Can I Title This: “Let’s Grow a Pair?”
Pre-Reading on modern Ideologies:
Let me first state that I am painting with a broad stroke here regarding modern ideologies. Secondly, let me state that I am primarily looking through a Western, American lens. There are Islamic ideologies that are also growing that I do not have space to dig into.
Modernism: This ideology is based in science and data. Generally, modernism is adhered to by baby boomers and older generations. In religious circles, they focus on the facts of biblical truths and often want to scientifically defend Christianity. Essentially, they are focused on what is true?
Postmodernism: This ideology developed after Modernism and is based in the deconstruction of modernist beliefs. This is often adhered to by Generation X’ers and Millennials. As part of this generation, I grew up questioning authority and deconstructing beliefs. Essentially the question is how do we know it is true?
Post-postmodernism: This ideology is new and doesn’t really have a set name yet. It is more adhered to Gen Z and Gen Alpha. They look at postmodern deconstruction and say, “whatever, I choose to believe this anyways.” Essentially the question they ask is: So what if it is true or not, I will accept it.
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Post Reading:
In the oft-repeated—and arguably sexist—statement made by Saad in this week’s reading; Let’s grow a pair! Let’s tackle some difficult issues such as Islam and immigration.
There was a freshness to reading Gad Saad’s book, The Parasitic Mind, that I did not expect. He was brutally frank and willing to argue against what he calls, “parasitic viruses of the human mind”[1] which stem from the university setting. I appreciated his candor and willingness to go against the academic rhythms. I also appreciate the way he calls out obvious glitches with identity theories and incoherent ideologies. He describes himself as an evolutionary behavioral scientist. I might lump him into the modernist category as I described above. As a Generation Xer/Millennial myself, let me do a bit of deconstructing.
Saad seems to be a classic Enneagram 8, a challenger,[2] just like myself. Let me first highlight how he encourages everyone to join the fight and to “make your engagement count.”[3] The problem with this argument is that not everyone is designed to think and engage in the same way. He asserts that people just need to fight back and to “grow a pair.” Often, when women try to behave in this way, they are labeled a Jezebel or some other derogatory term.
In the beginning of his book Saad writes, “the pursuit of knowledge does not always nearly fit into clean dichotomies. The penchant of many researchers is to map phenomena onto binary realities.”[4] Yet, this is what he seems to be doing when he addresses issues with Islam. He highlights the fallacies of mainstream media, and the way Islam seems to be given a pass instead of receiving criticism, but he does not seem to recognize his own Jewish bias towards Islam. Understandably, there is much history between Muslims and Jews, but he might not be aware of the extent of his bias in this regard.[5]
Arguing against allowing immigration from Islamic countries Saad states, Muslims “manifestly do not add to our strength”[6] and that “we should never compromise the fabric of our modern societies in order to engage in a peace exercise of civilizational self-flagellation.”[7] He further argues that mainstream media and Democrats tend to sanitize Islam and that any blame gets attributed to outlying sects of Islam such as Wahhabism.[8]
This is where I believe Saad has fallen into a binary model. I believe there is a third way. The third way is through the chaos and is not simplistic. It requires much of those who engage. Does the kingdom of Jesus offer us a third way? Might it be possible to care deeply about the culture and values of our country and yet also care deeply about those who are seeking safety and peace through immigrating here? Might the Holy Spirit be doing a significant work by bringing so many Muslims into our neighborhoods where they live next to Christians? Is it possible that we can be hospitable, by welcoming people not like us, and preach the gospel in word and deed?
Saad elevates some real concerns many in my community have with the Somali population who has immigrated here. People are afraid they are terrorists and want to force our community to follow Islam. This is where the tension of Islam can be so hard to grapple with. In just an hour, I will be sitting having a cup of tea and biscuits served to me by a Muslim Somali grandmother who treats me as her own son. She is welcoming, hospitable, and ever-so kind. It is completely true that many Muslims are very gracious hosts and incredibly hospitable and generous. Yet, not long ago, a Somali doctor was arrested in our city with connections to a terrorist organization. The Islamic village I lived in while in Kenya was often a target of Al-Shabaab recruiting and attacks nearby. It is completely true that terrorism often is associated with Islam and Islam values participating in jihad. These two versions of Islam exist side-by-side and it can be hard for the Western mind to comprehend.
