The Introduce Yourselves Thread

My name is Theresa. I have 3 daughters.  My ex-husband was a shop-a-holic to the point of bankruptcy.He handled all the bills and told me not to worry, he had it under control. This worked for about 18 years. Finally the credit card debt got so bad we could no longer pay our bills. He was paying credit card payments with other credit cards. This tore my family apart. I have been on my own for the last 9 years. I have NO credit cards. I lost my job in February. I have not been able to find another one yet. It has been hard but I am surviving. I realize a lot of my ex co workers are having a much harder time because they have so much debt. So I guess I learned a vaulable lesson from my marriage! This year I had no money for gifts. I did give my only grand child $10.00. That is all I had to spend. My children are all old enough to see I don't have money because I don't have a job. Even when I did work I did not shop at WalMart. I think the world has gone crazy. We are sending our jobs overseas. I don't understand how the big corporations think they can sell their products if no one has a job. I worked for Hanes Brands. My job is now off shore.

Merry Christmas and  I want to thank all of you in this Church for your work.  Your work, in the form of the mockumentary "What Would Jesus Buy?" is even now still dazzling my mind.  I first saw it today. A wonderful gift of YOURSELVES to the WORLD with a message.  I never knew people like you existed in real life.  I've been alone fighting the battle for twenty years.  I thought everyone else must be deaf, dumb, and blind, not to see what is going on and the ramifications and consequences.  I did the math and the numbers are staggering.  You guys amaze me!  And I am not easily amazed!  You seem to have stayed true to your concepts, as much a possible, and that ain't no easy thing.  I'm a recovering Lawyer (Ole Miss, Class of 1987), thinker and scientist.  A neophyte idealististic lawyer, I took on a case of a black prison inmate accused of raping a white female prison guard.  The Setting: Parchman, Mississippi. Date: 1989.  Young and fresh, full of jubilant dreams of justice.  Knew the law upside down, inside out and sideways.  Believing in my client's actual innocence, I took the case.  Thus, started my dark journey into Southern justice.  Turning over rocks with wild abandon in pursuit of truth, I was soon bloodily curtailed. 
Enough to know I saw the underside of the Beast, as have you.  The place where "maintaining the status quo" is the ultimate paradigm.  
Thank you for gifts of that movie and this website and providing a place where far reaching and justice minded people can come together.
Hallelujah.  ElijahCory 

Wonderful news!

Finally a message to get me excited.
I am with you all

I will  pray for your mission

Where can I catch a performance of the choir?

How can I join the choir

shirley

In November I bought the CD (ooopps!) by The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir when Rev. Billy Talen was in Minneapolis.  I gotta say that song Step Away from the Big Box, Step Away, Step Away... made an impression.  I can't stop humming it as I drive by the Wal-marts, the Targets, and Mall of America while NOT shopping. 

How ironic that same month I was teaching students about child labor around the word in the Read 180 program by Scholastic, and later found out that in Time for Kids (the magazine produced by Scholastic) they were shamelessly advertising for Disney.  How can you be advertising for Disney and also be saying how awful child labor is when Disney treats their workers in China so bad?  Isn't it all linked together?  Shouldn't someone write Scholastic and address this issue?  They do have access to all school children in the public schools so that would be a good place to start.

I was just introduced to Rev. Billy and the Choir, on the Sundance Channel.  Lying in my bed, I sat upright, clapping my hands in glee!  Fantastic it was... you folks, a'marchin' and a'singin', down Main Street, Disneyland, U.S.A.!  I had to open my laptop and send your website right out, to all my family and friends, who had all been agonizing over being broke this Christmas and unable to go out and buy stuff for everyone!
God bless Rev. Billy, the choir and the band... everyone.  Ya'll keep singin'.  'Cause you know, if you do... if you keep tellin' folks somethin' long enough, they'll come to expect it.  Like "Alice's Restaurant" on Thanksgiving... right?  That's what it'll be... like the "Alices' Restaurant Anti-Massacree Movement".  It'll go somethin' like this... 

"...And the only reason I'm
singing you this song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar
situation, or you may be in a similar situation, and if your in a
situation like that there's only one thing you can do and that's walk into
the store, wherever you are ,just walk in say "Sorry, but I'm joinin' Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Church.". And walk out. You know, if
one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and
they won't take him seriously. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony,
they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them.
And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
singin a bar of "Stop Shopping" and walking out. They may think it's an
organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said
fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of "Stop Shopping" and
walking out. Why, friends they may thinks it's a movement.

