(This post was last updated on July 5, 2008)

There is little question that in America, advertising is big business. That is because business is big — and business is not content — they must sell MORE. To do that, advertisers have DEVELOPED a market for things that we otherwise would not need or even want. “Christmas” (or Valentine’s Day, or Mother’s Day, etc.) is just another word for hyper-consumerism.

For a little fun (combined with a generous measure of “That’s us, alright!”) jump over to Reverend Billy’s Church of Stop Shopping! The current article is named after the movie that was released about Reverend Billy and his (not particularly Christian) crusade and “church.” I have not seen the movie but the trailer is hilarious.

Listen to the choir sing “Stop Shopping”…[podcast]http://www.revbilly.com/ekit/serm/music/stop_shopping2.mp3[/podcast]

I especially like some of the articles on their blog. One article describes how to do “shopdropping.” That is the opposite of shoplifting. You need to read the article to get the full picture. However, there may be some new techniques here that the church could use.

What is good about the site/blog: It is funny but it is also a “wake-up call” about the problems of massive consumer debt and our attempt to “keep up with get ahead of the Joneses” – and every other neighbor within 50 miles.

What is bad about the entire Reverend Billy thing (other than he is an entertainer – rather than a true pastor/teacher/preacher): It makes we wonder, “Why haven’t *I* done more preaching of this nature?”