Religion/ Spirituality

The Satan-worshipping woman who just admitted to more than 22 murders actually suggested it could be several times more than that number ... confessing it's "less than 100" ... and her murderous alter ego was named "Super Miranda."

Miranda Barbour is in a Pennsylvania jail after allegedly murdering a man she located in a sex ad on Craigslist. She dropped a bombshell in an interview with Francis Scarcella of the The Daily Item ... something that was not in his article.

Scarcella tells TMZ, he pressed Barbour on the number of people she killed, after she said, "When I hit 22, I stopped counting." As Scarcella pushed her, she blurted out, "It's less than 100." She would not be more specific.

Scarcella says when Barbour was about to kill, she claimed she changed personas, becoming "Super Miranda."

Barbour told Scarcella the knife she used to brutally murder the Craigslist victim had murderous notches ... she said she had used the same knife before ... because it's one of her favorites.

And Barbour told Scarcella ... she only killed bad people -- people who abused children and people who owed money.

And Barbour says she felt satanism controlled what was inside of her.

The pastor who died Saturday from a snake bite violated Kentucky law by displaying and handling the deadly reptile during his church service ... TMZ has learned.

Jamie Coots was bitten by a rattlesnake while preaching to his congregation. He refused medical treatment and died a short time later.

We did some digging ... and found a Kentucky law which says, "Any person who displays, handles or uses any kind of reptile in connection with any religious service or gathering shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100."

Kentucky Game Warden Ray Lawson tells TMZ ... Coots had proper permits to transport, hold and sell copperhead and timber rattlesnakes, but he acknowledges the state law prohibiting the use of snakes in religious ceremonies.

Lawson says his dept. has no authority to enforce the state law. He says that's the job of the cops, but they don't enforce it.

The pastor on Nat. Geo's "Snake Salvation" died Saturday night ... after one of the snakes to which he prays bit him.

Pentecostal pastor Jamie Coots suffered the fatal attack while preaching to his Kentucky congregation.

Emergency units raced to the church ... but the reality star had already left and gone home.

The show's website explains the Pastor and his followers believe the Bible says a poisonous snakebite will not harm them as long as they are anointed by God’s power.

EMTs went to Coots' home but he sent them away ... refusing care ... an hour later he was dead.

It's unclear if they were filming during the sermon.

A rep for the show says the "Snake Salvation" finished filming last year ... and they never intended to film a second season.

Jason Biggs better learn the horah ... 'cause his dog turned 13 Thursday -- and his wife threw the cute pooch its own "bark mitzvah" to celebrate.

Like a true yenta ... Jason's wife Jenny Mollen documented the whole ceremony on her Instagram when she and Biggs took the dog -- named Teets -- to a temple to make things official.

The whole fam dined on challah afterward to commemorate the special day.

Gloria Gaynor requested no shirtless men be in her line of sight during her performance at a gay bar Thursday night ... but not because she's homophobic -- her people say the singer is just deeply religious.

The "I Will Survive" singer took a trip to the Abbey in West Hollywood -- a gay mecca -- and performed her new song ... but the gig was delayed when Gaynor insisted managers remove all go-go dancers from the room.

The place is known for it's scantily clad men in speedos ... but Gloria's people say the 64-year-old diva was just protecting her image -- and it had nothing to do with the strong possibility the men were gay.

In fact, the rep says Gloria is an equal opportunity offender ... and makes an effort to never take pics with shirtless men OR provocatively dressed women.

Check out the picture at the Abbey. You could make the argument it's kinda religious ....

A backwoods woman who came to L.A. to become famous had better learn a lesson about Hollywood ... don't talk crap on the Jews.

A woman named Mema from a small Georgia town has loaded up her truck and moved to Beverly ... for a new show called "Hollywood Hillbillies."

Here's what triggered her comment. She spent the day with her "Jewish manager" David Weintraub and watched him do deals on his cell phone and drive around town in his Rolls. She was so impressed, it led her to the conclusion about leaving manual labor to certain types of gentiles.

We're told REELZChannel is actually planning to air the Jewish comment on the show.