And that's what it is , the Reverend Billy's Stop Shopping Gospel Church Movement, and all you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the guitar...

With feeling. So we'll wait for it to come around on the guitar, here and
sing it when it does. Here it comes."

(With heartfelt thanx, much love & respect and humblest apologies to Arlo Guthrie.)

Ya'll keep singin'... and spreadin' that good word.

From Amanda

Greetings to you Reverend Billy and to the beautiful Life After Shopping Gospel Choir.  I just saw 'What Would Jesus Buy?' on Sundance and wanted to send a big "Amen!" shout out to you wonderful people.  The songs were beautiful and the message was dead-on.   

I noticed this was a pre-shopocalypse picture (made in 2007 before the American economy collapsed under it's mountain of unreconcilable debt).  Your 2007 tour turned out to be prophetic.  I think people are starting to rethink their priorities a bit.  They seem to be paying down debt and spending less...  Halleluyeh!

God Bless You All,

Jon Bailey
Minneapolis, MN      

I was so pleased after watching this documentary!  I enjoyed this more than anything I've seen in such a long time.  This is so unique, creative, and very, very effective!  I think it's wonderful.  I know, from having protested in the past against  a few things myself, how tough it is to encounter the inevitable security employees and police.  It can be daunting, but this is great, and I can't tell you how much learning about your group has given me hope.  A million thanks for putting your energy into something so vitally important. When the woman in the film, the reverend's wife (sorry- I'm bad with names) said she needed to know that their effort was having some impact, I wanted to yell YOU ARE! You have no idea!  Thank you!

I would just like to say that I respect differing opinions as pertains how & why people live their lives and the choices they may make that will affect said lives ... both for themselves and others.
I would caution, however, the route, at least for purposes of consideration, of not going overboard in pursuit of such causes.
Appropriate enthusiasm in nature of principled stance should not be construed to mean that one may wing-nut themselves to The Outer Limits of acceptable behavior.
Reprobate reasoning must never master in the forum of civil life/discourse, much less should the court of public opinion be seen to degrade to the level of the lowest common denominator.
Thank you for your attention, Carry On...

 joab in atlanta/marietta georgia here

found the rev by luck, remember seeing him on tv some tikme ago very happy to have found the site

i am 62 a world class blues player if i do say so myself and do paralegal work for a living

i have a share book on care2.com as joabblues, a little more radical than the rev but similar flavor and a couple of little blues experiments on youtube under same name if y'all ever get to the sunny south or i get to travel i would love to sit in with the band and maybe do a version of burden down,  i have been a minister of music and the band in true holiness churches i believe i could fit right in

I listened to all the songs today, very nice, as Cab Calloway told Nat king cole, enunciate, no sense in all those wonderful lyrics getting lost.

I feel better
So much better
since I laid my plastic down

I am very proud of y'all

joab

 Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

I am a single mother of three children - 3, 5, and 8.  Like so much of our lives to date, I have been living the way I was raised and what has always made perfect sense to me. . .thrift, value, love, sustainability, DIY, humbleness, stewardship, intuitive politics. . .leading up to removal of my conscience in politics, and just recently, the work-machine that ends up making us into soylent green.  Yes, I am un-employed.  Have been for 6 weeks now.  Through the grace of God we live damned well - don't ask how.  No - do ask, I'd love to elaborate on my theory.  

I never knew names existed for the philosophies and ideologies and practices I have lived by.  And only a few time was I roused enough to make a pledge to tell all what I believed, in a vain effort to change - all young fights for huge causes - Peace and absolute dumbfounded outrage of the ignorance surrounding major political events.  Change begins with ourselves, and three kids to raise amidst all this savage, soul-sucking Succubus called the economy is enough of His Holy work for me - until I saw Rev Billy.  Actually, I lied, forgive me, until I saw "The Story of Stuff" which says all the right stuff, but not loud and gaudy enough to completely rouse me again to the proud stance of activist as the Rev Billy and his Family - their Love and Mission sets my soul on fire!  Local-lujah!  Praise Be!

I, with my children, are engaging on a journey towards finding a home for next to nothing.  I said a home, not a house.  We, too, are on a Mission to be protected from the demons that wail for us in the giant billboards pimpling the country-side.  We live rural Tennessee and I only wish that there was more ignorance to the 'rest of the world' as is perceived.  My son speaks about something he saw on tv.  We don't have tv, but I learned they watch tv in kindergarten!  At the basic, most fundamental platforms of education they are teaching them to be consumers.  Being poor, I notice this with heightened sensitivities - almost every day the teacher or the school asks for money - field trips, book sales, ice cream (with the stuff inside those ice creams being poison enough with the onslaught of advertisements have my children doubt what I teach them), candy for every holiday you could name, gifts for parties, charities, donations to the school - which is planted in a very impoverished county - which brings to the forefront also, my poor neighbors pressured to literally buy into all this junk because if not they would not be supporting their local school.  And I have yet to see a difference in the level of quality at the school.  

