Religion/ Spirituality

Leah Remini is the new QUEEN of the ex-Scientologists -- according to two famous defectors ... because she had the iron gonads to stand up to the Church.

As you know ... Leah filed a missing person's report with the LAPD ... claiming Shelly Miscavige, the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige ... hadn't been seen for 6 years. Detectives found Shelly and determined she's fine.

Marc and Claire Headley -- two outspoken, former high-ranking Scientologists are praising Leah for her testicular fortitude. Claire tells us, "Shelly was seen for the first time in 7 years. At least we know she's alive."

Claire is skeptical that Shelly is exercising free will, and believes the outreach by Leah will show Shelly that people care about her "on the outside."

The Church of Scientology is spewing venom at Leah Remini for daring to file a report with the LAPD ... claiming the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige is missing.

A Church rep claims Leah cooked up the allegation "with unemployed, anti-religious zealots."

Leah -- who broke ties with Scientology last month -- was alarmed that Shelly Miscavige hasn't been seen publicly in 6 years. The LAPD closed out its investigation last night, and as TMZ first reported, cops say they had a face to face with Shelly. They did not indicate if they probed as to whether Shelly was being held against her will.

The Church rep calls Leah's actions "an inexcusable distraction for the LAPD."

And the Church took this shot: "Sadly, rather than move on with her life and career, Ms. Remini has aligned herself with a handful of untrustworthy, lunatic tabloid sources who obsessively harass the Church to advance their selfish agendas."

Someone is pissed.

The LAPD has CLOSED its missing persons investigation involving the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige ... because cops had a face-to-face meeting with her ... TMZ has learned.

The investigation was launched after LAPD detectives received reports that Shelly Miscavige had not been seen publicly in 6 years. As we previously reported, one of the people who contacted cops was actress Leah Remini.

Law enforcement tells TMZ they have determined the missing persons allegation is "unfounded."

3:22 PM PT -- The Church of Scientology is firing back ... a rep tells TMZ, "This is just harassment. It is a publicity stunt cooked up by a small band of unemployed fanatics who live on the fringe of the Internet."

The rep continues, "The Church and the attorney for Mrs. Miscavige have already responded to this ludicrous claim -- as you noted yourself in your story."

Leah Remini has filed a missing persons report with the LAPD regarding the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige ... this, less than one month after Leah severed ties with the Church.

TMZ spoke with the Los Angeles Police Department which confirmed there is an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of Shelly Miscavige ... but wouldn't say if Remini has any connection to the case.

But sources tell TMZ ... Remini personally filed the report sometime after severing ties with Scientology last month.

According to a report on the Hollywood Reporter, Shelly hasn't made a public appearance in six years -- though in 2012, her attorneys issued a statement saying, "Any reports that [Shelly] is missing are false."

So far, no comment from Remini's people. Calls to Scientology have not been returned.

Lady Gaga finally got naked ... FULLY NAKED ... but it's weird. Really weird.

The video just surfaced, featuring a naked, hairless, crystal-spooning Gaga doing a meditation exercise inspired by Marina Abramovic, a famous performance artist.

The video shows Gaga doing "The Abramovic Method," which supposedly heightens physical and mental awareness.

Britney Spears put God fearing men to the test by wearing a super slutty outfit to church -- thereby daring everyone to block out their impure thoughts.

Guess that wasn't the last temptation, after all.

Someone needs to tan Joel Osteen's hide ... or at least his chest, because the guy who provides holy inspiration to millions is downright pasty.

Joel was vacationing in Hawaii with his fam ... taking in a little paddle boarding.

The 50-year-old pastor -- who prayed with Nik Wallenda before and after he traversed the Grand Canyon on a highwire last month -- looked pretty fit.

He just needs a little sun to distinguish himself from the Holy Ghost.

Some kayaking lessons wouldn't hurt either, Rev. Just sayin' ...

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.