Nicolas Maxim: Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture: Communitas

In Turner & Turner's book they describe communitas as "a relational quality of full unmediated communication, even communion, between definite and determinate identities, which arise spontaneously in all kinds of groups, situations, and circumstances" (Turner & Turner, 1978, p. 250). I interpret this to mean that communitas is something where there is no social structure. One similar word that comes to mind is community. However, community is nothing like communitas because community is a place where social structures are present. Another way to describe communitas is a bond between someone in a limitless place. According to Dr. Redick this occurs often when on pilgrimages. While communitas is present for a period of time, community will often form as the pilgrimage progresses. This may occur when someone with in the group acts as a leader by planning out the hike for the day or informing the group of what to do. Community is now present because there is social structure with in the group. One thing that I have wondered is, will there ever be a place where communitas goes on forever?