Ego clarity

We need to be clear about our meaning of 'ego'. The only
person I know who uses the word 'egoic' is Eckart Tolle and
he does not explain his usage.
Spiritual & religious writers and speakers use the term
'ego' to mean that negative aspect to be surrendered, but one
can't write and prepare a book, get it published, or lecture
without ego or without a personal sense of identity. One has
to be able to be separate in order to function in most life
situations, or to be a piece of a group that has a head.
Religious groups are mostly authoritarian. You function by
being obedient to the head. I have seen an excessive number
of inflated egos in religious groups.
A spiritual perspective is about giving up ego
and becoming one with all; AND, for living in the world, we
surrender the 'inflated-ego' or as some say,
'the over-inflated-ego'.

It's an important distinction that we can get lost in
easily. For example, I will speak of the ego as an entity
that forces separateness and violence and destructiveness,
but I mean the inflated ego, not the ego that helps us
to healthfully make a living, teach our children,
make good decisions about money, etc. A modest
ego is essential.

When we are ready to leave this world, then giving up
ego entirely merges us with the One.When we are merged
with the One in the world, we need to have someone take
care of our physical needs, and the physical needs of
those we care for.

I have seen university psychology doctors try to talk to
spiritual teachers
about ego and there's no dialogue because they use the
terms so differently. They part without intelligent contact

Too bad we don't have different words, or can we think of
ego on a continuum?