, community, and personal experiences shape well-being. Let’s navigate these conversations together!

Robert D McBain

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If Christianity offers believers hope, freedom, and victory over darkness, why are Christians depressed? This book explores this question using the author's experiences with depression both as a non-believer and later as a Christian.
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Robert McBain

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This is the Zoom recording of a presentation of my dissertation research that occurred at the Center for Spirit-empowered Research, ORU, Tulsa, OK, on 28th February 2025. How do Pentecostals experience depression when their theology emphasizes Spirit-empowered victory? This presentation explores the tension between Pentecostal expectations of healing and real-world struggles with mental health. Drawing on qualitative research and theological reflection, we examine how Spirit-empowerment is socially constructed, how believers navigate suffering, and what this means for Pentecostal theology today. 🔹 Theological & sociological perspectives on depression 🔹 The role of Spirit-empowerment in mental health 🔹 Challenges of triumphalism and unmet expectations 🔹 Rethinking Pentecostal responses to suffering 📖 A must-watch for scholars, church leaders, and anyone interested in faith and mental health. #pentecostalism #mentalhealth #theology #spiritempowerment #depression #oru #theologyandculture
'living in the gap' between Spirit-empowerment and reality
Want to understand Grounded Theory without all the confusion? This video breaks it down in simple terms so you can confidently apply it to your qualitative research! Grounded Theory is a powerful research methodology that allows you to build theories directly from real-world data, rather than testing pre-existing hypotheses. In this video, we’ll cover: ✅ What makes Grounded Theory unique compared to other research methods ✅ When to use Grounded Theory in your study ✅ A step-by-step breakdown of the Grounded Theory process (theoretical sampling, open coding, axial coding, and selective coding) ✅ How to refine emerging theories and link them to broader social processes Using examples from my own research on Pentecostals and mental health, I’ll demonstrate how Grounded Theory helps uncover hidden patterns and social forces shaping lived experiences. If you're a PhD student, researcher, or just interested in qualitative methods, this video is for you! 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more research tips and resources! 📌 Hashtags: #groundedtheory #qualitativeresearch #researchmethods #phdlife #academicwriting #dataanalysis #ThematicCoding #researchtips #socialresearch #gradschooltips
What is Grounded Theory?
The Rise of Contextual Theology | How Theology Engages Culture & Experience For centuries, Christian theology was assumed to be fixed and universal—a set of doctrines applied to all cultures without change. But in the 20th century, a major shift occurred: Theology began to be seen as shaped by culture, history, and human experience. This led to the rise of contextual theology, a movement that redefined how theology is done. 🔹 What You'll Learn in This Video: ✅ How missionaries first noticed that Christianity was interpreted through cultural lenses ✅ How movements like Liberation Theology & Black Theology reshaped theology as a response to oppression and social struggle ✅ How Shoki Coe introduced the term "contextual theology" and why it changed theological thinking ✅ Why theology is no longer just about interpreting ancient texts but about engaging with real-life experiences ✅ The big questions this raises today: Is truth universal? Or is all theology shaped by history and culture? 🔥 Join the conversation! Should theology adapt to different cultures and historical moments, or should it stay fixed and universal? Drop a comment below! #contextualtheology #liberationtheology #theologyandculture #religionandsociety #christianity #theologyexplained
The Rise of Contextual Theology
Defining Contextual Theology | Robert Schreiter & Stephen Bevans on Theology & Culture For centuries, theology was seen as universal and unchanging—a set of doctrines applicable to all cultures. But what if theology is actually shaped by history, politics, and human experience? This is the question at the heart of contextual theology, and in this video, we explore how Robert Schreiter and Stephen Bevans revolutionized the way we think about theology. 🔹 What You'll Learn in This Video: ✅ Robert Schreiter's idea that theology is created within cultures, not just applied to them ✅ Stephen Bevans' argument that all theology is contextual—even what we consider "universal" ✅ The tension between historical Christian tradition and contemporary cultural realities ✅ How theology navigates the balance between timeless faith and evolving social contexts 🔥 If all theology is contextual, does that mean there is no universal Christian truth? Let’s discuss in the comments! #contextualtheology #liberationtheology #schreiter #bevans #theologyandculture #christianityexplained
Defining Contextual Theoloy
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