Quality comes from the heart, not from money.  And that, is how my three children and I live so damned well when we're so poor.  

for contact
specialscar@gmail.com

Just saw WWJB.  Loved it. 

I bought into most of the beliefs of the Stop Shopping Church/The Church of Life After Shopping years ago.  But I suppose like most of us, I struggle to live out those beliefs to the extent to which I'd like.  The desire to teach my kids human and spiritual values over the values of consumerism provides my greatest struggles over it.  This responsiblity toward my kids, seen in the face of the difficulties of fullfilling it, make me sad and overwhelmed sometimes.

But in spite of that, the movie helped me.  It gave me insight, reminders, ideas and motivation!  I'm prompted to re-think some of the decisions I still have to make about Christmas gifts and celebrations this year.  I have a combination of good ideas and challenging questions.  But not much time to figure out how I'll act on them!  I think it might be fun though!  How many days until Christmas? 

If nothing else, whatever I do now is a step in a good direction.  How may days do I have to re-think and revise until Christmas 2010?  We're coming both to a New Year and to Epiphany, right? 

Christmas past spills from my closets, the flotstam and jetstam of my children’s childhood. The Game of Life and Masterpiece, two pottery wheels, (battery operated and electric), two karoke machines and three Monopoly games, (Junior, Wizard of Oz and my mom's set from the 1940's).  This year is different for two reasons.  My family has changed and Reverend Billy came to town.

My eldest daughter crossed to adulthood, by birthday and life-way a grown-up. My middle girl decamped for Portugal, an exchange-student refugee, fleeing a senior year spent at a suburban high school. My son is a teen-ager, gone from debatably taller to someone I clearly look up to. Both his eyeballs and his heart are on a new level.

Yet, I cling to the stuff of their babyhood. I still have toddler tub toys in my upstairs bathroom. The family room cabinet is crammed with VCR tapes, Disney Movies, Little Rascals. The Brio train sets, the Playmobile figures, the Lincoln Logs clod the cupboard beneath the stair. The boxes entomb answers to the relentless question of Christmases gone bye and buy, the pleading demands of aunts and grandparents, “I need gift ideas for your kids.”

How pure I wanted to be when my children were young. How diligently I tried to enforce a buying ethic, no Barbie, no logos, limit the Disney. But, you can’t beat back the demon monoculture without a sense of humor. My daughters’ favorite nightgown was long and pink and had the Little Mermaid on it. So much of my sleepy little girls is tucked away in that fabric, I have to love it.

By the mid 1990s I lost the Barbie war. Barbie’s measurements didn’t match-up to my ideas of feminine realism, but I gave her grandma the go ahead to get my daughter a newly apportioned more realistic fashion doll, “Free to Be Me.” Later, when I could no longer hold back the flood of Mattel, the “Free to Be Me” doll kept a special place in the play hierarchy as “The Fat Barbie.”

To wax fanatic, is to find your self a foolish hypocrite. I am a sinner and weak. I admit that sometimes, as the shopping days dwindled to Christmas, I’d spend a bundle in the last few hours, afraid my children wouldn’t feel loved unless they got more stuff.

Reverend Billy tells the story of descending the stairs on Christmas morning, the living-room floor lovingly layered with his mother’s judicious selections, how theatrical, how magical. He told this story at Macalester College last Sunday during the Twin Cities leg of the "Blessed are the Broke, Blessed are the Jobless" crusade. Forgiveness fell on my shoulders like the first flakes of winter. I felt all the stuff, once so firmly anchored in boxes and shelves lift just a bit. The goods held down by 'might have been', and 'once were' found buoyancy.

Somehow my children survived the onslaught of consumerism. They keep emerging from the effluence of their affluent upbringing. “Mom,” said my oldest daughter, “you made Christmas special and it wasn’t just the gifts.” God love them. And God grant me the strength to clear out those closets, the forgiveness for filling them in the first place and God bless Reverend Billy for coming to the Twin Cities.

