To Christians, the significance of the crucifixion lies not only in the absorption of the darkness, cruelty, and evil this broken world has to offer, but the processing of it into something benign, even good.  The main problem with the perception or reality of Christianity may not be so much the hypocrisy, judgmentalism, etc (although these are certainly problems) but rather whether those of us who profess to be followers of Jesus are doing our part to engage and confront darkness, in the same way our alleged Master did – with corresponding consequences and pain.