Reverend Billy and The Church of Life After Shopping

Reverend Billy And The Church Of Life After Shopping

The Church of Stop Shopping is an activist performance group based in New York City, led by Reverend Billy, the stage name of Bill Talen. Using the form of a revival meeting, on sidewalks and in chain stores, Reverend Billy and his gospel choir exhort consumers to abandon the products of large corporations and mass media; the group also preaches a broader message of economic justice, environmental protection, and anti-militarism, protesting sweatshops and the Iraq War. Though it continues its street theatre activities, the Church has also appeared on stage and has toured internationally.

Read more about Reverend Billy And The Church Of Life After Shopping:  Origin of Reverend Billy, Activism, The Church of Earthalujah, Crazy Shopping, Films

Famous quotes containing the words reverend, billy, church, life and/or shopping:

    I don’t think Dr. King helped racial harmony, I think he helped racial justice. What I profess to do is help the oppressed and if I cause a load of discomfort in the white community and the black community, that in my opinion means I’m being effective, because I’m not trying to make them comfortable. The job of an activist is to make people tense and cause social change.
    Al, Reverend Sharpton (b. 1954)

    “How old is she, Billy boy, Billy boy?
    How old is she, charming Billy?”
    Past six, past seven,
    Past twenty and eleven,
    She’s a young thing, and cannot leave her mother.”
    —Unknown. Billy Boy (l. 21–25)

    The Church disowned, the tower overthrown, the bells upturned, what have we to do
    But stand with empty hands and palms turned upwards
    In an age which advances progressively backwards?
    —T.S. (Thomas Stearns)

    In soliciting donations from his flock, a preacher may promise eternal life in a celestial city whose streets are paved with gold, and that’s none of the law’s business. But if he promises an annual free stay in a luxury hotel on Earth, he’d better have the rooms available.
    Unknown. Charlotte Observer (October 6, 1989)

    Most baby books also tend to romanticize the mother who stays at home, as if she really spends her entire day doing nothing but beaming at the baby and whipping up educational toys from pieces of string, rather than balancing cooing time with laundry, cleaning, shopping and cooking.
    Susan Chira (20th century)