Communitas: The Anthropology of Collective Joy (Contemporary Anthropology of Religion)

Communitas is inspired fellowship; a group's pleasure in sharing common experiences; being 'in the zone' - as in music, sport, and work; the sense felt by a group when their life together takes on full meaning. The experience of Communitas, almost beyond strict definition and with almost endless variations, often appears unexpectedly. In this seminal work, Edith Turner extends the concept of communitas that Victor Turner developed nearly four decades ago. Communitas is inspired fellowship, a group's unexpected joy in sharing common experiences, the sense felt by a group when their life together takes on full meaning. Turner argues that communitas is a driving force in history as it operates personally, in religion, in revolution, in all domains of human life. It is grounded in lived events and may be the result of a transgressive process that takes people from deadly violence to shared intimate transcendence. Turner views events through the lens of communitas and establishes by narration and multicultural case studies its fundamental importance to human personal, social, and spiritual well-being. The book even follows the instinctive response that humanity makes to the overall natural world, thus including the spiritual bonding of the human and the non-human. At heart, this is a very religious book, or as Turner writes, a connection among "nature, spirit-energy, and soul.". In This Seminal Work, Edith Turner Extends The Concept Of Communitas That Victor Turner Developed Nearly Four Decades Ago. Communitas Is Inspired Fellowship, A Group's Unexpected Joy In Sharing Common Experiences, The Sense Felt By A Group When Their Life Together Takes On Full Meaning. Turner Shows How Communitas Is A Driving Force In History As It Operates Personally, In Religion, In Revolution, In All Domains Of Human Life. It Is Grounded In Lived Events, And May Occur As The Climax To A Process That Takes People From Violence To Shared Intimate Transcendence. Turner Establishes By Narration And Multicultural Case Studies The Fundamental Importance Of Communitas To Human Personal, Social, And Spiritual Well-being. She Even Follows The Instinctive Response That Humanity Makes To The Overall Natural World, Thus Including The Spiritual Bonding Of The Human And The Non-human. Then The Book Shows Exactly How We Align Ourselves To Recognize Communitas In Action. This Is--its 'key.' At Heart, This Is A Very Religious Book, Or As Turner Writes, A Connection Among 'nature, Spirit-energy, And Soul.'--publisher's Website. Introduction:communitas And The Study Of Anthropology -- The Experience Of Communitas -- The Method Of Showing Through Stories -- Contrasts: Communitas And False Communitas -- Festivals: July 4th, Carnival, And Clown -- Music And Sport: Being In The Zone -- The Communitas Of Work: Surprising Conclusions -- The Communitas Of Disaster -- The Sacredness Of The People: The Communitas Of Revolution And Liberation -- The Communitas Of Nonviolence -- Nature And Spirit -- Rites Of Passage: Communitas In Times Of Change -- Conclusion: A Natural History Of Joy. Edith Turner. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 4e de couv.: In this seminal work, Edith Turner extends the concept of communitas that Victor Turner developed nearly four decades ago. Communitas is inspired fellowship, a group's unexpected joy in sharing common experiences, the sense felt by a group when their life together takes on full meaning. Turner shows how communitas is a driving force in history as it operates personally, in religion, in revolution, in all domains of human life. It is grounded in lived events, and may occur as the climax to a process that takes people from violence to shared intimate transcendence. Turner establishes by narration and multicultural case studies the fundamental importance of communitas to human personal, social, and spiritual well-being. She even follows the instinctive response that humanity makes to the overall natural world, thus including the spiritual bonding of the human and the non-human. Then the book shows exactly how we align ourselves to recognize communitas in action. This is—its 'key.' At heart, this is a very religious book, or as Turner writes, a connection among 'nature, spirit-energy, and soul.' Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction....Pages 1-11 Contrasts: Communitas and False Communitas....Pages 13-22 Festivals: July 4th, Carnival, and Clown....Pages 23-42 Music and Sport: Being in the Zone....Pages 43-54 The Communitas of Work: Surprising Conclusions....Pages 55-72 The Communitas of Disaster....Pages 73-84 The Sacredness of the People: The Communitas of Revolution and Liberation....Pages 85-110 The Communitas of Nonviolence....Pages 111-141 The Communitas of Nature....Pages 143-165 Rites of Passage: Communitas in Times of Change....Pages 167-196 Alignment: Turn the Key and the Door Opens....Pages 197-218 Conclusion....Pages 219-223 Back Matter....Pages 225-258