Thanks, Gad, for the Spider Wasp Story – Ugh!
The Parasitic Mind by Dr. Gad Saad – My Beliefs about Modern Ideologies and Why:
My belief system stands at the intersection of modernity and postmodernity, shaped by a lifetime of navigating both. As a Gen Xer, I came of age during a period of cultural transition. I absorbed values from an older, more communal world while also stepping into the freedoms and uncertainties of modern life. This duality is central to how I engage with ideologies today: I value progress but am wary of its unintended consequences.
My worldview didn’t form in a vacuum. It was carved out through personal experience—growing up in a single-parent household after my father’s death, often alone, surrounded by a village of resilient, diverse individuals. There was no blueprint, no perfect nuclear family like My Three Sons, and no detailed strategy for coping with loss or instability. Still, I witnessed what resilience looked like. I saw community in action: neighbors looking out for each other, including two kind-hearted gay men, Ron and John, who brought care and warmth into our lives before AIDS took them both. These experiences built my foundational beliefs about family, community, and strength—not from textbooks but from life itself.
This lived understanding made it clear to me that while ideals such as equality and compassion are worth pursuing, how they manifest matters just as much. That’s where The Parasitic Mind by Dr. Gad Saad has been both fascinating and unsettling. Saad argues that ideas—once rooted in virtue—can become parasitic, meaning that they grow in influence while ultimately harming the host. “Well-intended values can morph into something unintended, thus becoming parasitic.”[1] Political correctness, for example, began as a call for inclusivity and respect but has, according to Saad, become a form of intellectual censorship. His analogy of the spider wasp is disgusting but effective: an idea that paralyzes thought, slowly devouring the host from the inside out. It’s a poignant image of how ideology can overreach.
What I Already Knew:
Reading Saad confirmed something I already sensed: that truth has become subjective and subordinate to feelings in many areas of postmodern discourse. I’ve seen how difficult it is to speak openly without being misunderstood or labeled. Saad frames this as a direct attack on free speech, and I tend to agree. While I’ve always believed in being considerate and inclusive, I now see how some well-meaning movements can shift into authoritarian territory, demanding ideological conformity rather than encouraging open dialogue.
Something That Runs Counter to What I Thought I Already Knew:
At the same time, The Parasitic Mind challenged a long-held assumption of mine: that postmodern ideologies—rooted in liberalism and progress—were inherently beneficial. I used to think that postmodernity, with all its focus on personal freedom and innovation, represented a step forward. But thinkers like Saad and Patrick Deneen (Why Liberalism Failed) have shown me that liberalism can also erode communal bonds and weaken social cohesion if taken to extremes. I hadn’t considered that too much freedom, detached from responsibility or rootedness, might actually isolate rather than empower us.
Still, I’m not interested in throwing out postmodernism altogether. I’m not a purist or a nostalgic traditionalist. What I’ve learned is that a hybrid model—honoring the best of the past while embracing the wisdom of select modern ideas—is the healthiest path forward. Tradition taught me the value of community and shared responsibility. Contemporary culture gave me the language to explore identity, question systems, and embrace diversity. But both require boundaries. Without guardrails, tradition can become oppressive, and modernity can become chaotic or hollow.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, my conviction is that ideologies must serve human beings, not the other way around. We must evaluate them not just by their intentions but by their outcomes. Are they helping people flourish? Are they fostering connection and truth? Or are they, like the spider wasp’s larva, consuming us from within?
In today’s polarized world, it’s tempting to pick a side—tradition or progress, conservative or liberal—but my life has shown me that wisdom often lies in tension. This statement reminds me of a remark that Dr. Jordan Peterson made where he encourag people to challenge chaos head-on. I believe we must hold space for both: for the resilience that comes from hardship and the hope that comes from progress; for freedom of speech and for compassionate dialogue; for tradition’s grounding and modernity’s innovation. The key is discernment, not dogma.
If we can preserve that balance—if we can think critically, live empathetically, and resist ideological zombification then perhaps we can build a world that is both freer and more humane.
[1] Saad, Gad. “Dr Gad Saad — The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense.” Video Interview. YouTube. Last modified February 21, 2021. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3xmqn6TT_Y.
[2] Ibid. P.43.
About the Author
Jennifer Eckert
Operations and fundraising director, people connector, believer in second chances, fights poverty, supports justice reform, lives a life integrated with Matthew 25.8 responses to “Thanks, Gad, for the Spider Wasp Story – Ugh!”
