How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
[...] I saw that [her gesture] was indeed natural, that she did not hold the cross for protection, but for forgiveness. I thought to myself, it is not the Christian God she should fear when she lies; she should be afraid of lying like this about things of power. (III.8.10)
Merlin makes this observation about Niniane, his mother. Although she also has the power of second sight, her involvement with Christianity means that she has to give up all those other supernatural shenanigans. But Merlin knows that power comes in many forms, and he feels that his mom is doing the wrong thing by denying her role as a woman of supernatural ability.
Quote #8
The bishop's voice, hoarse with triumph: "So perish all pagan enemies of the one true God! Let his body be thrown to the wolves and kites!" And then Ambrosius' voice, cold and quiet: "He will go to his own gods with his army round him, in the manner of his people." (IV.5.25.357)
Classic culture clash here. Ambrosius wants to be a just ruler and honor his worthy Saxon opponent with a culturally sensitive funeral. The Christian bishop—who isn't really working from a place of Christian mercy—has other ideas. He feels that honoring the pagan traditions will take away from Ambrosius' triumph, which he believes is a victory for Christianity. Ambrosius wins this one, but he allows his victory celebration to be a Christian one to please the Church.
Quote #9
Eight days later was the official ceremony of thanksgiving. Ambrosius was there, with all his officers, even Uther. "For," said my father to me afterwards when we were alone, "as you will find, all gods who are born of the light are brothers, and in this land, if Mithras who gives us victory is to bear the face of Christ, why, then, we worship Christ." (IV.6.16)
Ambrosius has a fluid understanding of religion and religious belief. He understands that most religions borrow from one another or are based on the same concepts and belief systems. He's not at all bothered by the pressure from the Britons to accept Christianity and be a Christian ruler, because he does not find Christianity to be at odds with Mithraic worship. Merlin learns that going with the flow is also sometimes the right thing to do, especially if he's looking to gain power.