Escape from evil is the theme of the Bible. Christian Science, which is based upon the Scriptures, teaches that the scientific way to escape evil is through the demonstrable understanding of the allness of God and the consequent total unreality of evil. The words of the Psalmist (Ps. 139:7), "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" tenderly assure mankind that it cannot escape the finality of God's allness and ever-presence.
It can be said that escape from evil is the purpose of most theological, philosophical, economic, and scientific systems. Humanitarian efforts and many philosophical teachings make sincere efforts to throw light on the problem, but because their methods are not fully enlightened, or sufficiently spiritual, the results are fragmentary and impermanent. They fail partially or totally because they do not do away with the basic evil—the belief in a life or mind apart from God.
In certain periods of history the thought of escape has been associated more with its physical aspects than with its mental ones. In recent years, however, as growing recognition of the mental nature of existence has taken place, escape has been associated with the mental phases of it. Psychology, which a dictionary defines as "the science of the human mind or soul and its activities and capacities," has analyzed the so-called mental diseases that result from desire for personal release from problems, and the materially mental methods that are employed for the treatment of these disorders.
