Religion/ Spirituality

We're only a few days into a new week ... and there's already so much to discuss!!!

First up, on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles discuss Brian Cox slamming the Bible as the worst book ever ... sounding off on organized religion altogether.

There's been jarring imagery coming out of college campuses embroiled in pro-Palestine protests -- including Jewish students being blocked off, which Brett Gelman finds disgusting.

We got the 'Stranger Things' star at LAX Tuesday, where he weighed in on everything going on at Columbia University and other schools ... namely, demonstrators who are sympathetic to what's happening in Gaza assembling en masse and setting up encampments.

A lot of this unrest has actually made its way out west -- including at UCLA ... where one student this week was filmed apparently being barred by protesters from entering campus.

El profesor de Columbia Jack Halberstam está analizando las crecientes tensiones en el campus, luego de que los manifestantes pro-palestinos ocuparan un edificio en la escuela de la Ivy League.

El profesor de Estudios de Género e Inglés estuvo el martes en "TMZ Live" y defendió la toma de Hamilton Hall el lunes por la noche ya que los manifestantes estudiantiles han ocupado edificios en el pasado -incluyendo Hamilton Hall- para llamar la atención sobre las injusticias relacionadas con el apartheid sudafricano y la guerra de Vietnam, por ejemplo.

El profesor Halberstam también arrojó luz sobre cómo el conflicto entre los manifestantes pro-palestinos y los manifestantes pro-Israel en realidad ha ido en aumento durante meses, con la universidad supuestamente haciendo poco para ayudar a los estudiantes de ambos lados.

Columbia Professor Jack Halberstam is weighing in on the growing tensions on campus ... after pro-Palestinian protesters occupied a building at the Ivy League school.

We got the Gender Studies and English prof Tuesday on "TMZ Live," and he defended Monday night's takeover of Hamilton Hall ... as student protesters have occupied buildings in the past -- including Hamilton Hall -- to draw attention to injustices related to South African apartheid and the Vietnam War, for example.

Professor Halberstam also shed light on how the conflict between pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel protesters has actually been growing for months ... with the university allegedly doing little to help students on either side.

Brian Cox se caga en la religión organizada y especialmente en el cristianismo, llamando a la Biblia el peor libro de la historia de la humanidad, porque ha engañado a los tontos por años.

La estrella de "Succession" concedió una entrevista a "The Starting Line Podcast" y hablaron de un montón de cosas, incluyendo pensamientos introspectivos sobre la religión, Dios, la espiritualidad, y todo lo demás. Desde el punto de vista de Brian, todo es un montón de bazofia.

Puedes ver el video completo para ver todo su proceso de pensamiento, y como explica por qué la sociedad necesita moverse más hacia un matriarcado.

Brian Cox is crapping on organized religion, and especially Christianity ... calling the Bible the worst book to ever grace human history, 'cause it's duped so many suckers and fools.

The "Succession" star sat for an interview with 'The Starting Line Podcast' ... and they talked about a lot of stuff -- including introspective thoughts on religion, God, spirituality, and all the rest. From Brian's POV ... it's all a bunch of hogwash, not buying any of it.

You can check out the full video to see his whole thought process -- but this clip here gets the job done ... with Brian explaining why society needs to move more toward a matriarchy.

Eric Church is doubling down on his spiritually-charged Stagecoach set ... despite the fact his performance appears to have left a lot of attendees thoroughly underwhelmed.

In response to the criticism -- check X and you'll see what we're talking about -- Eric defended his appearance at the famed music festival this weekend as the "most difficult set" of his career ... explaining he attempted to take a risk with an unexpected lineup.

For those who missed it, EC gave an unplugged performance of hymns and gospel covers, prompting several festivalgoers to bounce to Nickelback’s set at another stage. He was seated for most of the show ... and like we said, there really wasn't much to it besides him, his guitar and a choir.

Russell Brand's taking a big step in his faith journey ... announcing he's getting baptized -- and saying it's an opportunity to move on from the past.

The controversial actor/podcast host posted a video to his Instagram recently ... telling his nearly four million followers he's scheduled to be baptized today and asking those who'd been through the process to share their experiences.

After waxing poetic on religion for a bit, RB makes a pretty eye-opening statement ... saying he's heard it's an opportunity to be reborn -- and leave the past behind.

Professor and activist Marc Lamont Hill is weighing in on the pro-Palestine protests on the Columbia campus, saying recent antisemitic acts are the work of a few bad apples, and not the majority of students.

