I love how this opens on this website with an add for Walmart.

I laughed so hard watching this. The part where he was in the Victoria Secret and said, “We don’t need 70 catalogs a day to have our sexual fantasies” was the best part, as I literally do get 7 catalogs a day from them. I get lots of catalogs from places I haven’t bought anything from in years, and it bothers me because I just immediately chuck them in the trash when they come, so its a waste of resources. I have been preaching Billy’s message to my family for years, but they don’t listen. I don’t see anything wrong with buying things as long as it is not JUNK and you can afford it.

I love the message.  Reverend Billy has his finger on the disease that’s destroying this formerly democratic nation.

The irony here is, given the message, the half-dozen interruptions by CORPORATE SPONSORS.  It’s a slap in the face to everyone that knows and believes how soul-destroying materialism really is.

I think its rather ironic how Halloween is demonized as a hellish Pagan holiday...however, look at what happened to Christmas?  Urban legends of razor blades and poison candy (only 2 true documented cases, but people being shot, trampled, beaten etc. for the newest yearly toy-and these are true, documented accounts.  Now, that is scary!

Wow, this is interesting and hilarious and scary all at once hahaha. I think I find anything that involves religion and thus over-zealous acts of any kind usually bother me. Granted this is obviously a bit of a bias video I still think there is something here. The fact that religion, atleast in the United States, has become a consumer controlling and crazy spending thing.

i don’t generally like christmas, in fact, i hate it.  and i’m a christian.  not a fundie but definitely saved.  christmas is so depressing since i didn’t have a good childhood.  and now with all the consumerism, stuff i don’t need or even want.  i’m totally against stuff like posting the 10 commandments in every public square, but come on, the consumerism gets to even me.  i try not to go shopping from late october until mid january.  i only go to the grocery store if i have to during those times.  i have no concept of the seasons if not for the displays in the stores.  i’m by no means a fundie quaker whatever, and i despise wal-mart and chains.  i’m actually one of those american hating lib-urls they say are destroying this company.  but god, i hate shopping.  it actually helps when i buy everything i want, only because i want it.  even then i don’t buy much, because i don’t want much.  a nice computer, a nice chair, a nice sofa, a nice guitar.  lots of books and art.  i acutally use the stuff i buy.  consumerism, wal mart, mega churches, the prosperity gospel, all that garbage just turns me off.  this isn’t american or patriotic or christian.

You know, I think I agree with the general concept—less consumerism is a good thing. But the Rev. Billy just makes me uncomfortable with his theatrics.

I agree with the concept of Stop Shopping.  I work for a bankrupt company that I witnessed send thousands of jobs to other countries for profit for the corporate big whigs. I have worked for 24 years. Now I’ve taken a 40% cut in wages w/increase in out of pocket expenses for my healthcare. I made sure that along the years my children knew the real meaning of Christmas. Although I did give them things for christmas, my household never had the X-boxes or 360’s. We didn’t wear designer clothes. We could not afford it. Now I have well rounded children that grew up going to museums and cultural events (all cultures). There’s more to life. All those “things” pass away any how. Good Job on your movie. Hope to see you sometime.

This is just a shout out to all the students in RHET 1302 who, like me, have to turn in an essay about this film tomorrow!

I agree with ben. Rev Billy was protesting at WalMart, then A walmart ad popped up. Contradictory and funny.

the commercials make me feel conflicted about the message from the movie.

1 John 3:16-17
By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?
Why can’t we lay down our consumerism for those who are suffering because of it?

IT IS A GREAT VIDEO THAT MADE ME THINK NOT TO GET ANY MORE CRAZY ABOUT SHOPING

I hope this will become the new Christmas classic!
Rev. Billy is like the eccentric Uncle we all have and must see beyond the blow dryed blonde locks and see and hear the humor while delivering his message from the heart.
Rest assured YOUR message has made a difference NEVER doubt!
This DVD is the gift EVERYONE I know will get this Christmas.
G-d Bless you.

He would buy love,feed the hungry,clothe the poor and needy

Well… christmas is not really jesus birthday. they just decided to celebrate it on dec. 25th

This can’t be 4real..... right?

He would feed and clothes the poor (organic problems that don’t pollute the environment and our planet) and heal the sick and save the world.

To Ed....
If Jesus did buy those who believed in Him gifts for His birthday that would not be discriminating because it’s His birthday. Do you invite everyone to your birthday party? At least He gives people a chance!

Try telling children Jesus told parents Not to buy Christmas presents…
Jesus would raise from the grave again to buy Christmas presents for only people who believe in him but he would be practicing Discrimination like most people do around the world.
I want to know how much money was made from this Video ?

