Renowned Egyptologist Jan Assmann traces the monotheism of Moses back to that of the Egyptian king Akhenaten (1360-1340 B.C.E.). He then shows how the followers of Moses denied and condemned the Egyptians as polytheistic idolaters. Thus began the cycle in whcih every "counter religion" denounced all others as false. Assmann presents a compelling lesson in the fluidity of cultural identity and beliefs. Illus.