The Insanity of God

This documentary is based on Nik Ripken's book of the same name, and it's one of the most important faith films most people haven't seen. Ripken (a pseudonym for security reasons) and his wife Ruth spent years interviewing believers in countries where Christianity is illegal — China, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East. The stories they collected are harrowing and inspiring in equal measure. A Chinese pastor who spent decades in prison. A Russian believer who memorized entire books of the Bible because owning one meant death. These aren't hypothetical scenarios; they're real people sharing real experiences on camera, often at personal risk. The film interweaves the Ripkens' own story — their son's death in Somalia, their crisis of faith — with these global testimonies. The result is a documentary that reframes what 'persecution' means for comfortable Western Christians. The production values are strong for a documentary, with location filming across multiple continents. Some of the dramatic recreations are less effective than the interview footage, but that's a minor quibble. Essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand the global church.