I believe that Jesus would buy toys for the children,an education for all,Bibles for all,and that he would want each and every one of us to love one another as he first loved us.

So neat it made me Tweet.

We will be able to shop our way out of any economic disaster. We will be able to shop our way out of environmental problems. Credit is the new gold standard the more people succumb to extensive life long credit the better the economy. The more money we print the more we can spend. Saving is for uptight fools that feel waiting for any material need is a character builder. We need to develop all the farm ground into strip malls , housing developments, sports arenas,golf courses, race tracks, entertainment complexes, airports, car dealerships, Walmarts, and bars for social activities. Many important wall street types, bankers,investment councilors,stock brokers,hedge fund managers, will tell you these truths of economic reality. Thank God our present political ethic believes this and are getting the presses ready to crank out several trillion for the bankers and industrial land developers. We are ready to get the engines started again this economy is getting ready to shift into high gear we are over this hill. Do not for a minute think this is not the American ethic and that this death paradigm is the main mantra of corporate America.

The guy seems mentally unstable..... he needs to focus on… everything is to scripted and radical.... We once again turn ourselves into the victims. Its our own fault. We are not the victims!!!

You tickle my elmo.

think you

the most ridickulous (spelled correctly) thing i have ever seen, God does not need an outragous scene like that dude just put on, for us to stop shopping @ Christmas time.  No where did the idiot even mention the reason for the season.
which is Christ’s birth.  I felt like I sinned just watching it! God help us all.

it’s as simple as ‘yes we can’

Isn’t the bailout a giant shopping spree?

Who will pay the 40, trillion dollars with interest bill?

Thank you for the Film.  OH HOW TRUE it is.  I just blogged about President Obamas Speach Tonight.  It isn’t by chance that What I just posted, God confirmed with this video.

God Bless you all.

Keep Spreading the message Rev., this is just one of many sins America needs to repent of…

My wife and I are empty nesters.  This past Christams we had a nice dinner out Christmas Eve.  We each had a bone-in prime rib, and took our bones home for our dog.  We sat by the fire and watched the dog enjoy her “gifts”.  We sent the grandkids contributions to their college funds.  We never went near a mall or a Wal-Mart.  Didn’t miss it a bit, either.

“Just accept the film at face value. Does everything need to have an overtly Christian message?”

If you’re going to use “Jesus” in thetitle and have “Rev. Billy” as your principal character, it’s hard to see how you can avoid it.

*** If you thought this was entertaining in the least....have your head checked. Weâ??re really pushing the envelope on mocking God in this country.  Iâ??m wondering why we donâ??t do a few parradies mocking Allah.... ***

Actually, imbecile, the film does no such thing.  Can’t be bothered to watch it before you comment I guess.  Or too stupid to figure out what it means.

SHoopppping gets me stuff.  For eatin and such.  Unnerwears too.

The message is to stop shopping, Rev. Billy is not trying to teach the world about Jesus, so the previous comments about the film really missed the point. Rev. Billy is very clear and focused on the message to stop shopping, which is a good message. I really don’t think any part of this film is about sharing the message of Jesus so why are you all trying to attribute that as a goal? Just accept the film at face value. Does everything need to have an overtly Christian message?

“Unfortunately at the end of this film it seems like Reverend Billy is more concerned about his message and agenda than that of Jesus. An obsession with material goods isnâ??t much better than an obsession with yourself and your agendas.”

Somewhat valid point, but it seemed to me that Billy was not trying to spread christianity, he was merely using christmas and the whole reverend schtick as a proxy to point out just how ridiculous our consumer society has become and how an event that is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of a (fictional) man who championed charity has been subverted to become a tool of capitalist pigs with the goal of increasing profits and enslaving the world by pacifying the masses with another mind-numbing illusion of necessity, playing on humans natural tendency to compete for status regardless of the cost.

from what i watched, i believe in the message that is being spread by REV. Billy.  Sadly i was not able to watch the program to its end.  The irony that was provided through the act of hosting commercals (which push us to buy) playing during a anti-shopping documentary is either an accidental irony at best, or an abstract jest on me by corporate pharoahs.  I feel as though a cruel joke has been played on myself and my need to destroy a piece of corporate art is rising.  Our society is depressing…

I like the anti-consumerism message of the film. Unfortunately at the end of this film it seems like Reverend Billy is more concerned about his message and agenda than that of Jesus. An obsession with material goods isn’t much better than an obsession with yourself and your agendas.

