Communitas

OK, I hear what you are thinking, "What? I've never heard of that word!" Maybe, a few of you have but since most have probably not let me give you the Wikapedia Definition.

Communitas is an intense community spirit, the feeling of great social equality, solidarity, and togetherness. Communitas is characteristic of people experiencing liminality together. This term is used to distinguish the modality of social relationship from an area of common living. There is more than one distinction between structure and communitas. The most familiar being the difference of secular and sacred. Every social position has something sacred about it. This sacred component is acquired during rites of passages, through the changing of positions. Part of this sacredness is achieved through the transient humility learned in these phases, this allows people to reach a higher position.

Communitas is an acute point of community. It takes community to the next level and allows the whole of the community to share a common experience, usually through a rite of passage. This brings everyone onto an equal level, even if you are higher in position, you have been lower and you know what that is.

Not going to un-package a lot on it here right now but we will be discussing on this blog over the next week or so. Start thinking about the definition and let it sink in before we begin dialog. The church has preached about community for years and we don't seem to be able to quite get there. What we need is communitas that goes beyond community. More to come!