A Kabbalah leader -- who hobnobs with the likes of Madonna and Ashton Kutcher -- sexually attacked a woman and then threatened to "f**king kill" her if she told anyone ... according to the woman, who's just filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

Jena Scaccetti is suing Yehuda Berg -- co-director of L.A.'s famed Kabbalah Centre -- claiming he was her spiritual advisor and Kabbalah teacher when he groped her and threatened her in October 2012.

According to the lawsuit ... Berg -- a married father of five -- invited Scaccetti to dinner at his mother's apartment, claiming he could help heal her kidney stones.

Scaccetti claims Berg complained to her about his life at the Kabbalah Center and began trashing other teachers at the Centre... even describing his sister-in-law as a "c**t" and a "star-f**ker."

In her lawsuit, Scaccetti claims Berg then plied her with Vicodin and alcohol and started hugging her and touching her legs. She says he asked if her genital region "...was Brazilian or shaved" ... and made the move to seal the deal.

The woman claims in the lawsuit she resisted his advances and Berg got angry, saying he would "f**king beat the whole right side of [her] until [she was] blue" and that he would "f**king kill you."

Scaccetti now wants justice with a dollar sign -- she's suing for $15 mil ... plus another $40 mil in punitive damages.

DMX asked Jesus for a huge favor right before a recent concert in Detroit ... PLEASE DON'T LET ANYONE GET STABBED OR SHOT!!!!

X was doing his customary pre-show prayer with members of his team when he got "real" with his Lord and Savior about their safety in what Forbes calls, "The Most Dangerous City in America."

"We pray that there are no fightings, no stabbings, no shootings, no arrests, no drunk drivings, no altercations or incidents whatsoever," X said.

Hey, doesn't hurt to ask.

For the record, X's prayers were answered that night ... no violent incidents were reported at the show.

Amen.

A self-proclaimed member of Phil Robertson's church is literally making a federal case over Phil's suspension ... he's suing A&E and others because he feels the network is chilling his right to hate homosexuals.

Chris Sevier, who claims to be a lawyer, has previously sued pretty much everyone under the sun, including Bill O'Reilly, CBS, Facebook and Apple.

This time around, Sevier has put together 91 pages of law and religious propaganda, quoting scriptures about the evils of homosexuality. Sevier claims the fact that A&E has indefinitely suspended Phil is going to have a chilling effect on other churchgoers -- himself included -- when it comes to preaching what he believes is the word of God.

As for what that word is ... Sevier thinks it's rooted in sin. He says, if gay marriage is allowed, "citizens in that state should be able to marry their pets" -- he sees no difference.

In addition to suing A&E ... Sevier is suing President Obama, claiming the Prez is in cahoots with A&E to further the pro-gay agenda.

At one point in the rambling lawsuit, which Sevier says will be filed today, he says, "We live in a Christian nation 'Jack.'"

One final thing ... take a look at some of the pictures Sevier sprinkled in the suit. We don't know the rhetorical point he's making, but they're hilarious.

Phil Robertson says he is not without sexual sin, but has put it in check by getting hitched.

Phil got up in front of his bible study group Sunday and said, "Sexual sins are numerous and many. I have a few myself." But his solution was plain ... "If you're a man, find yourself a woman, marry them and keep your sex right there."

Phil -- who sees the world in black and white -- is defiant about the torrent of criticism -- "I will not give or back off my path," adding, "All I did was quote from the scriptures."

Phil gave the Daily Mail access to the study group, and they heard an earful. He said, "Common sense says we are not going to procreate the human race unless we have a man and a woman."

And the strident "Duck Dynasty" star goes on, "If you're a homosexual, He'll take it away. If you're an adulterer, if you're a liar, what's the difference? If you break one sin you may as well break them all ... if we lose our morality, we will lose our country. It will happen."

And in a not-so-subtle way ... Phil calls out A&E, which acted shocked by his comments: "This week I have been asked, 'Is this the first time you have brought up sin? ... Are you kidding? I have been traveling to and fro spreading this message ... I have made hundreds of speeches ..."

And finally, there's this ... Phil railed on people who claim he's an idiot, conceding, "We are a bunch of rednecks from Louisiana, but I am not uneducated. I have a degree from Louisiana Tech."

Check out the video below with Phil's son, Alan, cracking jokes at Sunday's church service about the controversy.

