How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[…] the best building in Maridunum was the Christian nunnery near the palace on the river's bank. A few holy women lived there, calling themselves the Community of St. Peter, though most of the townspeople called the place Tyr Myrddin, from the old shrine of the god which had stood time out of mind under an oak not far from St. Peter's gate. (I.2.3)
Here's an early instance of newfangled Christianity butting up against ancient pagan beliefs in southern Wales. This is syncretism at its finest—that's when religions borrow from one another to accommodate different types of worship into one new version of practice. Merlin adds another level to the naming of the area, when the "Myrddin" of the old shrine also calls to mind the way he's taken over Galapas' cave (remember that his Welsh name is Myrddin).
Quote #2
Moravik had the biggest collection of charms and talismans of anyone in Maridunum, and I had never known her to pass a wayside shrine without paying her respects to whatever image inhabited it, but officially she was a Christian and when in trouble, a devout one. (I.2.48.26)
Moravik is Merlin's Breton nurse, and she's Christian. Well, sort of. Christianity is her baseline religion, but she also calls on the good luck charms of the old religions when the situation calls for something extra. Merlin's real point? Moravik is superstitious. And she's also, like Merlin, seeking powerful help wherever she can find it.
Quote #3
I had seen the soldiers' god, the Word, the Light, the Good Shepherd, the mediator between the one God and man. I had seen Mithras, who had come out of Asia a thousand years ago. He had been born in a cave at mid-winter, while shepherds watched and a star shone; he was born of earth and light, and sprang from the rock with a torch in his left hand and a knife in his right. He killed the bull to bring life and fertility to the earth with its shed blood, and then, after his last meal of bread and wine, he was called up to heaven. (II.6.21)
Stewart shows us how much overlap there is between the Roman legend of Mithras and the story of Jesus. This overlap suits both Merlin and Ambrosius just fine: they're not particular about names—they're only worried about power and light. In the end, they only care about the outcome. If Jesus is the way to power in Britain, then Jesus can be their new Mithras.
Quote #4
The crowd answered him, chant and counterchant. Then as the moon lifted clear of the hill, the priest lowered his arms and turned. What he had offered to the goddess, he now offered to the worshippers. The crowd closed in. (II.9.14)
Merlin catches Belasius out on the island of the druids when he witnesses a human sacrifice from afar. At the moment, Belasius is offering the victim up to his goddess—something that Merlin isn't supposed to see. While Merlin isn't really into druidism, he understands that there's a power there. Belasius assures Merlin that he'll pay for his curiosity. We don't see that "curse" play out here, but it's definitely coming in the next books, folks—don't say you weren't warned.
Quote #5
"Uther has no love for them. He is one of Mithras' fanatics, and light is the enemy of darkness, I suppose." (II.12.24)
Ambrosius explains to young Merlin why Uther hates Belasius with a heat of a thousand suns. Bottom line: druidism is an old religion based on darkness and secrecy, while the cult of Mithras worships the light. For Uther, it's like the classic good vs. evil battle. Merlin and Ambrosius don't see things in such black-and-white terms, but they have to acknowledge that others around them see things in such simplistic ways.
Quote #6
[…] I slowly lifted both arms towards the sun in a kind of ritual gesture, such as I had seen priests use in summoning spirits. If I at least made some show as a magician it might keep them at bay, the priests in doubt and the King in hope, till I had the time to remember. (III.10.18)
Merlin's fronting in a big way here, playing on the superstitions and beliefs of Vortigern's men. He knows that they expect him to be supernatural through and through, but Merlin wants to solve Vortigern's tumbling walls problem with memory and engineering. He knows from his past explorations that there's a leaky mineshaft under the tower—but that explanation won't impress the men who want to kill him. Way to play, Merlin.
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.
Quote #10
"What does it matter what men call the light? It is the same light, and men must live by it or die. I only know that God is the source of all the light which has lit the world, and that his purpose runs through the world and past each one of us like a great river, and we cannot check it or turn it, but can only drink from it while living, and commit our bodies to it when we die." (V.10.28)
Merlin responds to an angry Uther, who has just emerged from Tintagel after he learns that Gorlois has been killed. Uther accuses Merlin of using religion and fate to make a grab for power. Merlin tries to explain that he's just doing what the god tells him. At this point, Uther wants names. Which god? Merlin explains why it doesn't matter—but Uther isn't biting. Merlin's ambiguity about the god at the back of this plan only reinforces Uther's suspicion that Merlin is really just another political player trying to manipulate him.