Rev Billy Tells Us Why We Should Stay Out Of Debt:
The Church of Life After Shopping is an activist performance group based in New York. Their leader is Reverend Billy who preaches the idea of not shopping and getting out of debt. He is not a real person but a funny character (think Borat). But his message is extremely strong. We had a chance to talk to him regarding his views and they are very interesting.

Plus here is a video of the rev in action.

Dim lights

What is your opinion on credit cards?
Credit cards make us subservient to a false magic. People who are in debt
receive and believe much more of the advertising experience - than those who are debt-free. So there is the obvious thing - where the card user gets out of whack with reality, buys things that can't be paid for and ends up supporting Wall Street with the compounding interest. That's true. But more than that – we end up in "The Church of Products" - hypnotised by endless selling...

You must help a lot of families in debt, can you tell us about a special story that sticks in your mind, or is a real favourite?
"Reverend and Savitri - I’m the father in an average American situation, I lost my job. We saw your movie, "What Would Jesus Buy?” on the Sundance Channel and it helped us get real. Angelina and I sat our 3 kids down at the kitchen table and laid it out. We had less than half to spend each week; there were no video games, no new clothes from the mall. That was a year ago. Now we have our own company that we operate out of the garage using my computer - and - we're spending so much more time together. The corporate job? I'm glad it's gone. Thanks for your advice. Shopping less and caring more..."

And do you think it has gone back to pre 2008 or has it continued?
Consumerism is a faith, and people have lost that faith. We instinctively know that the idea of Consumerism (and its twin brother Militarism) is a con-job. Consumer confidence is down more than ever, and that's a very good thing.

You talk about a shopalypse as a phrase on apocalypse. Could you tell us a little more about this?
Consumerism/Militarism assumes the expansion every quarter of corporate profits.This is like a fundamentalist religion. First, it demands more and more sacrifice from ordinary people - it eats up our lives. Second, it treats the natural world like a freebie. The corporations believe that Earth is endless and created by God to serve them. No, the atmosphere is heating up from our consumption and it is costing more and more. We've had ten natural disasters this year, in which the damage is more than $1 Billion.

In America your house prices have dropped quite a lot. What sort of impact are you seeing because of this?
The banks, in particular Chase and Bank of America, which purchased Countrywide three years ago - are foreclosing at an accelerating rate and they are now dominating landlords. The trouble is the banks are not a part of democratic society. There is no check on banks - they pay for lobbyists and have the President's ear. Meanwhile millions have lost their homes.

If a couple came to you drowning in debt, what advice would you give them?
Slow down. Slow down and calm down. Get a plan over time and stick to it. If bankruptcy is necessary, do that. But either way, slow down; write down what you have to do, and everyone in the family needs to work towards that conscious goal.

How important is it that families run and stick to a budget?
Families are coming together to work out their financial problems, whereas back in the days when the father had a corporate job, commuting a long distance and so forth, the family was more split up. Dad would come home exhausted late at night. Now, rather than mum and dad both taking lower paying jobs – the adjustment to make is an agreed upon spending discipline, a budget that the whole family creates and agrees to...

If you could wave a majic wand and teach each person one fact about money as they slept. What would that be?
Money comes from you - you create value - NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Do you have any savings tips you could share with our readers?
Calm down and slow down. Find enjoyment in more and more non-monetary ways. There will always be someone demanding your money. If you demand your own time, your own experience - if you say "I will enjoy the experience of this book, of this sex act, of this walk in the park..." then you do it on your own terms. There will always be someone there telling you that you need to pay for assistance, for media, for dependence on an "expert." Most of us have our desire and the means to satisfy that desire within us.

How did the Church of Stop Shopping start, and what are its main goals?
The Church of Stop Shopping began as a response by a group of singers and musicians and writers - to the commercialisation of everyday life. We believe that Consumerism is not a good way to organise society. We believe that money needs to be used in moderation - money should use us.

Thanks for your time Rev Billy.