Will You Be Saved From The Shopocalypse This Christmas Season? - A Full-Length Service of Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping

In anticipation of the Christmas season, Pacifica Radio offers you a bit of salvation from the "most beloved fake preacher," Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping.

Performing in New York City on November 4th 2007 at the Highline Ballroom, the internationally renowned anti-consumerism crusaders usher in this year's peak shopping season by delivering a service to save us from the "Shopocalypse." They are accompanied by the Not Buying It Band.

Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir proselytize against consumerism, which they claim stifles the uniqueness of our lives. They believe that, "if we 'back away from the product' - even a little bit, well then we Put The Odd Back In God!"

A sermon by Reverend Billy anchors the performance with a critique of "born again" fundamentalist religion, which he claims inevitably leads to violence. He gives homage to our "first births" and encourages us to re-connect with our innate questioning nature, with which we come into the world. "Life's power," he says, "is in its mystery."

The performance includes richly textured gospel-style choir music with original lyrics by Reverend Billy. During the service, tribute is given to a local neighborhood magazine vendor, who is losing his news stand due to real estate development. Information is given about recent encroachments on public space in New York City in the form of pervasive advertisements on LCD screens. As usual, an exorcism of credit cards is performed.

While the band warms up at the beginning of the recording, Savitri D, director of the Church of Stop Shopping, gives background information, tells us about the people performing, and describes the beliefs underlying the church's crusade.

"What Would Jesus Buy?" a new film about Reverend Billy and The Church of Stop Shopping, produced by producer Morgan Spurlock (SUPER SIZE ME), opened this month in 35 cities. It documents a tour they made from New York City to Disneyland in Los Angeles to rescue Christmas from the "Shopocalypse."

Recorded in New York City November 4th 2007

For information about the What Would Jesus Buy the movie, go to wwjbmovie.com
For information about the Church of Stop Shopping, go to www.revbilly.com

This program was produced for Pacifica Radio by Jon Almeleh and Ursula Ruedenberg. Mixing and editing was done by Jon Almeleh and Bill Wells. Doug George provided technical assistance.