The good news is that “bad” stuff is decreasing—alcohol use, drug abuse, premarital sexual behavior, for example. But one thing that is soaring is astrology, namely among those disaffected by traditional culture and religion. Whether it is because of postmodern malaise, dissatisfaction with the seeming tyranny of science and reason, or a so-called primal call to paganism, we are witnessing a modern-day resurrection of astrology. According to a 2014 National Science Foundation survey, 40 percent of those aged 18-34 believe that astrology is indeed scientific. A United States survey found that 80 percent of Gen Z and younger millennials “believe in astrology.”[1] The Pew Research Center reports that 30 percent of Americans consult such astrological sources as tarot cards, fortune tellers, and the like,[2] while 60 percent of American millennials believe in at least one aspect of New Age spirituality.[3]
Because of global uncertainty resulting from volatile economies, exponentially increasing natural disasters, unending and inconclusive wars, and a general distrust of social and political institutions, a new generation is looking to old sources such as the position of the solar bodies to predict matters on, yes, love, war, money, and death.
Younger generations are already on their journeys to discover and develop self. But add increasing isolation, a lack of direction, meaning, and purpose, and the de-emphasis of commitment. The result is heightened anxiety, at unseen levels, over the present and future. Astrology falsely promises wholeness, harmony, definition, refinement, and organization of the chaos around them.
This resurgence in astrology is beyond crystal balls and zodiacs. The new incarnation has married astrology with technology, traversing memes, videos, reels, apps, and even artificial intelligence.[4] As of January 2025 TikTok has housed more than 4.5 million videos on astrology. One popular astrology app rocketed from 7.5 million global users to 30 million.[5] Spending on apps and other related products is projected to rise from US$12.8 billion in 2021 to US$22.8 billion by 2031,[6] resulting in major venture capitalist investments.[7] AI is now calculating planetary positions with real-time NASA data, and finding new astrological revelations that were previously unknown and are supposedly more accurate, with chatbots giving the results. All this free and instantaneous.
The earliest evidence of astrology was first found in ancient Babylonian records. One familiar narrative is Daniel’s conversation with Nebuchadnezzar about biblical prophecy. The same restlessness and anxiety of the king is found in today’s generation. Accordingly, it looks to magic, sorcery, and astrology for answers.
Armed with Danielian faith and humility, Adventists are called at this time, not to ridicule, ignore, or disdain the astrology movement, but to point to those suffering from modernity to real answers found in biblical prophecy. There indeed is a God in heaven who reveals the deep and secret things (see Dan. 2:22). Not in the planetary bodies of the heavens or the extracted blood of livestock; the future lies with the God of heaven.
As Daniel 2 points to the God of heaven revealing secrets and mysteries (in Hebrew, raz) in seven verses (verses 18, 19, 27, 28, 29, 30, 47), Bible prophecy points to four incontrovertible conclusions that astrology cannot provide: there is a God who rules and reigns with order and righteousness; Scripture is reliable and infallible; the past can be explained and future foretold; and the revealed secrets of God provide true direction, meaning, purpose, and conclusive destiny, even in such topics as love, peace, blessings, and life.
It’s good that many are looking up. But let’s direct them even higher to the prophecies of Jesus and the Jesus of prophecy.
[1] In Chas Newkey-Burden, “Gen Z and astrology: Written in the Stars,” The Week, Jan. 23, 2025, https://theweek.com/tech/gen-z-and-astrology-written-in-the-stars, accessed Dec. 16, 2025.
[2] Chip Rotolo, “Nearly One in Three Americans Consult Astrology, Tarot Cards, or Fortune Tellers,” Pew Research Center, May 21, 2025, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/05/21/3-in-10-americans-consult-astrology-tarot-cards-or-fortune-tellers/, accessed Dec. 16, 2025.
[3] Claire Gecewicz, “ ‘New Age’ Beliefs Common Among Both Religious and Nonreligious Americans,” Pew Research Center, Oct. 1, 2018, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/10/01/new-age-beliefs-common-among-both-religious-and-nonreligious-americans/, accessed Dec. 16, 2025.
[4] “Astrology Is Booming, Thanks to Technology and Younger Enthusiasts,” The Economist, Jan. 15, 2025, https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/01/15/astrology-is-booming-thanks-to-technology-and-younger-enthusiasts, accessed Dec. 16, 2025.
[5] James Emery White, “Gen Z and the Rise of Astrology,” Church & Culture, June 12, 2025, https://www.churchandculture.org/blog/2025/6/12/gen-z-and-the-rise-of-astrology, accessed Dec. 16, 2025.
[6] Jessica Eastwood, “Expert Comment: Why Is Gen Z Looking to the Stars for Meaning?” Oxford Brookes University, May 2, 2025, https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/news/news-from-2025/05/expert-comment-why-is-gen-z-looking-to-the-stars-f, accessed Dec. 16, 2025.
[7] Erin Griffith, “Venture Capital Is Putting Its Money Into Astrology,” New YorkTimes, Apr. 15, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/15/style/astrology-apps-venture-capital.html, accessed Dec. 16, 2025.
Justin Kim
Justin Kim is the editor at Adventist Review.