It is also hard for our communities to comprehend a non-binary response to immigration and Islam. It is possible to engage in finding the way of the kingdom of heaven. It is a struggle. The road is not easy. It might require more than simply, “growing a pair.” It requires nuance and a pension for being willing to challenge the system and challenge other’s beliefs. It requires wading through the chaos and false ideologies to help people move through their fears into relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ.
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[1] Gad Saad, The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense (Washington, D.C: Regnery Publishing, 2020), 18.
[2] “Enneagram Type 8: The Challenger,” The Enneagram Institute (blog), accessed April 16, 2025, https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-8/.
[3] Saad, 182.
[4] Saad, 24.
[5] Pragya Agarwal, Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias, First edition, Bloomsbury Sigma Series, book fifty-three (London, England: Zed Books, 2021), 154, https://doi.org/10.5040/9781472971364.
[6] Saad, 127.
[7] Saad, 129.
[8] Saad, 134.
About the Author
Adam Cheney
I grew up in California, spent five years living along the beautiful coast of Kenya and now find myself working with refugees in the snow crusted tundra of Minnesota. My wife and I have seven children, four of whom have been adopted. I spend my time drinking lots of coffee, working in my garden, and baking sourdough bread.4 responses to “Can I Title This: “Let’s Grow a Pair?””
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Hi Adam,
I was very moved by your respect for the Muslim community. I come from a Muslim country. My Muslim friends are one of the most polite and hospitable people. So, thank you.
Based on the following statement you quoted, ‘This is where I believe Saad has fallen into a binary model. I believe there is a third way. The third way is through the chaos and is not simplistic. It requires much of those who engage. Does the kingdom of Jesus offer us a third way? Might it be possible to care deeply about the culture and values of our country and yet also care deeply about those who are seeking safety and peace through immigrating here? Might the Holy Spirit be doing a significant work by bringing so many Muslims into our neighborhoods where they live next to Christians? Is it possible that we can be hospitable, by welcoming people not like us, and preach the gospel in word and deed?’ If you had the opportunity to have tea and biscuits with Saad, how would your discussion look like?
Adam,
Thank you for being hospitable to the “foreigners and aliens,” and your kindness and hospitality is mirrored back to you. I’m sure that you know that next to sexual intimacy, in many cultures sharing a table is the next most intimate things you can do. That you are being invited to have tea and biscuits is a huge sign of hospitality and respect. It reminds of a meal that was supposed to happen this year in the White House but it did not happen. To me there was a lot of symbolism in the fact that the meal was not served.
(Sorry I digress)
You state “These two versions of Islam exist side-by-side and it can be hard for the Western mind to comprehend.” In recent years we have seen some Christian leaders advocate for violence; we saw what happened on Jan 6. Are Christians becoming like Muslims, where we have two versions existing side-by-side?
Hi Adam, Your post give me hope. I agree there needs to be a third way to look at things – even though I am a “boomer”. I don’t think the Muslim religion is the only one that has extremes. Even in Christianity there have been crusades that used violence to “conquer for Christ” even though it was most likely for land. Your method of being in relationship makes the difference. As you get to really know them, the biases brought on by fear and resulting in discrimmination are minimized. I think the way you are living your life in this space is remarkable. Is there a way to share it beyond the 1 on 1 times, I want to say Market it for others to get beyond biases and into relationship?
Adam, I concur with your third way that it “requires wading through the chaos and false ideologies to help people move through their fears into a relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ.” Besides fear, what else do you think is keeping Christians from taking the step into the chaos and “wading” with their Muslim neighbors?