Justin Bieber talks directly to God.

The 17-year-old pop superstar is a Christian and believes there is a higher power guiding everyone's lives, but he doesn't go to church to affirm his faith and instead focuses on praying to God in private.

He told V magazine: "A lot of people who are religious, I think they get lost. They go to church just to go to church. I'm not trying to disrespect them ... but for me, I focus more on praying and talking to Him. I don't have to go to church."

Although he doesn't go to a place of worship, the 'Baby' singer recently got a tattoo of Jesus Christ's face on his left calf and showed it off during a trip to a Los Angeles beach.

In the interview, Justin - who is dating 19-year-old star Selena Gomez - also complained that as he has got more successful and famous he has become a target for people.

He added: "Now that I'm on top, everyone wants to bring me down ... Everyone's trying to tug at me and take my spot. Like Floyd Mayweather, he's the best boxer in the world. Now he is a champion. Every time he goes to a fight now, people are like, 'He's going to lose this time.' "

Justin was stunned last year when a 20-year-old fan, Mariah Yeater, accused him of being the father of her baby Tristyn, a claim which he vehemently denied and is yet unproven.