When I was fourteen years old, I read Bram Stoker's Dracula.  After reading the book, I planted garlic throughout the house to ward off my home against vampires and I buried the book deep in my dresser covered with garlic bulbs.  My mom noticed that the house had a rather pungent smell after awhile and then she discovered the garlic planted throughout the house.  She went to my father and told him that I was very strange.

I'm Sister Barbikat or Barbara R. Lee if you need to ask the police what lock up did they put me this time.  Only kidding....sort of.
I sing soprano in the choir.  I am the only off key singer in the choir but I get away with it because of my charm, my enthusiasm and my talent for massaging feet.

Reverend Billy has not completely brought me over to the light but bless his heart, he still hasn't given up on me.  

I love the choir, I love political activism.  I used to squat in the Lower East Side.  I loved working in the building I lived in and being surrounded by like minded people who cared about each other and our living space.  I learned alot about dumpster diving, recycling things to use that others throw away.  I learned to try to heal myself first through herbs, rest and good food before going to the doctor.  

My mother taught me to love myself as a black woman and she saw to it that I didnt feel inferior to anyone.  I think she did too good a job because I have no respect for anyone that represents authority unless I know they are compassionate with their rank and not bossy creeps that abuse their power.

From celebrating the release of Dhoruba Bin Wahad to meeting one of the survivors of the Move bombings, Ramona Africa, I am blessed with not just knowing black history from the past but knowing my black family in the present.

It's a rainbow, my rainbow of love,  it reaches all over the world.  The many people that I know that do political activism, sing,  write stories, draw, paint,

CREATE.

Being in the choir and learning and loving with Billy and Savitri gives me such joy!   They are kindred spirits, I could wish for no better place to be right now.

Well, that's enough out of me.  Oh yeah and I'm an animal person.  Two cats own me and I hope to have a dog to boss me around too.


Blessed Be!!!

I just watched your movie last night and it made a big impact on me.  Not that me and my family needs to change our spending habits, we already did that, but to see you and your courage.  Thank you for what you have done and what you are doing.  I just watched a recent video clip on your site (one of the live shows archived). You asked your community what next, what should we do next.  My suggestion is duplicate yourself if you can.  double triple quadrupple the message.  The message, not the show.  I don't think there are many that can do the show - you are fabulous and effective.  You have an awesome team around you.  You have a terribly hard message for people to hear, but you do better than most in getting it across.  Read Ezekiel 2-3 and hang in there.  Apart from the show, the message is in the hearts of many people.  Encourage others to pass the message on and help them encourage others to pass the message on.  Duplicate, multiply, reproduce.  I think you are part of the antidote to overcome the disease but we have to act the part of a antibody and multiply.  Soon the whole body of America will be overtaking the disease.  I hope anyway.  Keep up the good work.  I wish I could do more directly to help you.  I'll try to do my part here in New Mexico.

And I have a suggestion for Kymm.  Try networking through political activist groups.  There are many groups starting up around the themes the Rev is preaching about.  Make friends, help them, and you'll come across people who need what you have to offer.  Do some stuff for free and build a portfolio.  You're skills are needed.  And if this is really what you want to do, don't give up, keep at it.  If you need more contact me on facebook or at robertcoss.com

I would say buy one.  There's a big difference between purchasing pointless crap that you don't need that was made by some child laborer in Indonesia and buying a piece of art with an important message.  Not all consuming is bad.  We're mamalian organisms, and by nature must consume.  But we can be humans and practice ethical consumerism, and buying a copy of what would jesus buy would be doing just that.  Not only will you be "voting with your pocket book" which is supporting good things and organizations which truly need your support, but also you can use your copy to educate other people in an awesome way.   When I used to talk abotu ethical consumerism at work, people would get really angry with me.  But this movie is funny and silly and in that way is subversive.  It gets a message across by, ironically, not being super preachy about it, but being ironic.  You can help just by buying one and showing your friends!

 I am seriously conflicted and I need guidance. I have just become aware of this movement. I seriously want to but the film, but . . . I am trying to not buy things. What do I do? I am not joking. 

Thanks

Jason

 I am seriously conflicted and I need guidance. I have just become aware of this movement. I seriously want to but the film, but . . . I am trying to not buy things. What do I do? I am not joking. 

Thanks

Jason

I saw WWJB last night with a couple friends.  We loved it.  I have long since believed that Christmas is the worst holiday because of all the commercialism associated with it.  I was most amazed that so many people were against the message, but I guess it's the same thing with smokers.  They know it's bad, they understand it will kill them, and they still do it.  Most people can not be saved, but I am trying.  I have told my family members and friends that in lieu of gifts this year I would like them to make a small donation to a local rescue center for needy cats.  I feel good about this choice and about the quest to spend less on useless crap to fill a void.  I hate Disney too!!!! 