We got the former CNN commentator and current CUNY professor Tuesday on "TMZ Live," where he shared his observations from the demonstrations ... which have led to hundreds of student arrests, but also countless others feeling unsafe.

According to Marc -- who's a former Columbia professor -- most of the protests he's observed have been peaceful, with students simply speaking out against Israel's actions in its war with Hamas.

The vast majority of FCC complaints made during and after Super Bowl LVIII had to do with a pro-Israel ad that ran ... and it appears to have been planned that way.

TMZ has obtained FCC filings -- including all of the complaints made pertaining to the Super Bowl in February -- and there's a recurring theme in just about all of them ... namely, people pissed the State of Israel was allowed to air a commercial in the broadcast.

Per the docs, hundreds complaints were filed ... and a handful of them were about the usual -- indecent exposure, risqué outfits, language, etc. And a fair amount even complained about showing celebs ... including Taylor Swift, Ice Spice, Usher and others who were in the house.

Marjorie Taylor Greene's looking to the heavens for an omen ... and, it seems she's finding them in every natural phenomenon.

The Georgia congresswomen tweeted out a warning to her fellow Americans Friday after an earthquake rocked the Northeast -- specifically New Jersey and New York. And let's not forget what happened in Taiwan ... of course, a solar eclipse is happening Monday too.

In her tweet, MTG says God's sending signals to the United States demanding repentance ... and claiming both the earthquake and next week's solar eclipse are signs from above.

Akon says he doesn't party enough to know the ins and outs of Diddy's party scene, but he's hoping the truth comes out, for everyone involved, and perhaps ... the industry learns a few lessons.

TMZ spoke to Akon Friday at LAX, and the multi-platinum hitmaker tells us the constant scandals in the music industry are simply bad for business.

Diddy was spotted in Miami all smiles while out for a bicycle ride earlier this week, and Akon says the best everyone can do is shower Puff with prayers ... and leave it in God's hands.

Caitlyn Jenner is blasting President Biden over what she seems to think is a coordinated effort to conflate a Christian holiday with a day that also celebrates transgender people.

The reality star sounded off on Saturday -- a day before International Transgender Day of Visibility, which just so happens to fall on Easter this year -- and took aim at Joe specifically ... as it appears she believes he might've made one land on the other on purpose.

She writes, "I am absolutely disgusted that Joe Biden has declared the most Holy of Holy days - a self proclaimed devout Catholic - as Transgender Day of Visibility. The only thing you should be declaring on this day is ‘HE is Risen’."

New York Jets star Sauce Gardner is addressing the backlash after stating Jewish people "run the world" ... claiming he had no idea his words would be considered antisemitic -- but has since educated himself on the matter.

The two-time All-Pro came under fire after appearing in a video with popular streamer Adin Ross -- who is Jewish -- this week ... when he stated, "I'mma be honest, like no funny, weird s***, y'all run the world."

The comment was met with laughter from those in the room ... and while Ross didn't appear offended, many took to social media to sound off on Gardner.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year is now clarifying his controversial take ... going to X to try to explain his side of things.

"I love all people," Gardner said. "While my intentions were positive, I just learned that people use those exact words I shared for hate towards Jewish people."

"That is not what I am about and I appreciate those who took the time to educate me on that fact."

Gardner also noted the majority of his agency and marketing teams consist of Jewish people and he talks to them on the daily ... and he meant it as a compliment.

Some folks had Gardner's back ... saying they understood he didn't mean any harm.

Kanye West is asking major players in the music industry to respect his decision to go by his legally changed name "Ye" ... TMZ has learned.

In a letter obtained by TMZ ... Kanye's chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, fires off a strong message to big players in the music industry -- including streamers, publishers, lyric websites and more -- with a demand that the rapper be referred to as Ye moving forward.

As Milo puts it ... Kanye didn't come to the decision to change his name lightly, as he is aware he's sacrificing brand value that comes with "Kanye West." Still ... the Grammy winner considers it a "slave name" and wants to ditch the moniker across all platforms.

He adds ... "Ye is a Black man in America who wants the right to full self-determination just like everyone else."

Remember ... Kanye officially changed his name to Ye back in October 2021. The artist had a judge sign off on him adopting his longtime nickname as his legal moniker years after speaking in favor of the name's Biblical ties.

Kanye told radio host Big Boy in 2018 that he preferred Ye since it was the most commonly used word in the Bible -- which wasn't actually an accurate statement, FWIW.

Still, Ye isn't the first artist to change their name ... as Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Prince, Bow Wow and Ke$ha have all switched up their public personas in the past.