Madonna has jumped to defend Tom Cruise, after witnessing the harsh critics received by the actor over his controversial Scientology beliefs.

The Queen of Pop, who also deals with critics over her following of the Kabala, believes that media should respect everyone's religion.

Cruise has been speaking more openly about his love for the Church of Scientology and has converted his pregnant fiancée Katie Holmes. He is also raising his kids as Scientologists and fired his publicist to hire his Scientologist sister instead.

"I find it very strange that it's (Scientology) so disturbing to people. It's not hurting anybody. If it makes Tom Cruise happy, I don't care if he prays to turtles. And I don't think anybody else should", Madonna was quoted as saying by the New York Daily News.

The diva, who calls herself Esther, is also disgusted by the critics that label Kabala, a mystical offshoot of Judaism, as a "cult".

"We're all in a cult. In this cult we're not encouraged to ask questions. And if we do ask questions, we aren't going to get a straight answer", she said.

"The world's in the cult of celebrity. That's the irony of it", the superstar added.