Hello Friends my name is Tina and I'm from the Southern-Tier of Western NY.  Last yr my husband was laid off from Ethan Allen when it closed after 35yrs.  The notice came as the guys started back to work after the Christmas Hoilday. 
Last yr at this time we came to realization that buying junk and going without to pay our bills was crazy.  So we decided to teach our 16teen yr old a lesson in Responsibility and Love.  We did not set a tree up and we did not exchange presents, we shared the day watching movies on line about Love and Togetherness.  On Line because we gave up Cable TV 6yrs ago...We now only allow in what is a learning experience and not Commericals of Greed and Sexuality...That's how we came upon this website..Thru topdocumentaryfilms.com/what-would=jesus-buy (excellent site) for learning...
Well back to my story...All was wonderful until his friends starting bragging about
what they received for Christmas... he felt horrible and sad....But after several days he got over it and he's a better person because of it...This yr we are celebrating the day Baby Jesus was born...we will set a modest tree up and the day will be filled with how we can help others in the coming year. 

In conclusion I see this as a blessing that my husband found your site and after my best friends death this past Monday I was feeling down and out.  But Jesus gave me a beautiful gift this year...Many new friends....

Thank You
Tina Marie

Hi All!!

I've been unemployed since last April and have been using this downtime to get myself educated at the local community college.

My intention is to go into web development.  However, as I gain new skills I can't help but be concerned about finding myself in the cogs of the machine again.  The IT industry is huge and varied. My hope is to be part of the solution, not the problem.

Does anyone out there have any ideas on how to avoid being ground up in the corporate machinery?  Or maybe on how to work from the inside.

It is only my first semester.  It will be a while before I am looking for real work.  I'd love to get some imput on the subject.

Kymm

Hi all!  I hereby pledge: no spending to try to find happy; no spending to try to find relaxation; no spending 'cause it feels good to have money and spread the wealth.  From here on out, if JC wouldn't buy it, neither will I!

  I would like to participate here, and have a few suggestions  , for what they are worth. I do have some experience in activism, especially in Berkeley having been a member of the notorious 10th Street Collective and the Pledge. One thing I demur is your insensitvity to the tragedy of poor Mickey. Remember, he was originally a wiry, feisty little rodent ready to get in a scrap or dance a jig. Suddenly he becomes an obese, compliant little sycophant. It's obvious what they did to him: they cut the  poor little varmint's nuts off. By way of rehabilitation, a ditty:(to be sung at Wall Street,etc.
    Who's the leader of them all who's made for you and me?M-I C K-E-Y  A-U- D-I T      Mickey AUDIT! Mickey AUDIT! Get it before they raise your taxes HIGH HIGH HIGH HI!Join our coalition, you're as wecome as can be! M-I-C See where the money goes! K-E-Y Why? Because YOU have the right to know! A-U-D-I-T!And for a  (er,um) bonus my newspaper  song  ( suggestion at Times Post, or Voice offices(to the tune of 'Smoke Gets in your eyes'       They asked me how I knew/ My news wasn't new/ Despite the pulitzer Prize/ When a lovely rag dies/ Crap* gets in your eyes.// News that I thought askew/ was'nt even true / Then I realized/ When a lovely rag dies/ Crap* gets in your eyes.//  How I longed for wit to follow on/ through points that perplexed me!/  Though I strive to cut through all the jive/ The quest has only vexed me.// Sties porkers would eschew/ circumscribes your view/ Now you realize/ In a blizzard of lies/Crap* gets in your eyes. Consider them copylefted. As Cuck Olson used to say: 'There it is, gentlemen, FOR USE.

 How does the Church respond to retail workers, mostly from the "working class", in regard to their jobs relying on consumerism?

I've been attending Rev. Billy events for 3 years or so but just today am officially joining the church, or at least the website.  I am now a social worker after spending quite a few years in the classroom as both elementary and high school teacher. I sing in a large church choir in NYC and particularly enjoy a capella singing (hooray Chanticleer). I love to cook, create, and design. Stained glass and block printing are my favorite endeavors. See you all at HQ and next weeks picnic

Vote-a-luia

Brother Gregory, CSS

I know that one of the things that the Church of Stop Shopping rales against is Globalization.  This was a show on NPR on the On Point program about the consequences of Globalization.  It is really interesting.  It begins with a guest talking about how Globalization hurts but it is also balanced by another guest who talks about how Globalization helps.  Needless to say, I'm against Globalization, and i can think of several things i disagree with from the pro-globalization guest, but it is really good to see both sides of the issue.  Obviously, that's the only way that you can intelligently debate a person of a differing opinion.  It's an hour long, but I think it is definitely worth the listen if this is something that you are truly interested in.

http://www.onpointradio.org/stand-alone-player?fileUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww....

if that doesn't work, try

http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/06/14577

I'd love to  hear what people think about this!