The irony is the commercials necessary to support this site.  (Shaking my head)

The irony is the commercials necessary to support this site.  (Shaking my head)

how would “what will Jesus give” be a more appropriate question? He gave his life, isn’t that enough?

Who have we become? What have we become? We have become zombies, we have become clones of an image. Who will listen? Who will learn? Who will make a difference? I will listen, i will learn and we all can make the difference! We are the people and we have the power if we choose it. Thank you for this film. I support you 100%!

A more appropriate question would be--- What will Jesus give.

This was awe-inspiring and eye opening.  What a simple message, but one that most people have long forgotten.  After years of boycotting Walmart, I am going to look alot more closely at the tags on the clothing I buy and advise my 19 year old daughter to do the same, after I watch this documentary WITH her to make sure she gets it.  Seeing the senior citizen commenting on getting apples and oranges and watching her choke up while talking about it made me cry.  Many thanks to Rev Billy and all who helped to make this great film.  Having it play free on my computer is the icing on the cake.  This year, I think many of us are going to have no choice but to bring back the Christmases of long ago due to financial hardshps.  I do not want to go into more debt to give my grandchildren something made in China, or in some sweatshop.

The film was free to view...and I loved it.  For the humor...and the tears.  I’m not much of a consumer...I’ve boycotted Walmart for years...but he drove home the point about supporting each other buy shopping locally and thinking about why we give what we give.  Bravo to Billy, his choir and band.  Thanks for enduring so much to bring your message.  Definitely more than a comedy routine.

WOW! Finally someone speaks out, above all costs and reprocutions. I agree with this film, and only hope and pray that our country can give back, and go back to what Cristmas is really all about. A child is born and His name was Jesus! Our Savior!

Since the first cavemen began telling ghost stories around the fire, organized religion has maintained it’s position in the tool belt of manipulative parasites, governmental bodies, and private enterprise, as the preferred device for gathering currency, performing sexually perverse acts, and social economical enslavement.

The magic of the season I once immersed myself in as a child has withered away and cast as dust into the winds.  Not even witnessing my own children experiencing Christmas year after year has changed this.

Aside from Christmas, I too am a zombie consumer as I love buying s#@t!

Happy Holidays means: Happy Holy Days! Get a grip, it means the same thing.  This guy is expoitative the same way that the stores are.  This movie has ads all through out it.  He is making money by making this bogus “stop shopping” film. Jesus wouldn’t buy this guys church either.

For the first and only time I agree with the christian conservatives.  Christmas is way too materialistic.  People are constantly offended when they a don’t get that gift they desire.  No one life is worth a nintendo wii or a cheaper tv. Although I don’t believe in God and don’t agree with other evangelical views on Gay marriage, abortion, and the fact that they will condemn me to hell for not accepting jesus christ in my heart, I can actually agree with them on this issue.

This is a comedy right?

I still remember as a child saying merry christmas! Not happy holidays!!!
This world is all greed look at our goverment,wall street,car companys,Now they are going to use Jesus name to sell more.As stated above very thought provoking but we lost this country years ago by puttin our heads in the sand,Lets not to it with religon

The idea is right on, but it is too intense.  Needs to be shortened and put on tv for everyone to see. Can’t believe the commercials.  The Christmas spirit is lost in all the commercialism.  It is a time of giving to those who need.

Great idea, but I had to turn it off after 15 minutes. That reverend was just crazy! No offense to him, but I found him to be quite bizarre. I mean… his hair was died… really?

Excellent and thought provoking movie.To Alex who said unkind things about The Blessed Virgin Mary and her Son, Jesus Christ The Messiah, rest assured that you will incur the wrath of God for your unkind comments.To the other person that commented about Allah, know that this is Arabic for God.
I am a Muslim and any offensive comments against God and His blessed Prophet Jesus and His beloved Mother Mary offends me.
Peace and understanding to all.

So, Andrew, as capitalists we MUST spend, spend, spend and go into debt???  THAT makes for a strong country?  Right!  I don’t know who this preacher guy is or if he is making money out of this or not. Doesn’t matter.  The message here is that as a country we are in extreme debt due to our overzealous spending.  What do you suggest we do?

This is a very entertaining documentary. It follows a group of people as they criss cross the country and try to spread the word that giving and love should not be about shopping and overconsumption.

Andrew - He IS a real preacher of a unitarian church. He is also an activist, but there are many preachers who are activists as well.

Tim - You obviously have not seen the movie. The preacher is not an evangelical. And the movie is about raising awareness, not raising money.

