Regional

 July 21, 2010 · Rev. Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping will perform “The Coal River Revival." Their performance comes with an agenda: to reduce consumption in general and end mountaintop removal mining.
Bill Talen, also known as Reverend Billy, is on a mission – perhaps not one from God -- but a mission nonetheless.

 CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Reverend Billy Talen realizes he might not be able to get you to stop shopping, but he'd sure like to get you to try. Reverend Billy and the Mountain Top Gospel Choir are coming to town to spread their message of post-consumerism, responsible living and joy.
The New York City-based group, part of The Church of Life After Shopping, will be at the Culture Center at 8 p.m. Saturday for a little song, a little dance, a few laughs and a big message.

"We don't believe that consumerism is any way to structure a society," Talen said.

KISS IT GOOD-BYE: Married couples take a final kiss to suspend their vows in the “UnMarriage until GayMarriage” ceremony at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park on Feb. 14. The mass ritual, led by the Rev. Billy Talen of the Church of Life After Shopping on Valentine’s Day, was in support of the right of all people to marry.

Audio of interview with the Rev, plus the Choir singing "I Do! I Do!"

Click here to listen to the MP3.

On Valentine’s Day in Central Park, married New Yorkers offered a cheeky “fuck you” to the New York and New Jersey state legislatures, which both recently passed disappointing “no” votes on gay-marriage bills. The semi-ubiquitous Reverend Billy presided over a ceremony in which straight marrieds undid their wedding vows. Sing-alongs and general merriment ensued, but the message was clear: You can’t pass homophobic legislation in the gay capital of the world without some blowback. Expect more of these shenanigans when the weather heats up.

On Monday, The Sundance Channel will premiere Beckley native Morgan Spurlock's new film, "What Would Jesus Buy?" a docu-comedy about the commercialization of Christmas.

The film makes its U.S. television debut on Sundance Channel at 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14.

The film is directed by Rob VanAlkemade and produced by Spurlock, the award-winning writer and director perhaps best known for "Super Size Me."

What would Jesus Buy?

The initial reaction to that question should be: "Nothing!"

According to the Scriptures, Jesus pretty much rejected material possessions so it's hard to imagine him shopping at Walmart. Not even for sandals.

But "What Would Jesus Buy?" is not about Christ.

It's the eye-catching title of filmmaker Morgan Spurlock's amusing, entertaining and alarming 2007 documentary about America's rampant consumption, especially during Christmas.

Rev. Billy will appear on Radio Provocateur to talk about Buy Nothing Day, the commercialization of Christmas, the role of consumerism in the American way-of-life.

RADIO PROVOCATEUR is a weekly radio program on WVRB that is (for now, at least) dedicated to exploring the many issues and causes in New York City and urban areas around the world and the people on the ground who organize around them. The show streams live at WVRB.org every Tuesday from 9 to 10pm.

Back in the days of the singing telegram, a popular phrase was “Say it with flowers.” That’s what the group Union Square Not For Sale did last Wednesday, when it held a rally calling on City Councilmember Rosie Mendez to help keep the Union Square pavilion restaurant-free. . .

Reverend Billy preaches about CHANGE at the Amory in Manhattan as part of the Democracy In America show presented by CREATIVE TIME.