Paul VanderKlay's Podcast What is the role of Doctrine to create Strong Communities in the Church, the Military and Ted Lasso?
Feb 21, 2026
Michael Sartori, thinker on apprenticeship and AI in community life; Brad Sartor, nurse and former pastor reflecting on human formation; Jason Jonker, chaplain focused on recovery and doctrine in practice; Ben Dahl, marketer on AI and attention; Neal Saito, retired systems engineer with philosophical takes. They debate doctrine's role in shaping shared character, guarding institutions, apprenticeship and AI's place in community, and how doctrine scales and sustains relationships.
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Episode notes
Apprenticeship vs. Machine Replacement
- Apprenticeship transmits embodied doctrine and human practices better than delegating learning tasks to machines.
- Michael Sartori worries AI may replace the formative human mentorship that passes on vocation and craft.
Speed Of Doctrine Mirrors Time Horizon
- Military doctrine changes rapidly because lives and mission outcomes depend on it, so it adapts to technology and context.
- Church doctrine moves much slower because churches aim to shape civilizations across generations.
Story Anchors Doctrine In Life
- Story and doctrine interact: stories make doctrine lived and relatable, while doctrine frames how stories are interpreted.
- Jason Jonker emphasizes story's role in forming compassion and applied doctrine.