Religion/ Spirituality

Demi Moore took a whirlwind trip to New Mexico last month and got really high in the desert -- well, at least her level of consciousness did ... 'cause it was all for a special, secret yoga event ... and TMZ has the pics.

Demi -- along with her daughter Rumer Willis -- attended a Kundalini yoga Summer Solstice event in the Jemez Mountains ... where yogis and yoginis spent 3 magical days practicing something called "White Tantric Meditation."

Our yoga sources -- yes, we have yoga sources -- tell us the practice helps people "break through the subconscious blocks that enslave the mind" ... while wearing cool white clothes.

We're told one of the highlights of the event was the "Blind Walk Meditation" -- when Demi joined hands with 10 other people (all with their eyes closed) and walked around chanting, "Waheguru."

The exercise is said to help people become aware of their senses and build trust with others.

All in all, the event helped people become one with themselves and nature ...except when it came to #1 and #2 -- they had a bunch of porta-potties for that.

Televangelist Benny Hinn is a legendary scam artist who steals sick people's social security checks in the name of bogus faith healing -- at least according to one loudmouthed heckler at LAX, who's damn lucky Hinn's security didn't kick his ass.

60-year-old Hinn was making his way through LAX Friday with 5 bodyguards when the heckler sounded off ... big time ... calling Hinn the "world's greatest scammer" among other things. The man then continues his tirade after Hinn gives him the cold shoulder. Watch the clip.

But despite some death stares from Hinn's security, the man was left unscathed , which is surprising ... because Hinn's previous heckler wasn't so lucky.

Hinn's rep says the heckler was "peacefully removed" from Hinn's audience ... but when the man became violent, he had to be "subdued." And you know what that means.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Beatdown.

In the God department ... Kanye West is as phony as a $2 bill -- according to a very religious lead singer of a very religious nu-metal band.

Christian rocker Sonny Sandoval -- famous for songs like "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation" -- feels Kanye has committed blasphemy for writing and singing "I am a God" on his "Yeezus" album.

Sonny says, "Kanye West deceives many and will lead many people astray."

To hammer his point home ... Sonny quotes Matthew 7:15-23 -- Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

We reached out to Kanye for comment ... but all he got was really cross.

Nik Wallenda pulled of his death-defying tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon without a safety net -- unless you count Jesus Christ ... which Nik clearly does ... several dozen times!

Can he get an AMEN?!!

Anyone who watched the Nik Wallenda live-OR-die high-wire stunt live on TV Sunday night witnessed one of the great moments of TV in the last few years ... and Jesus played a prominent role.

Nik was perched on a 2" wire, 1,500 feet over the Grand Canyon floor. For 22 awesome minutes he was teetering on the edge of death, as his wife and children watched ... and it was broadcast live on Discovery's "Skywire."

In all ... Nik gave props to Jesus 63 times, and "the Lord" 39 times.

Kanye West's new album may claim to feature God -- but if He is really on "Yeezus," then his fans deserve to know just how ... this according to the lead singer of '80s Christian glam metal band Stryper.

The band's front man Michael Sweet tells TMZ ... he gets it if Kanye's boast that the Big Guy is featured on the track "I Am a God" is figurative -- "When you believe in God, you want Him to be a part of everything you do, guiding you through the entire process. So, I understand what is meant."

But Sweet says if Kanye means it literally -- and let's face it, he probably does -- he wants details, like ..."I've always wondered - is God a drummer, a bassist, a guitarist or a singer? I'm guessing The Master of all ..."

Tila Tequila is converting to Judaism ... seriously ... and for once, she swears she's not just after some cheap publicity.

TMZ has learned Tequila has been taking classes at a NY temple to begin the conversion process ... and even skipped Christmas this year to focus on change.

We spoke with the former MTV reality star about the situation and she explained, "As time passed, I started to become more and more fascinated with Kabbalah, the culture, and the way of life of the reform Judaism religion."

And even though she starred in a sex tape, Tequila says ... "I feel Orthodox is a little hardcore for me at this stage."

"Young and the Restless" star Michael Fairman has filed a lawsuit against a Scientologist chiropractor -- claiming she refused to see him and his family after he was excommunicated from the Church.

Fairman claims he was a prominent member of the Church, but became disenchanted with the way the Church was running things. Fairman claims Church leaders got fed up with him earlier this year, branded him and his wife "suppressive persons" and blacklisted the family from all things Scientology.

After Fairman was ousted, the actor claims he received a letter from the family chiropractor -- an active Scientologist -- informing him she would no longer treat the Fairman family. Fairman also claims she refused to hand over a copy of the family's medical records.

The Westboro Baptist Church came out to protest a Foo Fighters concert last night -- but the band was ready ... and came out to play an impromptu show just for them.

The Foo Fighters came out dressed in costumes and played a few songs -- from the back of a flatbed truck -- that mocked their ultra-conservative views.

The Westboro Baptist Church has set its hateful sights on the movie, "Red State" -- which will be released in theaters later this month -- calling director Kevin Smith "a God-hating clown."

The Church spokesperson says, "God hates fags, God hates fag enablers, therefore God hates Kevin Smith."

The movie puts the spotlight on a fanatical church whose members kill "sinners" -- many say it bares a resemblance to Westboro.

As for Kevin Smith -- he's unfazed by Westboro's promise to disrupt the movie release.

Smith tells TMZ, "Well Jesus told ME he loved 'Red State.' He said it makes up for 'Cop Out.' He also said neither He nor His Heavenly Father have any affiliation with the Westboro Baptist Church."

Smith has more to say about God ... "He loves all the 'Dark Knight' footage he's seen so far on TMZ."

Smith also wants Westboro to know, "'Red State' is available now on VOD."

Check out our recent TMZ Live interview with the director himself below:

Lisa is performing in Topeka, Kansas -- home of the evil church -- and when she got word that members of the church were planning to protest her show -- because she is such an outspoken supporter of gay rights -- Lisa hatched a plan.

She's going to donate $1,000 for every protestor that shows up ... to the Gay Men's Health Crisis -- the nation's oldest HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care services provider.

Lisa tells TMZ, "It's gonna be hilarious to write out the checks to the GMHC and have them send thank you notes to the WBC for their 'generous contributions.'"

92-year-old Graham was admitted to Mission Hospital in Asheville for pulmonary treatment -- and according to a statement from his rep, the evangelist "is already feeling much better."

Sources close to Lindsay tell TMZ, the actress has no plans whatsoever to become a Scientologist -- she hasn't taken any classes with the Church ... and hasn't even been asked to visit by current members.

We're told Lindsay has nothing against the Church -- but she was raised Catholic and plans to stay Catholic ... in fact, she remains an avid practitioner to this day.

Peter Steeves -- a proud supporter of the red beret -- tells us ... "[Those evil people] have been arrested for doing this before, and if they get out of hand here in L.A., we'll see to it that it happens again, and I'll be signing their arrest documents."

As TMZ first reported, the funeral is set to go down later today -- we're told the Angels are currently "getting ready."

Margie Phelps -- daughter of WBC Pastor Fred Phelps -- took to Twitter today to announce the church is going to picket non-lesbian Liz's funeral ... all because Liz was apparently some sort of gay "enabler" and (God forbid) an AIDS activist.

Liz will likely be buried in Los Angeles -- where there are positively no gay people.

The graying 31-year-old was out lunchin' at Real Food Daily in L.A. Tuesday -- where he enjoyed a fully-kosher, fully-vegan BACON sandwich.