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“What Would Jesus Buy?”: As Holiday Buying Frenzy Begins, New Film Tracks Anti-Consumerism Gospel of Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping
The holiday shopping season kicks off this week with Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. The new documentary “What Would Jesus Buy?” follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping gospel choir on a cross-country tour, preaching their message in such destinations as the Mall of America, Wal-mart headquarters, Starbucks and Disneyland. We speak to Rev. Billy, and the film’s producer Morgan Spurlock, who gained fame with his documentary “Super Size Me.”
As we kick off this Thanksgiving holiday, retailers are looking forward to Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the entire year. Millions of Americans around the country are expected to flock to malls and shopping centers, eager for discounts in a buying frenzy that kicks of the Christmas shopping season.
But a group of people are trying to convince Americans that there’s more to Christmas than the next best toy. They’re called the Church of Stop Shopping and their led by anti-consumerism activist, Reverend Billy. He is the subject of a new feature-length documentary hitting theaters this week called “What Would Jesus Buy?” The film follows Reverend Billy with the Church of Stop Shopping gospel choir in tow on a cross-country tour as they preach their Stop Shopping message in such destinations as the Mall of America, Wal-mart headquarters, Starbucks and Disneyland.
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