Religion/ Spirituality

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.

Shayne's lawyer fired off a letter to the famous L. Ron Hubbard shrine in Hollywood, demanding the church quit sending her bills for $1,506.35 -- claiming the bills are bogus ... and that Shayne "is not now, nor ever has been, a member of your organization or the Church of Scientology."

A Church rep claims Shayne "made a donation in 2004" -- but the check didn't clear. The rep says they'll stop sending letters to Shayne.

Best part ... Shayne's lawyer also reps her husband Nik Richie -- the guy behind TheDirty.com -- who says he's a big "Top Gun" fan and might be interested in joining the Church ... if they send him letters addressed to "Maverick."

Stoudemire's agent tells us, "I know there are some reports that he is Jewish, but he is not. He thinks there may be some Jewish blood on his mother's side and he is researching it."

Amar'e -- who just signed a $100 million contract with the NY Knicks -- is currently vacationing in Israel, where he's learning Hebrew and "studying the religions there."

The Church claims the Zeyt'un Bible was created for Constantine I by "the master illuminator T'oros Roslin" in 1256, and is one of Armenia's most valued national treasures. The Church believes the book "wielded supernatural powers."

Oh God! Evangelist Billy Graham tripped over one of his dogs last night, and had to be hospitalized. He is listed in fair condition and has some minor bruising.

In previous years the 89-year-old has survived prostate cancer, hip replacement, and the insertion of a shunt in his head to combat swelling of the brain. Jesus take the wheel!

Will Smith says just because he's a Friend of Tom doesn't mean he's a Scientologist ... not that there's anything wrong with that.

Smith tells Rush & Molloy, "You don't have to be Jewish to be a friend of Steven Spielberg. You don't have to be a Muslim to be a friend of Muhammad Ali. And you don't have to be a Scientologist to be a friend of Tom Cruise." So what is Smith, anyway? "I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions."

Scientology church ladies Kelly Preston, Kirstie Alley and Priscilla Presley used their combined intergalatic superpowers for, er, good on Saturday.

The holy trinity of thetans hammed it up for Scientology's 'Citizens Commission on Human Rights' awards banquet, which highlighted "psycho-pharmaceutical whistleblowers" this year.

If Tom Cruise's recent public displays weren't evidence enough, Scientologists Jenna and Bodhi Elfman prove that they, too, are willing to go to great lengths to defend their religion.

Indie film director John Roecker tells TMZ he was walking to his car with a female friend in LA's trendy Los Feliz neighborhood last Sunday when he was approached by a shirtless man and a tall blonde. "Hey, man, you're making fun of my religion," said the stranger angrily.

Roecker quickly recognized the couple as actor Bodhi Elfman and his wife, 'Dharma and Greg' star Jenna Elfman. Mr. Elfman's ire was apparently drawn by Roecker's self-made t-shirt, which had a picture of Tom Cruise on the front under the caption "Scientology is Gay!" and a 'Stayin'-Alive'-era John Travolta on the back with the words "Very Gay!" For the record, both Cruise and Travolta have said repeatedly they are not gay.