Helena believed, and Waugh agreed, that without that lump of wood, without the historical reality it represented, Christianity was just another Mediterranean mystery religion, a variant on the Mithras cult or some gnostic confection... Helena's search is not magical talisman: it is the unavoidable physical fact that demonstrates the reality of what Christians propose, and about which others must decide.12 (faith.org.uk)
The new powers are hidden throughout each level as magical talismans, one of the many collectibles to find. (windowscentral.com)
Thus «what is left is the Bible as physical object, limp and leather, a final icon or magical talisman.» (religion-online.org)