Moses and Monotheism

Sigmund Freud's work, Moses and Monotheism, presents a controversial theory about the origins of monotheism. Freud proposed that Moses was an Egyptian aristocrat who introduced an earlier monotheistic religion to the Jewish people. According to his theory, Moses was eventually killed by his followers, and a second, more lenient leader also named Moses emerged. The guilt from the original leader's death led to the eventual adoption of the monotheistic faith.1

Freud's historical reconstruction is highly speculative and is not accepted by biblical scholars and historians due to its opposition to established historical evidence. The work is seen as revealing more about Freud's own psychological ambivalence regarding religious roots and authority than about Moses himself. This book was published as the Nazis invaded Austria, forcing Freud to flee to England, and his books were among those burned by the Nazis.12