Rev. Billy's crusade to save shoppers from themselves

Source: Mercury News

Some of the parents interviewed in Rob VanAlkemade's fast-and-funny documentary "What Would Jesus Buy?" have a simple answer to the question posed by the title: whatever gadget of the moment their spoiled-rotten kids are craving.

According to the film's subject, Reverend Billy, the charismatic bleached-blond performance artist and mock evangelist - who lived and performed in the Bay Area during the late '80s and early '90s - and whose real name is Bill Talen, this is part of a larger problem. His get-up may be for show, but his activism is the real deal, and his mission is to fight what he calls the "shopocalypse," the buying frenzy Americans indulge in every holiday season.

The film takes us on a 2005 cross-country tour with Reverend Billy; Savitri D, his wife and organizer of his Church of Stop Shopping; and the church's gospel choir. Along the way they deliver their message - that peace and love, not spending, are the true backbone of holiday spirit - through witty speeches and songs to unsuspecting patrons at assorted problem spots like Wal-Mart, the Mall of America and Disneyland.

Reverend Billy is zany and energetic enough to hold the attention of those he's preaching to - average to extreme shoppers, many clueless as to what globalization means - long enough for them to consider his crusade. At the very least, the film might make a viewer think twice about that next purchase at the Gap.

'What Would Jesus Buy?'

**



Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/movies/ci_7538037?nclick_check=1

I'm sure it's still a madhouse at all the malls in the US, so I'll wait 'till the madness dies down.

And bake some cornbread. And NOT buy a damned thing. I got Russ Parson's How to Pick a Peach at the library and am gonna settle down with that. Maybe a fried egg sandwich for lunch.

THEY ARE NOT POISON!!!!!!

bring them to a boil with water to cover and then let them sit for an hour or three, pour off the soaking water and put fresh in, and then cook them up.

http://wwjbmovie.com/

http://wwjbmovie.com/trailer.html

:hi:

lol

:)

and I watch them in order so I haven't gotten to "WWJB" yet - but am looking forward to it.

Happy Holidays, SfExPat...

:hi:

:)

I totally support what he's doing, he's just excellent.

I don't know if the DVD is for sale yet - the movie just opened in theaters. From email:

Nothing beats gospel with an anti-corporate, pro-local message
Remove Starbucks and Disney (MP3 file)

Plus this one:
Stop Shopping(MP3 file)