Theology: "Self-consciously and robustly Christian, and comfortable in its own Christian skin"

This from a recent issue of the UK publication Anvil, part of an interview with theologian Miroslav Volf:

“Anvil. What do you see as the future trends or trajectories of theology — particularly from a global perspective?

Miroslav Volf. I don’t know, I don’t pretend to be a prophet. First, I would like to see theology be self-consciously and robustly Christian, and comfortable in its own Christian skin, not be defensive, but celebratory, highlighting the beauty of the one who lies at the centre of Christian theology, Christ who is “the key,’ as my colleague Kathryn Tanner argues in her recent book. At the same time, I would like to see theology open to learning from others, secular thinkers and thinkers from other religions. Second, I hope that theology will pick up real issues that move people, that touch their lives, that express both their afflictions and their aspirations. I hope theology could take critical issues of the day up and shed on them the light of the Gospel. It ought to foster knowledge and love of God and neighbour, and make it plausible that such life is a life of true human flourishing…”