Not having studied at a seminary doesn't make one theologically illiterate. And both in personal conversations and in his writings I have found Brian to be very intelligent and informed on a wide range of topics. He is also humble enough to submit his ideas to the instruction of more studied theologians and philosophers, surrounding himself with people like Bruce Benson, Walter Bruggeman, John Franke, and the late Stanley Grenz. They provide the in-depth foundation for the ideas that Brian has popularized.

Frankly, and please don't take this personally (I don't even know you), but I have found that "proper theological training" too often breeds an infuriating kind of intellectual arrogance and a self-righteous attitude of superiority when it comes to matters of theology and exegesis. Seminary training may increase one's knowledge of "orthodoxy", but does it positively affect one's orthopraxy (i.e. one's ability to be humble and loving towards others)? Sadly I've notice that it often has the opposite effect.

That's probably one the biggest things currently keeping me from going to seminary myself. I'm worried about what kind of person it would turn me into.

I'm not saying that further study isn't valuable or that it doesn't give one more credibility in some areas. I've just been turned off by people who use their academic credentials as an excuse to marginalize and ignore the perspective of others whose views don't fit within their own "systematic theology". Not that seminary education necessarily produces that kind of behavior, but I have seen it happen.

And speaking of "systematic theology", I don't think that McLaren would even say that writing one is a goal of his. Systematic theology is something that many of us in the emerging church are somewhat suspicious of. Or at least, we'd much rather pursue the heretofore fairly unexplored avenues of narrative theology.

But if systematics is what you're looking for, your best bet is to look to someone like Stanley Grenz. His book Theology for the Community of God is the closest thing you'll find at the moment to a systematic theology for the emerging church.

One more comment... I really don't think Brian would want to classify himself as a "professional theologian". I think he'd identify his role as more of a conversation catalyst, a gadfly, or the person who raises the tough questions and forces people to start talking about them. He seems content to leave the heavy theological work to other (more qualified) people and then draw on their wisdom. But every time I've heard him or talked to him he's always more than willing to point people in the direction of authors and thinkers more studied and more profound than him. He's like the pomo equivalent of Levar Burton on the Reading Rainbow: "You don't have to take my word for it!" :-)

"Hopefully we haven't crossed paths to bad. I have actually been enjoying reading your blog for sometime."

No worries. I appreciate your perspectives. You seem very knowledgeable and sympathetic. Thanks for reading and for posting. It's always welcome when people are interested in discussing the things I put on this blog.