squashed:

Before criticising something, it is worth making an honest effort to understand it. (The hating what you don’t understand schtick is a long human tradition, but not a particularly noble one.) And if you want to mock Christians (and doesn’t everybody once in a while?) that means understanding understanding Good Friday. It’s unquestionably one three most important Christian Holidays—and that should concern people, or at least make them wonder.

Christmas makes sense. Baby Jesus. Yay!

Easter makes sense. Resurrection. Triumph over death. Yay!

But Good Friday? The torture and slow death of our divine savior. Um…yay?

Those who are not Christians often engage in Christian-patting. Sure, they can believe whatever they want to believe—and we won’t try to dissuade them because first, it feels impolite, and secondly, what’s the harm? The harm, of course, is crucifixion. They strip your, drive blunt nails through your wrists and feet, and hang you up on a pole to die. And it can take days. And yet Christianity doesn’t choose a bunny or something as a symbol, it chooses a cross, the symbol of suffering and death. And this isn’t called “sad Friday” or “bad Friday,” It’s Good Friday. Shouldn’t this be a bit disturbing? Is this a religion or a death cult?

In fair disclosure, I’m a Christian—and I think Good Friday raises a lot of questions worth investigating. I may share a few thoughts on the matter later, but for now, I wanted to throw open the discussion.

i’m pretty sure it’s called good friday because of the good it accomplished. it’s a backwards good, i’ll give you that. but he couldn’t have risen from the dead, conquering death itself, on easter had he not died on the cross on our behalf.