Religion/ Spirituality

Nicki Minaj is incredulous people think she hates Jews -- even though her music video plays like a Nazi anthem -- because she made it with the help of Alex ... her new Jewish guy.

Minaj was defiant Monday as she arrived at LAX, cursing photogs who dared to ask her about all the Nazi-esque imagery in the lyric video for "Only."

Minaj also said on Twitter Tuesday both the producer and the person in charge of the video are Jewish. She said the inspiration for the video came from the Adult Swim show "Metalocalypse" and the movie "Sin City."

Nicki then apologized, saying, "I didn't come up w/the concept, but I'm very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone. I'd never condone Nazism in my art."

NFL legend Terry Bradshaw tells TMZ Sports he doesn't believe Justin Bieber jinxed the Pittsburgh Steelers ... but he does have an issue with JB at the team prayer service the night before the game.

As you know ... the Steelers lost to the lowly NY Jets this weekend -- and a lot of people are blaming the "Justin Bieber Curse" since he joined the team for a pregame prayer ceremony Saturday night.

"It's automatically assumed he's a jinx," Bradshaw says. "That's ridiculous."

But it's what Bradshaw said next that was interesting ... "Would Bieber be a disruption? Well, I wouldn't have had him there."

"The only time I recall the Steelers teams I played on letting outsiders worship with us was at the Super Bowl ... and it was with our families because they traveled with us."

Bradshaw says he takes his bible study very seriously -- and believes the purpose of a private prayer ceremony for NFL teams is to keep the focus on god.

So, when a huge megastar like Bieber walks in the room ... "Your focus isn't where it should be."

“Orange is the New Black” star Lea DeLaria went off on a religious fanatic on an NYC subway -- and the woman known as Big Boo got really loud about it.

But beyond the yelling and religious debating, the biggest takeaway from this video is ... we finally learned how to get to “Sesame Street."

"Orange Is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria went off the rails on the train in NYC Tuesday morning ... verbally attacking a Bible-thumper who was holding commuters hostage to his rants.

DeLaria (aka Big Boo) was on the train when the proselytizer began preaching at ear-piercing levels. The actress stood up in her "Bad Jew" T and schooled the guy, distracting commuters intently Instagraming, Twittering and Candy Crushing.

But the preacher guy fought back ... eventually referencing Sodom and Gomorrah and "the sin of homosexuality." At that point Lea, who is openly gay, throws her hands up and just loses it on the guy.

As for where DeLaria was headed ... she apparently took the train to "Sesame Street."

A girl's family claims she became possessed by demons after visiting a house owned by "Ghost Adventures" star Zak Bagans ... and she had to be exorcised.

The house has had documented incidents of paranormal activity. As we first reported ... a family fled the home after claiming they were terrorized by demons.

Zak convinced different former residents to return to the home for a new documentary ... and as soon as they began filming, demonic activity surfaced. The mother claimed someone kicked her when no one was around. And there were other incidents as well.

A few days later, the daughter began having violent outbursts ... threatening to hurt herself and others. Zak says the girl's family witnessed her speaking in tongues ... exhibiting signs of demonic possession.

Zak claims they brought the girl to a Catholic priest, who performed an exorcism. He recorded the ritual on video. Zak says the girl is now back to her old self.

The documentary was put on ice while everyone dealt with the daughter, and now Zak says he'll return to the house in December ... to finish the film.

Notre Dame may not want its players banging before marriage, but it will NOT suspend Justin Brent for "dating" porn star Lisa Ann ... TMZ Sports has learned.

A Notre Dame football spokesman says the freshman wide receiver will escape any punishment -- and will suit up for the Navy game this weekend. He added Coach Brian Kelly met with Brent when he got back to campus ... and it's no longer an issue.

It may sound strange, but sources connected with the university tell us Brent did nothing wrong. The official university stance is that students "may be subject" to punishment if they have premarital sex ... but there's no public proof Brent and the legendary "Nailin' Palin" star banged.

We're told administrators did question Brent about a leaked photo (rated PG) of him in bed with LA ... but since he had nothing to do with it getting out, there's no issue. ND officials merely warned Brent to be careful because he represents the university -- a.k.a. be smart about what you post on social media.

Ray Rice and his wife Janay are fully aware of the Ray Rice costumes that have been surfacing this Halloween -- and they're telling friends they're simply praying for the people mocking them.

You've seen the pics -- people dressed up as Ray dragging around an inflatable Janay in an effort to lampoon the infamous elevator attack.

We've spoken with friends and family members close to Ray and Janay who tell us ... the couple is dealing with the unwanted attention by turning to religion.

One source tells us Ray and Janay have said they are "praying for those people."

As we previously reported, Ray and Janay have been extremely involved with their church since the incident ... and were both baptized in March when they decided to become born again Christians.

We're also told Ray and Janay are still committed to the marriage -- and have vowed to maintain their family and rebuild their lives together.

Sinead O'Connor says she's got proof AMA producers wanted her to stand alongside Pope Francis during their upcoming show ... and claims anyone saying otherwise is full of crap!

We broke the story ... an American Music Awards source told us Sinead's recent rant against them was ridiculous -- because they never discussed a Pope appearance. But O'Connor says that's BS.

TMZ obtained emails between Sinead's management team and her record label ... clearly referring to a discussion they had with AMA staff about appearing alongside the Pope.

Sinead's manager claims when he asked who producers were trying to snag for the show ... the record label rep said, "Take a deep breath ... Pope Francis. No joke."

It appears Sinead's position is that the AMAs wanted her essentially for a stunt ... to bring her and the Pope together on the stage, given the backdrop of beef the singer had with the Pontiff.

American Music Awards sources are saying they never wanted Sinead O'Connor to stand alongside Pope Francis on their show ... they say she was the one pushing for the appearance.

Sources close to the production tell TMZ ... it was actually HER team who contacted the AMAs ... but having Sinead end her Pope beef during the show was NEVER discussed.

We're told show producers were interested in Sinead being on the show ... but they say her claims about the Pope -- which she made on her blog -- are ridiculous and a tweet was never sent.

Sources say producers feel Sinead's been spewing BS for decades, so this rant is nothing new. More importantly ... we're told she will absolutely not be appearing on the award show now.

Sinead famously ripped apart a photo of Pope John Paul II during her 1992 performance on "Saturday Night Live" ... which got her banned from the show for life.

Jewish NY Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire says he'll be fasting for Yom Kippur when the sun goes down tonight ... and won't eat all day tomorrow ... despite the fact he's in the middle of NBA training camp.

Stoudemire just went to Instagram and posted ... "Day of Atonement !! Sundown tonight - Sundown tomorrow."

He added, "This is going to be the hardest one yet. No eating or drinking during camp."

It's kind of a big deal, considering the Knicks have been busting their asses during the training sessions ... and Stoudemire has vowed to refrain from nourishing himself after the brutal workouts.

FYI -- Amar'e's decision comes almost 49 years ... to the day ... from when Sandy Koufax famously decided to NOT pitch in a World Series game to observe the Jewish Holiday.

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.