The Rhett Walker Band is worried a full blown riot may break out this weekend at their concert in Ohio ... and it's all because one of the guys from "Duck Dynasty" will be there.

John Godwin from "DD" is scheduled to make an appearance Sunday at the Rhett Neck Xmas show in Lima -- and Rhett says they've been getting blasted on social media for it ... with some threatening to cause major ruckus.

However, Rhett makes it clear -- he's not gonna let some haters ruin his concert ... especially since the singer agrees with everything Phil said ... and he's vowing to make sure it goes off without a hitch to support the suspended reality star.

Walker adds, "We do support Duck Commander and 'Duck Dynasty' ... if that blows us into an area where people think we hate the gay community that would sadden me -- but we 100% support Phil and what he said."

The band says they are beefing up security at the event ... just to be safe.

Phil Robertson turned to the Lord after getting benched from "Duck Dynasty."

The pastor at White's Ferry Road Church tells TMZ ... while everyone went crazy last night over Phil's suspension, Phil was in the pews with his prayer group, praying for a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer.

Pastor Mike Kellett tells us ... Robertson didn't even MENTION the TV show or the suspension
-- it was all about the sick woman.

Pastor Mike dodged our question -- whether Phil's a homophobe -- saying, "Phil is doing his best to follow God's word. He always treats people with love and respect."

Pastor Mike says the church is solidly behind Robertson: "Television shows come and go. His faith is forever."

If "Duck Dynasty" network A&E feared advertisers would scatter like waterfowl after a shotgun blast because of Phil Robertson's anti-gay comments ... it's not happening.

A company called Skyjacker -- which builds truck suspensions -- tells us it stands solidly behind Phil and the show ... saying it's a matter of God and country -- it's a free country and Phil has a right to his opinions.

Company brass tells us it goes beyond the Constitution ... to the Creator: "We are a Christian- based company and actively share our faith so standing with Phil Robertson is an easy choice for us."

Robertson opened up a can of worms when he said homosexuality and bestiality were the same sin ... his church seems to back Phil up on that.

Officials at White's Ferry Road Church just told us, "We love him and support him."

4:55 PM PT -- A&E just dropped the hammer on Phil ... putting him on indefinite hiatus. The network says its disappointed by his anti-gay comments -- which are his own personal beliefs and not reflective of "Duck Dynasty" or the network. A&E says it supports the LGBT community.

8:15 AM PT -- Phil's trying to backpedal by releasing a statement through A&E in which he says, "I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me."

But he's still doing some thumping ... adding that the Bible teaches "women and men are meant to be together."

"Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson is blasting gays ... and not in the usual Bible-thumping way -- instead he's going off about the benefits of vagina as compared to a man's a**hole.

Robertson went on a rant about religion, homosexuality, and a bunch of other things in an interview with GQ -- saying, "It seems like to me, a vagina -- as a man -- would be more desirable than a man's anus. That's just me."

He adds, "There's more there! She's got more to offer. I mean, come on dudes! But hey, sin: It's not logical, my man."

Phil continued his verbal attack by claiming society's become too accepting of sin. He says, "Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and those men ... they won't inherit the kingdom of God. It's not right."

Ex-Scientologist Leah Remini's taking the high road after Kirstie Alley called her a repulsive "bigot" on the radio -- telling TMZ, she only wishes the best for people ... even if they hate her back.

Leah was out in L.A. last night when we asked about Kirstie's recent Howard Stern interview ... when Kirstie bashed Leah for criticizing Scientology after leaving the Church.

Kirstie called Leah an anti-faith "bigot" who picks on Scientologists for no reason ... then said Leah was her "enemy."

The leading Catholic rights group in America wants to organize their own hate campaign -- because they hate the anti-religious hatred they claim Bill Maher spews on his show ... and now it's calling for network execs to kill Bill's show for good.

The Catholic League -- which has had issues with Maher for years -- now say "Real Time with Bill Maher" finally crossed the line after a recent guest went nuts bashing Catholicism.

The guest -- author Dan Savage -- was ragging against a bishop who claimed kids adopted by gay parents have a higher chance of suicide. Savage's retort: "He's confusing children of gay parents with children who are raped by Catholic priests." Dan referred to them as "kiddie-f***ing Catholic priests."