Perhaps there is a difference between having an ego and being egotistical?
I agree: there is! Overcoming egoism--worship of the self (psyche/soul/mind) is the challenge. I am working on it by inviting all egos, including my own, to become friendly and join me in the challenge.
BTW, I have a theory as why atheists reject the concept of gods, or a God. They conceive of God--the kind most religions worship--as being just a BIG ego, who demands that we worship him/her.
I gave up this concept when I outgrew believing in a literal Santa. BTW, I can still enjoy the myth, which is how I raised my own children; I taught them the myth and the story--a fascinating one--behind it. There was a St. Nicholas, who was born in what is now Turkey. He became a bishop at a very young age.
http://www.devotions.co.uk/st-nicholas.shtml
