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Round-the-clock public readings of the Christian Bible from cover-to-cover have begun in various cities across the United States. Though continuous sequential reading of scripture is not characteristic of Christian rituals, unlike some other religious traditions, the practice has been spreading among American evangelicals. Such a reading has been performed annually since 1990 on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, DC, in the days leading up to the National Day of Prayer (May 7). This year, there are also marathon readings going on in Springfield OH, Troy AL, Hamilton NY, Ozark AL, and Murfreesboro TN (pictured above).
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Reading James Joyce's Ulysses aloud in marathon collective performances has long been a staple of Bloomsday celebrations marking the June 16th on which the novel's events take place. Might the Bible readings be an example of a nonreligious practice being adapted to a religious purpose?
(Although it could also be argued that there's a religious aspect to Joyce commemoration.)
How long does Ulysses take to read aloud? The Bible Marathoners seem to be allowing four days...
One website reports that it takes "up to 36 hours." The standard trade paperback edition comes in at a bit under 800 pages of fairly small, dense text.
(http://www.inspiringcities.org/index.php?id=1&page_type=Article&id_article=18189)
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