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Thanks for your post Jennifer. Can you think of a time when you “engaged chaos head on” and used this important method of discernment over dogma?
Absolutely! I once had a co-worker who had invested many years at our employer. She felt a particular role would be very valuable if the organization would be willing to create it. She did all the research and even pitched the idea to upper leadership several times to no avail. The funds never allowed for the expansion she proposed. She carried hard feelings from the rejection for a long time.
Eventually, I became her supervisor and secured approval for creating that new position, and I named her the lead! I thought she would be thrilled, but instead, she metaphorically cowered back in the corner and lashed out at me. She was terrified that she could not perform something she researched and fought for—for years!
The way the scenario unfolded was odd to me, but it was a good example of addressing chaos head-on. I eventually left that organization. She is still there doing the same old job she always had, and she continues to complain that she is not able to grow the role with the “new” duties that I offered to her.
Jennifer,
Parasites are so interesting. I used to refer to my kids as parasites while my wife was pregnant with each one of them. They were sucking and energy and nutrients from my wife for 9 months!
Given what you wrote “What I’ve learned is that a hybrid model—honoring the best of the past while embracing the wisdom of select modern ideas—is the healthiest path forward. Tradition taught me the value of community and shared responsibility. Modernity gave me the language to explore identity, question systems, and embrace diversity. But both require boundaries. Without guardrails, tradition can become oppressive, and modernity can become chaotic or hollow,” do you have any thoughts regarding what is currently going on with Harvard University and President Trump’s removal of federal funds? What I am asking is whether the government has a right to dictate the demands they have made on Harvard for them to be able to receive federal funds.
Hi Jeff, what interesting times we live in, huh? Historically, our higher ed instutitions were seen as places for students to test ideas either for or against the cultural norms of the day. Certainly not anymore.
What I see happening at Harvard and other institutions is that people are losing their right to free speech, unless they are in the Trump camp. It’s First Amendment censorship—the very thing the administration argued in favor of with the J6ers. Political and financial incentives are given to Trump supporters while those with differing views are punished.
Threats of tax status revocation and the removal of billions in grants from major research institutions is one of the many things I see happening now to install pro-Trump leaders and silence those alternative opinions. It is rooted in and perpetuates fear at all levels (fear of losing a job or a grant); those fears are often tied to money.
I believe the individuals who publicly speak out against the administrative changes to the system are generally financially sound. Their wealth affords them the ability to practice courage because they don’t have to worry about jeopardizing their careers, which would impact their ability to pay rent or groceries.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for your post. Your post reminded me of Romans 12:2 —”Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” From our weekly chats, I am always amazed by how you see Christ in every situation and articulate it so well.
I am eager to hear from you as how Romans 12:2 which encourages us to transform and renew our minds—help us evaluate whether an ideology is beneficial or harmful in its impact on people and society?
Thank you, Shela, for that kind remark. I always enjoy your insight, too. Romans 12 is a favorite of mine because it reminds us that this tumultuous world is not intended to be our forever home. Yet, while we are here, we are merely on loan by God to perform His work. And what a joy it is to be called upon for that!
I tend to put ideologies into mental buckets, which admittedly can be problematic when it comes to bias. I have to check myself often to ensure my thinking is on point, especially because I know very well that people can change their beliefs. Discerning which bucket or category an ideology fits into means I have to think forward to consider the fruit the person has already produced or what might be produced as a result of his/her perspective. I ask myself what that fruit looks like and who is it benefitting.
Thanks again!
Hi Jennifer, I really like your comments about living in the tension. How do you see that in your current work context?
The word tension always leads me to think of middle managers. These leaders balance the tension between what upper management (or the board) wants and the needs/desires of the front-line staff.
Another way to describe that level of worker is “general contractors.” The tension is inherent to the role, whether in our personal lives (i.e., a spouse who wants to buy a car yet you know the purchase is unaffordable right now) or professional.
At this time in my life, balancing the tension means learning the nuances of a brand new job while still needing to get out into the community and talk about it, even though there is still much that I do not know or fully understand. Your tension is likely your efforts to plan for retirement. How will the org keep going and who will run it? How will you afford expenses at home? And lots of “what if” scenarios.
Diane, I love your non-anxious presence in this cohort. You contribute tremendously and your style is one that reasonates with me. I learn a lot from you and your insight. Thanks for that.