Religion/ Spirituality

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson says he was a violent bully as a child -- and often beat up other kids BADLY -- but says he learned to curb his violent tendencies and says it's time other NFL stars did too.

Wilson just penned an article for ThePlayersTribune.com -- in an effort to address the domestic violence issues in the NFL.

In the article, Wilson writes:

"I used to beat people up. Truthfully, I used to beat people up a lot. Many of you readers probably think I have been Mr. Goody Two-Shoes my whole life, but honestly, I was a bully growing up. In elementary and middle school, I threw kids against the wall. I rubbed their heads in the dirt at recess. I bit them. I even knocked teeth out."

Long story short, Wilson says he found God and learned to confine his "aggressive behaviors" to the field. He's asking people to donate to the National Domestic Violence Hotline to support dom. violence victims across the country.

He concludes ...

The largest Muslim organization in North America says it's offering "sensitivity training" to the NFL after a Muslim player was penalized for striking a Muslim prayer pose during Monday Night Football.

TMZ Sports spoke with a rep for Islamic Society of North America who tells us they were shocked when Kansas City Chiefs player Husain Abdullah was flagged after dropping to his knees following a pick 6 in the 4th quarter.

The NFL has since issued a statement admitting the ref botched the call -- and ISNA says it "appreciates the NFL in backtracking and making the right call."

ISNA says it originally believed the penalty was a "double standard" -- especially with Tim Tebow's famous kneeling celebration in the past going unflagged.

"Husain is a big hero in the Muslim American community ... we thought it was unfortunate."

But ISNA says they want to work WITH the NFL to make sure it doesn't happen again -- saying, "We are happy to educate the NFL with competency or sensitivity training."

Michael Irvin tells TMZ Sports it's been hard for him to go to work as an NFL analyst on Sundays ... because, "It's getting to the point where I'm missing church more than I'm looking forward to games."

Irvin is an analyst for the NFL Network's "NFL Gameday Morning" -- but the Hall of Famer tells us he's deeply conflicted about continuing to give his Sundays to the NFL instead of Jesus Christ.

"I texted my bishop T.D. Jakes the other day ... I said, 'Man, it's getting to the point where I'm missing church more than I'm looking forward to games on Sunday."

Irvin added, "That's been hard for me to go to work ... I miss that man."

George Clooney's potential wedding has paparazzi swarming around a London church, but church leaders swear on their boss ... it ain't going down there.

The Chelsea Old Town Hall finally had to address the buzz about a possible London ceremony -- posting a note on it's door, writing ... "We are not conducting the wedding of Mr. Clooney at this office today (Friday 12 September) and a film crew and press photographers would only cause possible disruption to other couples getting married on this day."

Clooney has said he plans to marry his fiancee, Amal Alamuddin in Italy, but rumors persist they will also do it in London ... where she lives.

Former NFL running back Marion Barber brought a LOADED HANDGUN into a church and flashed it to churchgoers ... this according to a police report obtained by TMZ Sports.

We broke the story ... 31-year-old Barber was arrested on June 15th and held for mental evaluation after an incident at a church near is home in Mansfield, TX.

According to the police report, cops were first called to the scene after the former Dallas Cowboys star entered a church with a loaded 9mm handgun -- and 3 magazines ... containing 51 hollow-point bullets.

When cops got to the church, officers say Barber seemed disoriented -- and one cop says "He heard Barber state he did not know what year it was or where he was at."

Cops spoke with a pastor at the church who told them ... Barber had been speaking erratically inside the church and "removed his jacket showing the congregants his firearm in public."

According to the report, a doctor from the Dallas Cowboys was en route to the scene -- unclear if he ever made contact with Barber.

Barber was eventually arrested around 8pm -- and was held for "mental detention and observation."

Barry White would be proud ... Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez can't get enough of their love -- TMZ has learned they're back on for the umpteenth time.

Sources close to Jelena tell TMZ ... the two are trying to work things out. We're told they even went to church together Wednesday night, and they're "trying to be better people."

Not coincidentally, Bieber posted a Bible verse on Instagram the next day that read, "After you have suffered a little while, God will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you."

They were also spotted at the movies earlier this week and Justin posted (and quickly deleted) a photo that appeared to show Selena kissing his cheek.

Yes ... we're getting ready for a "Justin and Selena Break Up" story. Again.

Jared Leto took a leap of faith in Ibiza while cliff diving with friends.

Sherri Shepherd is scoffing at Lamar Sally calling her a hypocrite in their custody war ... telling us anyone who knows her, knows Lamar is full of BS.

Shepherd was judged today but not by Lamar ... by a real judge in a different custody fight she's having with ex-husband Jeff Tarpley over their nine-year-old son. He now wants full custody.

On-again, off-again rapper/pastor Mase has officially left his parishioners of the El Elyon International Church high and dry ... and has run back to the rap game full time.

