Essays On Theology and Culture
Anthony Costello is a theologian, author, and U.S. Army veteran. He holds a B.A. in German from the University of Notre Dame and both an M.A. in Christian Apologetics and an M.A. in Theology from the Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, where he received the 2018 Baker Book Award for Excellence in Theology.
Anthony has contributed chapters to Evidence That Demands a Verdict (Josh and Sean McDowell, 2016) and has published articles in academic journals such as the Luther Rice Journal of Christian Studies, the Journal of Christian Legal Thought, and the Journal of Christian Higher Education. His work has also appeared in Touchstone magazine, The Christian Post, and here at Patheos. In addition, he has developed apologetics resources for Ratio Christi Ministries.
A former 82nd Airborne paratrooper and OEF veteran, Anthony now serves as the President of the Kirkwood Center for Theology and Ethics, a ministry devoted to helping local churches navigate culture. He also hosts the Theology and Ethics Podcast of the Kirkwood Center. He lives in Orange County, California, with his three children.
Anthony Costello on writing for Patheos:
Writing for Patheos has been a rewarding enterprise for me. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the Patheos platform is the wide range and variety of religious voices presented in its pages. This facilitates constructive and cordial interfaith conversations, something we need more than ever in our present context. At the same time, Patheos has been faithful in allowing authors to present their views openly and without fear of being unjustly censored. That commitment to free speech about religion is invaluable, and I appreciate the Patheos team for keeping the lines of communication open. Our religious beliefs are our most significant convictions, and to have a platform where we can share those convictions with each other is of tremendous benefit to the online culture.
For future Patheos writers, I would advise and encourage them to write well. Research carefully, quote primary sources, take things in context, make good arguments, present what you believe is true with rigor and value substance over style. Respond to those commentators who operate in good faith, who actually read your work, and who are open to constructive conversation. Don’t waste time on those who do not.
Also, the online news cycle can be punishing, and it can tempt us to sacrifice quality for quantity. Don’t worry about responding to everything in the news; no one is an expert on everything. Be judicious in choosing what to write about, and don’t lower the standard for the sake of speed. At the same time, get into a habit of writing so that it becomes more natural over time. As the old saying goes, “steady drops hollow out the stone.”
Finally, to my fellow Christian writers, always write to glory of the Father, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in your mind, and the love of the Holy Spirit in your heart.
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