Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 37, Ed. 1 Friday, January 29, 2010 Page: 17 of 44
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spi ritua I itynews
Find ig happiness, not judgment
LGBT-supportive Swami Mahanatra
says hate has no place in religion
[ JAVID TAFFFT I Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com
"Everyone is trying to find some degree of hap-
piness," said Mahanatra, an LGBT-supportive
Dalfas swami.
Swami is a Hindu honorary title. The Sanskrit
word means "He who knows and is the master of
himself," but it may better be defined as a reli-
gious teacher. The title is added to a personk
name to emphasize his devotion to his spiritual
master or to emphasize his advanced level of
learning.
Matthew Douglas, a follower of the swami,
said, "I have known Mahanatra for seven years.
Basically, he took me under his wing. He's been
preaching to me and gave me a path to spiritual
acceptance."
Douglas added/He left the door open and has
given me the opportunity to learn .
He said the swami never tells him what he has
to believe, but preaches love for all. "He doesn't
judge. He doesn't look at your past," he said.
Mahanatra Swami said that whatever spiritual
tradition you practice, do it well. He suggested a
simple way to begin.
"Whatever your tradition, just love God," he
said.
He said that many people who call themselves
religious have gone off course relating to LGBT
people.
"How can someone be religious when you hate
your brother?" he asked.
Mahanatra said that modern religious:sects are
going wrong because they teach you what yfcrn
have to be.
Mahanatra studied with another swami and
earned the title of swami at age 33. After actively
practicing, he stepped down for personal reasons
but has recently renewed his faith and has been
Mahanatra Swami
reinstated, he said.
Among the people who influenced him, he
said, is A.C. Bhaktivedanta, author of the book
"Bhagavad-gita As It Is." Mahanta said he has
had a personal audience with Bhaktivededanta,
founder of the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness.
Mahanatra said one mission he feels passionate
about is speaking out about the atrocities commit-
ted against the LGBT community. He implores the
gay and lesbian community, though, not to hate
the straight community in return.
"It-g a two-way gtreet," he said. "Everyone is
worthy to be loved by God."
He tells anyone who contacts him to expect
open arms, but not to expect to open their pock-
etbooks.
"Do I accept money? No. That's serving with a
motive. I have no motive other than helping oth-
ers/' ■
Mahanatra can be contacted at
Mahanatra Sivami&iotmail.cojrt.
Lesbian Christian singer appearing at Midway Hills
Stevens-Pino best known for 1971
Christian contemporary hit
AVIDTAFFETI Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com
Lesbian Christian musician and songwriter
Marsha Stevens-Pino will perform on Friday
night, Jan. 29, at Midway Hills Christian Church.
She will sing again at the 10:50 a.m. Sunday serv-
ice. Stevens-Pino calls her ministry BALM—Born
Again Lesbian Music.
Midway Hills is an open and affirming congre-
gation that hosted P-FLAG Dallas for more than
15 years. The church, affiliated with Disciples of
Christ, hosts a chapter of Gay, Lesbian and Affirm-
ing Disciples (GLAD) Alliance.
In 1971, Stevens-Pino wrote "For Those Tears I
Died (Come to the Water)" when she was 16. The
song became a contemporary Christian music hit.
Christian Century Maga-
zine said Stevens-Pino
became "conservative
Christianity's worst
nightmare — a Jesus-lov-
ing, Bible-believing, God-
fearing lesbian
Christian." ■
Midicay Hills CJiristian
Church, 11001 Midioay
Road. Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Free mtli offering welcome.
214-352-4841.
Marsha Stevens-Pino
3rd Annual
Back by popular
demand!
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Nash, Tammye. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 37, Ed. 1 Friday, January 29, 2010, newspaper, January 29, 2010; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth239101/m1/17/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.