Seeking Signs: As Occult Practices Rise, Christians Urged to Stay Rooted in Truth
A recent Pew study shows 1 in 3 Americans now engage with astrology, tarot, or fortune telling. As interest in occult practices climbs—especially among young adults and LGBTQ+ individuals—Christian leaders emphasize the need for biblical discernment in a culture increasingly drawn to spiritual counterfeits.
Written By Anne Wells // EEW Magazine Online
As a new study shows occult practices on the rise, Christians must be vigilante and careful. (Photo Credit: Sergey Mironov/Getty)
When tarot cards and horoscopes become staples at mainstream bookstores and trending topics on TikTok, it’s more than a passing fad—it’s a sign of deeper cultural shift.
A new report from the Pew Research Center, released May 21, 2025, reveals that nearly one-third of American adults—30%—consult occult practices such as astrology, tarot cards, or fortune tellers at least once a year.
The nationwide survey, conducted in October 2024 with 9,593 respondents, highlights a growing fascination with non-traditional spirituality, especially among younger adults, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
While many participants say they engage “just for fun,” faith leaders warn that even casual participation in these practices contradicts biblical teachings and can carry spiritual risks.
“In recent years, we’ve heard a lot about growing interest in new age practices, especially among young people and on social media. This data shows that these practices are fairly widespread across American society.”
Among other questions, Pew asked respondents if they were religiously affiliated, and about 7 in 10 said yes. Among the most striking findings: Of that group, about 3 in 10 said they believe in astrology — very similar to the percentage of astrology believers among the religiously unaffiliated respondents who identified as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.”
About one-third of Black Protestants, Hispanic Catholics and adults who say their religion is “nothing in particular” said they believe in astrology, according to Pew. Atheists, agnostics, white evangelical Protestants and Jewish Americans, meanwhile, were less likely than the general public to say they believe in astrology.
46% of women aged 18–49 and 54% of LGBT adults report engaging with astrology. Roughly 24% of Americans ages 18–29 use tarot cards, compared to the national average of 11%. Overall, 28% read horoscopes or consult astrological forecasts, and 6% have visited fortune tellers within the last year.
Retail trends mirror the data. Tarot cards, once fringe, are now mass-marketed in stores like Barnes & Noble and featured prominently online. TikTok, with its #WitchTok and #Astrology tags, fuels curiosity, drawing millions of views from users seeking spiritual answers outside traditional religion.
“The booming psychic services industry generated an estimated $2.3 billion in revenue in 2024, employing over 105,000 people.”
For Christians, the rise in occult engagement is more than a trend—it’s a spiritual battleground. Scripture is unambiguous in its warnings instructing that “no one be found among you who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, or engages in witchcraft” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
“Divination is strictly prohibited in the Bible,” notes GotQuestions.org, regardless of whether the user views it as a game or a guide. What begins as fun can erode spiritual clarity, desensitize individuals to biblical truth, and open doors to deeper involvement.
Though only 1% of Americans report using occult tools for major life decisions, experts warn that even seemingly harmless experimentation can lead to spiritual confusion.
As interest in the occult surges, believers must discern the times, cling to Christ, and lovingly point others toward the only true source of light and life.
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