TMZ broke the story ... and it's sensational in every way.

Mase, who "retired" from rap in 1999 to pursue a career in the ministry, built up thousands of followers split into two churches in Atlanta and Phoenix ... preaching the virtues of marriage and family values.

That all came crashing down earlier this year when Mase and his wife divorced, causing most of his flock to flee in anger. As for those stalwart loyalists, well Mase says ... screw them.

He's dropped all ties with both churches and is playing regular rap gigs around L.A., jumping back into his former lifestyle hardcore.

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick are hanging out with the pastor who officiated over Kim and Kanye's wedding, so it's not a big leap to assume Kourtney and Scott are following suit ... but that leap would leave you hanging.

Sources closely connected to the family tell us ... Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. is actually counseling Kourtney and Scott over their relationship problems.

The handsome pastor was out with the couple Monday night in the Meatpacking District in NYC ... everyone was mum, but we're told Scott's partying has become a serious issue in the relationship and that's why Wilkerson is now a visible presence.

Katy Perry blatantly stole a song from a Christian hip-hop singer and then tarnished it with witchcraft, paganism and black magic ... at least that's the claim in a new lawsuit.

According to the suit -- obtained by TMZ -- Perry's hit song "Dark Horse" is a rip-off of an award-winning Christian gospel song called "Joyful Noise" ... that was released 5 years before Perry's track.

The suit was filed by an artist known as Flame -- along with other singers. They say Perry not only hijacked their religious music ... she also destroyed their reputation in the Christian music world ... because they're now associated with the anti-Christian witchcraft and imagery that appears in the "Dark Horse" music video.

They're suing for damages ... and want Perry to stop using any form of their music ... stat.

An ex-security guard wanted a sexual relationship with Ashley Benson because that's just the way God wanted it ... according to court docs Benson filed to keep the guy away from her.

The "Pretty Little Liars" star got a temporary restraining order Wednesday against James Gorton Jr. -- a married, 49-year-old who was recently fired from his job as a guard on the Warner Bros. lot where PLL is filmed.

Gorton has told people he has a relationship with Benson ... that he has sexual feelings for her ... and that God instructed him to pursue her romantically ... according to court docs obtained by TMZ.

According to studio security officials ... Gorton told them he felt a special connection with Benson after she happened to glance at him one day, and believed she and others were silently communicating messages to him.

Gorton has since been fired, but Benson says she fears he may still try to track her down at her home.

Justin Bieber turned to the Lord while being shaken down over his racist videos -- and TMZ has learned he washed away his sins with a baptism performed in a bathroom.
Pastor Carl Lentz -- who works with Bieber in NYC -- tells us he spent a week doing intense Bible study with Justin last month ... in the wake of being extorted over the videos.

As we previously reported -- JB's team was contacted 2 months ago by a man in possession of the videos and wanted a million dollar payday or else he'd go public.

We're told Bieber's religious resurgence focused on studying Bible passages and attending services ... culminating in an actual baptism performed in the bathtub of one of the singer's friends.

Why a bathtub, you ask? We're told JB previously checked out a bunch of churches for the dip -- but his cover was blown every time and he wanted to keep the whole thing private.

Justin's now got a clean slate with God -- but the public is a harder nut to crack.

Mase and his estranged wife have finally settled their divorce, TMZ has learned,and while Mase won't have physical custody of his kids ... he did win back custody of his rap gear.

As we first reported, Mase and Twyla Betha pulled the plug on their marriage back in April -- after several false starts -- with both sides wanting physical custody of their two kids ... but Mase caved.

Mase won't be a stranger to his kids ... he gets "reasonable visitation" of up to three hours a day as long as he gives 12 hours advance notice.

Mase was ordered to fork over $6,000/month for child and spousal support.

For her part Twyla must return ALL of Mase's musical equipment.

At least that should make Mase feel so gooooood.

Justin Bieber is letting God do his talking ... posting a photo of several Bible passages in the wake of the latest video of him using the n-word.

TMZ posted the video Wednesday ... showing a 14-year-old Bieber singing a racist version of his own song, repeating the line ... "There'll be one less lonely n*****."

Bieber's camp wanted the video out so he could own up to what he'd done.

"Snake Salvation" pastor Cody Coots suffered a gnarly snakebite -- just like his preacher father who died from a rattler's bite -- but Coots' wife tells TMZ her husband survived by the grace of God.

The venomous canebrake rattler sank its fangs into Coots' finger on Monday as he was taking the snake out of a cage in his Middlesboro, KY church.

Cody's wife Brittany tells us ... her husband's hand swelled up pretty badly, but he refused to get medical treatment. She says the pain went away by Tuesday, and he seems to be fine now.

When Coots' father Jamie was bitten while preaching back in February he also refused treatment ... and died.

Brittany calls Cody's incident a miracle, telling us ... "Jesus saved Cody. The Lord spared his life."