Hey Michael, I had an idea.  This is a great forum, but I wish there was more to talk about then just personal introductions.  I get lots of emails saying there is a new comment on this thread, but it doesn't include anything that we can respond to.  It doesn't really get us involved.  I was thinking that maybe you could start a new thread about how we can bring the gospel of stop shopping into our own lives.  I mean, some of it is obvious (stop shopping at big box stores!) but that's being reactionary.  Maybe we can start a group about being proactive in supporting our communities and little ways we find to do it... just an idea.  I think it would help me and hopefully help others to share the ways they have found to live the gospel.  Alright!  Thanks!

    Hi , I am brand new to the Church and I love what is happening here, and want to help make it happen in my community. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but am originally from an island, Cape Breton. I grew up encased in family and semi small town community, and I have watched it be stripped away like old paint. We too here in our small neck of the woods have also been ravaged by big corporations, call centers, severe enviromental damage, you name it. Anyway, I'm 27 years old, and I'm sick of it. I want a change. I want to get a little more old fashioned, and spread good vibes around, meet new people, improve myself and try to help others. Sure I sin, I love my Ipod, and I sell books retail. But I always try to at least learn and spread a little bit of compassion and knowledge in these trapping of society we all find ourselves in. It's nice to meet you all, and I hope to learn alot and make some connections, and share information with whoever is interrested. I'm a huge sci-fi and history fan, I love books more than  most possesions I have. I'll close with this thought I had today, on my Country's 142nd birthday...

Brothers and sisters, today is Canada Day and we are trying to find some solace and entertainment in consuming all that is offered to us today. Long line up's for Beaver tails and fries that cost too much. Go check out your local block party instead! Your communties need you. And that is what we love about Canada, a sense of community..... leave your Iphone and cell phone home, and go meet some ppl. Local-Lujah!

 Hello Rev Billy,

My name is Andy Talen.  I am a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, living in Wisconsin.  I believe that you are my 2nd cousin.  My father is Timothy Talen.  I was basically unaware of your group until I stumbled across information about "What Would Jesus Buy" on the internet.  

I just wanted to let you know you have family support for what you are doing (however minimal it may seem coming from me, hee hee)

I am a new member on your site, and I am looking forward to following your group!!

Sincerely,

Andy Talen

Hello, my name is KC and I am a sinner! I have been unemployed and depressed for weeks and turned to shopping, for myself, for others, to consume my fear. NO MORE! I was inspired by reverend Billy Years ago when I saw the documentary "What Would Jesus Buy," and I would like to start a chapter of the church here in Halifax NS. Is there any way to get a songbook to practice from? We will be delivered! -amen

 I had the pleasure a while back of seeing Rev. Billy and Savitri D at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster Pennsylvania.  One point I remember with disbelief was after what was the greatest sermon I had ever heard, a man asking Rev. Billy, "Are you for real?"  What a stupid question as it hit me.  Wasn't it obvious?  The words were real and true, the message was real and true.  I still don't get why some people see it, and some people don't.  

After the service, my son and I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Rev. Billy and Savitri D.  They are wonderful people.  Billy is brilliant and entertaining as he preaches, but is also just so genuinely nice.  He allowed us to take a photo of him and my son together.  It is a treasured photo.  We got to speak with Savitri D and were impressed by her keen intellect and warmth.  What a great team they are.

As for the rest of the congregation, I only know you through your recordings and internet clips, but your work is inspiring.  Thank you.

Today, we were back at Franklin and Marshall for the Lancaster Pride Festival.  I was with a group called Silent Witness who helps to protect the dignity of our friends.  We serve as a barrier between our friends and those who spread hate and ignorance and say it is God's word.  As I heard what they were saying, I asked in my thoughts, "Are you for real?"

Like Rev. Billy before, the answer was in plain sight, for everyone to see.  You spread love and hope and caring and community.  They spread hate, destruction, and isolation.  