If you thought this was entertaining in the least....have your head checked.
We’re really pushing the envelope on mocking God in this country.  I’m wondering why we don’t do a few parradies mocking Allah....maybe because you fear getting your head cut off?
Think about it…
There’s really nothing negative or harmful about Christianity.  Christians believe in a very loving God and this is the season most Christians celebrate the brith of Jesus Christ...which has nothing to do with shopping.
Mocking someone’s religion is not funny...it’s hateful

this film would have been a lot more important if rev. billy wasn’t the focus. all this film was, was watching him go on tour to tell people how terrible shopping is. try to actually get more credible sources that can really relay the information to the audience.

This is NOT a real preacher.  It is the stage name and persona of left-wing anti-capitalism activist who organizes rallies and other events.

I wonder how much profit they are making off the movie? And how much of that profit will find it’s way to the poor versus how much will go into the evangelists’ pockets.

i see that many are brain washed by this corrupted society!!

It’s humorous to see people speculate, pontificate, and profit off of the famous.  If you really want to know what Jesus would buy, look in His Word.  Look at His life!  Stop trying to imagine what He would think or do or buy or say in today’s time.

By the way, alex, thanks for your “genius” contribution.  If ever there was evidence that we truly need Jesus in our lives today, it is the drivel of people like this.

I understand that the whole “commercialism” of Christmas misses much of the message.Yes, Jesus was right to toss the tables of the money lenders and others conducting business in the temple complex. Keep in mind, he did not find fault with people trying to make a living, just not in a holy place.

There is nothing in the writings of Jesus that would lead me to believe that he would find any fault with a worker at best buy trying to make a living , even understanding that selling Christmas gifts is an import part of that business.

What would anger Jesus would be all of these Televangelists using his name to get rich! Even the those people whose tables Jesus overturned, had the decency not to try to make money in the Temple it’s self, or to try to get a “Plug” during the service.
http://www.urbannewsblog.com

I understand that the whole “commercialism” of Christmas misses much of the message.Yes, Jesus was right to toss the tables of the money lenders and others conducting business in the temple complex. Keep in mind, he did not find fault with people trying to make a living, just not in a holy place.

There is nothing in the writings of Jesus that would lead me to believe that he would find any fault with a worker at best buy trying to make a living , even understanding that selling Christmas gifts is an import part of that business.

What would anger Jesus would be all of these Televangelists using his name to get rich! Even the those people whose tables Jesus overturned, had the decency not to try to make money in the Temple it’s self, or to try to get a “Plug” during the service.
http://www.urbannewsblog

The principle of the movie was great.  We need to remember the real meaning of Christmas.  Keep Christ in Christmas

I raped the virgin mary and hung the bastard christ.. 666

Love it love it love it

carola: You don’t think obsessive seasonal shopping is “wrong”?
maybe you think mickey mouse is YOUR FRIEND?!?!?

I cast the rodent demon out of you child, and may your soul b $aved from the tyranny of the corporate grip on your tender brain! amen.

we need you Reverend Billy. praise frugality. amen brotha.

Hillarious in a really twisted way. Americans are becoming really sad aren’t we?

It seems this movie reveals a parallel with Jesus’ story to a certain extent.  Rev. Billy upsets the tables of money lenders as it were and society treats him harshly for causing a disturbance while people shop.  I also think the film catches an interesting aspect of space in America.  With zoning laws the way they are in cities, where can you go to preach a message anymore?

pretty neat, but man i thought i was messed up. wow! people can really lose it when they think they’re “right”.

rev. billy has a great point...but is it really necessary to go on for an hour and a half? it just seemed to drag on and on. i get the point already.

I had a hard time getting past the first fifteen minutes, but then I started taking Reverend Billy serious for a moment.  He is a brave man teaching the word.  The film itself delivers the message of shopping wisely effective.  An interesting piece.

How ironic that snagfilms has littered this piece with adds. Impossible to watch.

I am floored. The Reverend Billy Crusade against hyper-consumerism is an incredible endeavor. The mix of protest, entertainment, and radical activism is a winning mix. I was gratefully offended, shocked, and deeply moved by the contrast presented here between the Corporate run, zombie nation of hyper-consumerism and a small band of unorthodox activists giving their all to propel the grassroots conscious consumerism movement to the forefront of the American mind.

A bold-faced wrench thrown in the consumerist machine, this film has reinforced our growing opposition to the mainstream American materialism that is driving us all mad.

-J Fowler
Bedford, Virginia
http://www.SustainableTraditions.com

I hear you!