SOURCE: “The Twentieth Century,” in A Reader's Guide to Religious Literature, Moody Press, 1968, pp. 155-79.

In the following excerpt, Batson examines key authors of twentieth century literature, concluding that their works are God-oriented.

The twentieth century is an age marked by global conflict, social revolt and a growing reliance upon science and technology. Each of these three characteristics has brought with it an incalculable number of influences upon human thought and expression.

Literary artists during this century have been keenly aware of the kind of world in which man finds himself. The great novelists, poets, and dramatists have been deeply concerned about the social, economic, intellectual and political problems and about the hope and destiny of confused man. And in the words of the historian, Edward McNall Burns:

… they were disillusioned by the brute facts of World War I and by the failure of the victory to fulfill...