As we walked away from the street preachers, I hesitate to give them that credit, maybe street haters is more accurate.  My son turned to me and said, "You know what Dad.  I think I'll come back here with the street preachers and start spreading the word, but I am going to spread the word like Rev. Billy.  That'll show 'em."  I think it might be a while before we see Rev. Jack on the street.  As a typical Dad, I think if he emulates Rev. Billy's hair, it will be a big improvement.  I don't know.  I just wanted to share that you all are having a bigger, broader impact than I think that you realize.  It is great that so many of your efforts are in NYC, and we are following your lead and making efforts in our home communities.  Still, your inspiration, Rev. Billy, Savitri D, the Choir, and the whole Church of Life after Shopping, is reaching across America, into small towns like ours in Pennsylvania, and having an impact.

Thank You!

Pat O'Keeffe

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Reverend Billy and members of the Choir in Birmingham (UK). Thank you immensely for your support in our Green Party candidature in the local elections here. Great news on the outcome too .. I beat both Labour Party candidates. Does that mean I beat the Government?? Are you jealous??

I dig what you do. Praise be. I hope to share your movie across our community.
I garden and enjoy local real-ale. Keep up the goodness. x

As my name states, I am a vegan Socialist, from New York City. I, too, am weary of the Bloombergization of my beloved native city. What surprises me is how many working-class people still support this plutocrat. My dream is the dismantling of Capitalism. Fighting the corporatization of every aspect of our lives is a start and I am happy to be a part of this community. To my fellow New Yorkers: can someone tell me how there is no money to maintain the subways, so integral to the life of our city, but the coffers are bottomless when it comes to subsidizing Bloomberg's developer friends, as they erect yet another multi-unit complex, where once a small, two-family one was; further taxing our already overwhelmed infrastructure? Why doesn't he give some of the billions he made, last year, to the city of which he is putatively mayor, instead of building hospitals in Israel, while I and thousands of New Yorkers have no healthcare? Oh, right, because he's a self-absorbed, rapacious Capitalist.

Long live the Church!

 I would just like to give praise and thanks to the Right-On Rev Billy and his Choir for invading the UK to spread the Gospel. Britain may finally be woken from its consumerist dreams by hearing the word of TRUTH. In the UK we are too damn polite to challenge the 'norm' and, like so many have been swept along by the global tides of capitalism. Billy's much needed presence may help kick start more of Britain's activists into a committed process of much needed change.  

I just got back from seeing the film "What would Jesus buy for Christmas" and I'm full of admiration for the dedication and perseverence of Lord Billy and his Choir. If you buy nothing else this week would encourage all to spend some of your hard earned cash on buying a ticket to see Billy's crusade! People lets go to work!

Thank you Rev Billy et.al! 

So there you have it - We The People - currently own a majority of General Motors. In the wake of this "transfer of ownership" to us the company is in Chapter 11 and is working to shrug off billions of dollars in lawsuits currently in process against it for making automobiles that failed due to possibly shabby workmanship, or inappropriate materials being used, or simple carelessness, or even saving a buck at the expense of those who purchased those cars. It has been stated that there is concern that even if the suits were to proceed there would be no money to pay for judgments against the company.

Excuse me!!!? If there's enough money to keep the company running because "its collapse would be catastrophic to the economy," there is enough money to make past errors in judgment - right. If this is to be a company owned in large part by we the taxpayers then it is in our hands to stop the culture of excuse-making in its tracks. Let's have a company that makes sure that its ethics are being properly attended to rather than one that believes that doing the wrong thing and getting away with it is the way to move forward.

Haven't we had enough of that?

Just my opinion.

Yes, yes I know this is more of a rant than an introduction. On the other hand this is what I'm about - so consider it my way of saying - hi.

Rev. Billy for Mayor of NYC

I learned about Rev. Billy when I watched "What Would Jesus Buy?", which totally changed the way I look at the world.  Now I try to be conscious of the source of my goods and to whom my money is going when I shop.  My consumption level has decreased, and I try to turn others on to Rev. Billy's message.  Thanks for the wake-up call! 

~Rachel

Well, I'm from London, UK and I've been a fan of the Rev. ever since I saw him fleetingly in NY a couple of years back.

... And I'm going to see him and the choir in a week!

Good luck with the campaign for Mayor.
Maybe it'll persuade people to oust the clown we have for a Mayor in London.

Love and best wishes to all,
Dave.

How about getting behind the new local government banking structure described on our webpage?

http://www.primeronmoney.com/howtosolve.html

This plan will create 4% mortgage banks which will work primarily for the public -- rather than the bank's stockholders.

Essentially -- local government will own the banks and the citizens will be acknowledged as owning the government.


