Meet Gen Z's Revamped Religion

Meet Gen Z’s Revamped Religion

My eyes shift to the 11:10 displayed on the clock hanging on the wall of the classroom. Only 1 more minute… The cold, red digital numbers mimic the curtains in a theater, ready to unveil itself for everyone to indulge in ludicrous prayers and whispers. It’s almost as if the scent of candle wax hits your nostrils and propels you into a trance. This scene sounds like something straight out of a dystopian thriller, but it really is not. It’s just reality. To be very exact, the life of Gen Z.

Before you feel overwhelmed, let us go back to the statistics. Time has flown and trends have changed in the snap of a finger. Copious amounts of data have proven that Gen Z is the least religious generation yet, with approximately one-third claiming they do not have any religious affiliations. Religion often involves praying to a higher being, while exercising the faith and values that are bestowed upon them. However, lacking a religion is not commensurate with having no faiths and beliefs to uphold dearly. It is far from not having any moral compass to guide us. This notion is increasingly established in the intricate minds of Gen Z, who have also grown up in a world dominated by Science and hard facts.

With that being said, why is there such a phenomenon of Gen Z turning towards such abstract concepts to seek solace? Astrology charts, angel numbers, and the countless times the word ‘manifesting’ has surfaced on TikTok, Gen Z is hopping on the spirituality bandwagon. Is it just a trend, or are we slowly turning towards spirituality and cosmic intervention for guidance?

Astrology : Fact or Fiction?

People who subscribe to Astrology believe that celestial objects have an influence on one’s life. You can learn who you are ‘cosmically compatible’ with or your ‘Sun, Moon and Rising sign’. Countless terms roll off your tongue and into a belief system that is built upon a person’s intimate sphere. The mystical services market, which includes services such as astrology and tarot readings, is estimated to be worth US$2.2B globally. Business surely is booming.

On social media, Astrology is curated to provide us with flashy, personalised content. How many times have you seen Instagram posts on which movie character your star sign resembles? While such content gravitates towards stereotypes and assumptions, it is nonetheless satisfying to come across a statement that one finds relatable. It is almost as if the universe is sending signals, which we are exhilarated to receive. The experience remains engaging as we all try to unravel our complex personas through simple ideas that are presented to us in vibrant media. Our hunger for answers demands to be satiated.

The proliferation of astrology applications is undeniable as apps such as Co-Star and Astrology Zone rise to fame. Such applications claim to decipher the intricacies of our human nature, concocting empowering messages or words of wisdom that will guide users onto the path of success. Even concepts that have been passed down through our cultures such as the Chinese Zodiac, which can be somewhat likened to our star signs, carry its rich history for generations to come. After all, the human condition begs for some form of familiarity and comfort.

Nevertheless, astrology is a form of pseudo-science that we must heed with caution. The Barnum Effect explains the unreliability of astrology content created for our perusal. It is a psychological effect that convinces us such character assessments are accurate when they are in actual fact, vague and generic. We are swept away with the narratives that are manufactured for us and we fail to acknowledge how people tend to have similar traits, just at varying degrees.

Not just numbers

Angel numbers have been dubbed as messages from higher beings. Its presence in recent years has burgeoned incredibly, with it often manifesting as a popular way for youth to express their affirmations on social media. With #angelnumbers on Tik Tok amassing a whopping 1.7B views, it is justifiable to wish to partake in its popularity worldwide.

In numerology, angel numbers are number sequences that contain repetition and usually appear in groups of 3 or 4 numbers. For instance ‘1111’ can convey reassurance that one is on the right path. Perhaps it is also the occurrence of viewing such numbers in our daily lives that evokes a sense of wondrous excitement, which we continue to seek out until the satisfaction we derive from it comes to a halt .

In truth, this does not stray away from Science.

According to psychologists, such a ‘spiritual phenomenon’ can be caused by synchronicity. Synchronicity is defined as the occurrence of meaningful coincidences that seem to have no cause, yet we attempt to connect such experiences. Soon enough, we begin to spot angel numbers in our clocks (with 11:11 being a trend that stood the test of time), receipts, songs, and so forth, designating a meaning to them.

Marveling at manifestation

With #manifesting racking up over 7.4B views on Tik Tok, it certainly took the world by storm, manifesting itself into a core condition of being Gen Z. In short, manifesting entails positive self-affirmations to achieve one’s goal, it brings intentions and desires from one’s mind and morphs them into reality. Now, hordes of teen vloggers have transformed into modern-day gurus.

One can manifest for themselves to develop intrinsic values or even fulfill desires for material objects. It knows no boundaries and confronts us to wish for what we yearn for through the sheer strength of our minds. Opponents may argue that manifesting is a form of escapism that Gen Z relishes in an unhealthy amount, searching for distraction and relief from their problems. However, manifesting is often grounded in one’s current frustrations, and encourages its followers to contemplate the illuminating future they want to build for themselves. For a generation who has been robbed of plenty, manifesting allows them to take back agency of their turbulent lives. As seen by the Covid-19 lockdown, Google searches of ‘manifesting’ went up by 600% as an abundance of tutorials on how to ‘manifest’ for a happier life swamped social media.

While such concepts have not been proven to be scientifically sound, they provide much consolation to a generation that has been uprooted by torrential waves of chaos in recent years. It is indisputable that such ‘spirituality’ should be practiced with discretion so as to not distort one’s perception of reality. Our outlook of a ‘predestined’ life may compel us to lose our tenacity for what we hope to accomplish. Nevertheless, believing in these ‘absurd’ theories provides hope and a sense of direction to assert our actions. It propels us to take a leap of faith and step out into the unknown, shedding light on our identity in the darkest of times. In the end, this is a generation that has had to fiercely grapple with how change is the only constant. It makes sense if Gen Z finds their fortune cookies twice as sweet, doesn’t it?

Written by: Pang Tjin Wen, Katelyn (23S7A)

Edited by: Tan Yie Jun (23S63), Chua Jia Xuan, Keris (23A11)