Free Republic

Sri Daya Mata, who for more than five decades was the leader of one of the most influential Hindu groups in the United States and an ardent advocate of the healing power of meditation, died on Tuesday at the group’s retreat for nuns in Los Angeles. She was 96. The society, whose monks and nuns adopt Indian names, teaches that there is a unifying truth behind all religious experience, and the group encourages its members to honor their roots in other faiths. Most members follow a vegetarian diet, practice yoga, chant and meditate Sri Daya Mata, who was born Faye...

A series of letters have been allegedly written by Leading Seaman Faye Turney while in Iranian custody and released by the Iranian government. There is no independent evidence that the letters are genuine - or whether they were written willingly. RELEASED FRIDAY 30 MARCH To British People I am writing to you as a British service person who has been sent to Iraq, sacrificed due to the intervening policies of the Bush and Blair governments. We were arrested after entering Iranian waters by the Iranian forces. For this, I am deeply sorry. I understand that this has caused even more...

Ex-Televangelist to Hold AIDS Drag Benefit Mon Dec 22, 8:02 AM ET DURHAM, N.C. - Former televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker Messner will headline a drag bingo benefit for AIDS here next month. The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina, which serves people with HIV and AIDS in Durham, Orange and Wake counties, is organizing the fund-raiser at the Durham Armory on Jan. 2. The headliner was a source of surprise to at least one group official. "When they told me, I said, 'Oh, this is not going to work' — far right and all that," acting executive director Jacquelyn Clymore said Friday....