Marty Carbone

martycarbone@yahoo.com

RE: "A forum is like a community pub.."

Should I wax-poetic... or just spit it out and hope the potato chip crumbs don't spray along with my ideas.


Hi there !


I've been following the good Reverend and devoted chorus for a while.

Kinda here, there and everywhere... and I was re-amused the other

day when I accidentally found the "Fog Town" clip on You Tube.

Then I had a great... revelation ! 

Yes.. I remember now...

I saw that clip several years ago..in Manhattan...
either at the Roger Smith Hotel's lunchtime "Brown Bag" art talk...
or... was it a Friday night "Artists Talk on Art" ...
either way it was presented by California's own Ms. Molly Barnes...
and.. and.. my revelation is...  Rev Billy is not  a natural Blonde !!

Heavens to Clairol !

Does the carpet match the... uhhh.. floor.


Yes.. that's usually where I am in community bars... on the floor..
back to the devil and looking up for guidance.. or another round.


Bless you Reverend !

if there was a conversion to "no shopping" at any point in my life, it happened a long time ago. the only difficulty at present might be in connecting it with the "modern world", especially living in a low to working class, crack-vending, street servicette barrio littered with fast food notes and el cheapo market plastic bags.

once upon a time i was a pro musician and now i'm just another brain tumor discard, having been told "sorry" by neuro-surgeons, neuro-pshrinks and other neuro-tics. at times i could burst at the seams over the "dysfunctionality" of society and although i function perfectly well in some fundamental way, given my condition and intellectual decline, who am i to talk?

glad to be here and happy to share in anything relevant to survival of this species, but i'll warn that even with my brain all awry, i do "know" what the real problem is and am seemingly relentless. as the old promo button once indicated, "ask me ____".

get well, or be well, all!

What a great community!  I'm a 59-y-o DWF who just retired from civil service, and I'm plotting how to save the world (or take one effective step in that direction) in my remaining years.  Like most of you, I've never been heavy into shopping, acquiring or status-seeking; possessions seemed like things that would OWN me instead of serving me.  (Having said that, they will have to pry my 1914 Baldwin grand piano from my cold dead fingers...)

Your message resonates with my deepest passions - preserving the earth, building community through local economies, growing our own food, and boycotting the mega-corporations, to the extent we can. 

I am also not in NYC and not sure I will ever meet the Rev and Choir in person.  But I'm lucky to be part of a small Unitarian Universalist church that lives these same values.  There may be UU's that are into shopping, but I haven't met them.  The UU principles (we don't have a creed; people believe whatever works for them) include justice and equity worldwide; global peace; and preservation of the environment.  It's great to have a supportive community with the same values.

I'm going to share your good news with my friends and check here for anti-consumerism booster shots and music! 

Hi All,

We held a showing and discussion with a local Universtity of "What Would Jesus Buy?" We promote local resources and try to help folks learn about alternatives to the Big Box places. We are planning something in July with maybe some workshops on how to make soaps, candy, candles, fresh cheese, home canned goods and other things that can have both purpose but meaning when made for someone. If people feel compelled to give over Christmas they have time to create an alternative.

We've been pretty active in the local anti-corporate movement for some time, protested FTAA in Miami, and the World Ag Forum a couple of times along with some other actions and demonstrations.

My partner and I have 2 acres in the city where we have several fruit trees, vegetable garden, bee hives, laying hens and adding milk goats in a couple of weeks. We barter eggs, honey, cheese and canned goods but we also live in a metro area of of about 2 million folks. .

In our community we are looking at helping people see how much those cheap shoes and clothes and toys at Target and Walmart really cost and who pays the price. But then we try to offer ideas and places locally where they can find alternatives, save the planet and their "souls". But more importantly start asking them to think about the needs versus the wants in life and then make smarter choices.

I'm looking forward to sharing some ideas and learning more about what others are doing around the globe.
in peace,
anna

The Good Word and Music have reached Blighty. I am brother Nic from Birmingham in the Midlands. I was lost. Now I am saved.

Hallelujah

I hope my music podcast www.homegrownpodcast.co.uk may feature the good Rev Billy and the Choir in the future.

Amen.

Hey I'm Steven.  I saw What Would Jesus Buy? about 6 months ago, but just found your website.  I can't wait to talk with you all about the Shopocolypse. :)

All voices welcome here.   Thand God you didn't go into advertising--check out the story behind a relative of Freud considered to be the 20th century founder of advertising.  "Bernake" comes to mind, but I know that's not right--maybe someone else on the forum can help me out.