Trent Heath-Communitas in Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture

Trent Heath

Blog #6

December 3, 2009

Communitas in Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture

Turner discusses the concept of communitas, which is “A relational quality of full unmediated communication, even communion, between definite and determinate identitites, which arises spontaneously in all kinds of groups, situations, and circumstances”. After reading about it and discussing it in class, the concept seems to appear from nowhere with the idea of being together with a group in a setting and sharing amongst the group. There is no social structure or direct objective, but more of a mutual respect between individuals. When a group of individuals come together without any objective, there is a sense of freedom to discuss, informally, experiences and feelings without judgments and that is important. Connecting with individuals in a wilderness setting produces communitas and within that setting everyone is equal.

Instincts tell us that we either need to lead or to follow and in communitas, neither is necessary because that would take away from the feeling. Structure is fundamental to society because we need rules and regulations in order for society to exist, but to remove yourself and experience communitas in a natural setting is an experience in itself. You cannot force communitas, or plan for it to happen, it just does and the spontaneity contributes to its importance. Not everything must be planned and organized, rather it is better to let things happen naturally. Some of the best experiences in life are the ones that we do not expect or plan. The absence of planning and attempting is the foundation for spirituality in the wilderness, so it is only proper for the concepts that connect with wilderness and spirituality to happen naturally.