Community vs. Communion — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
Community refers to a group sharing common characteristics or interests, whereas Communion is the act of sharing or a Christian rite of receiving Eucharist.
Difference Between Community and Communion
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Community generally signifies a group of people who live in the same area or who have a particular characteristic in common. It can also refer to a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, or goals. The term encompasses a wide range of social units varying in size and complexity, from a neighborhood to an entire culture or group of nations.
Communion, on the other hand, often carries a religious connotation, primarily known as a Christian ceremony in which bread and wine are consumed as symbols of Jesus's body and blood. The word is also used more broadly to describe a close relationship in which feelings and beliefs are shared and understood on a deep level between individuals or entities.
Communities are formed for various reasons, including geographical proximity, shared interests, or common values. They provide a sense of belonging and contribute to individuals' identities. Members of a community interact and engage with one another, forming social bonds and communal responsibilities.
Communion is a specific act of sharing or exchanging intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level. It is often a private and profound experience, with a focus on unity and oneness that can transcend the boundaries of the individual self.
While a community can involve a broad network of relationships and a sense of collective life, communion is about personal or spiritual connection. Community can be seen as the physical or social manifestation of a group, whereas communion tends to refer to a deeper, often spiritual, experience of fellowship and unity.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A group of people living together or united by shared interests.
A religious sacrament or a sharing of intimate thoughts.
Scope
Social, can be large or small, secular or religious.
Spiritual, often personal or within a faith context.
Function
Provides belonging, shared identity, and support.
Represents unity, shared belief, or intimate exchange.
Nature
Structured or organized around shared attributes.
Ritualistic or deeply personal interaction.
Examples
Neighborhoods, clubs, online forums.
Christian Eucharist, deep conversations.
Compare with Definitions
Community
A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
The local community banded together to support the family.
Communion
The sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially on a mental or spiritual level.
They found communion in their shared love for poetry.
Community
The condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common.
There’s a strong sense of community in small towns.
Communion
A relationship of recognition and acceptance between Christian denominations or between individuals.
The churches were in full communion with each other.
Community
A group of people considered together because of similar work or interests.
The scientific community has debated this topic for years.
Communion
A Christian sacrament in which bread and wine are consecrated and shared.
She took communion for the first time this Sunday.
Community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g.
Communion
A group of persons having a common religious faith; a religious denomination.
The Anglican Communion encompasses millions worldwide.
Community
A group of people living in the same locality and under the same government.
Communion
An act of sharing, participating, or partnering.
The team experienced a deep communion of ideas during the project.
Community
The district or locality in which such a group lives.
Communion
The act or an instance of sharing, as of thoughts or feelings.
Community
A group of people having common interests
The scientific community.
The international business community.
Communion
Religious or spiritual fellowship.
Community
A group viewed as forming a distinct segment of society
The gay community.
The community of color.
Communion
A body of Christians with a common religious faith who practice the same rites; a denomination.
Community
Similarity or identity
A community of interests.
Communion
The sacrament of the Eucharist received by a congregation.
Community
Sharing, participation, and fellowship
A sense of community.
Communion
The consecrated elements of the Eucharist.
Community
Society as a whole; the public.
Communion
The part of the Mass or a liturgy in which the Eucharist is received.
Community
A group of organisms interacting with one another and with the environment in a specific region.
Communion
A joining together of minds or spirits; a mental connection.
Community
The region occupied by a group of interacting organisms.
Communion
(Christianity) Holy Communion.
Community
(countable) A group sharing a common understanding, and often the same language, law, manners, and/or tradition.
Communion
(Roman Catholicism) A form of ecclesiastical unity between the Roman Church and another, so that the latter is considered part of the former.
Community
(countable) A residential or religious collective; a commune.
Communion
The act of sharing; community; participation.
Community
A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.
Communion
Intercourse between two or more persons; esp., intimate association and intercourse implying sympathy and confidence; interchange of thoughts, purposes, etc.; agreement; fellowship; as, the communion of saints.
We are naturally induced to seek communion and fellowship with others.
What communion hath light with darkness?
Bare communion with a good church can never alone make a good man.
Community
A group of people interacting by electronic means for educational, professional, social, or other purposes; a virtual community.
Communion
A body of Christians having one common faith and discipline; as, the Presbyterian communion.
Community
(uncountable) The condition of having certain attitudes and interests in common.
Communion
The sacrament of the eucharist; the celebration of the Lord's supper; the act of partaking of the sacrament; as, to go to communion; to partake of the communion; called also Holy Communion.
Community
Common enjoyment or possession; participation.
A community of goods
Communion
The act of participating in the celebration of the Eucharist;
The governor took Communion with the rest of the congregation
Community
Common character; likeness.
Communion
Sharing thoughts and feelings
Community
Commonness; frequency.
Communion
(Christianity) a group of Christians with a common religious faith who practice the same rites
Community
A local area within a county or county borough which is the lowest tier of local government, usually represented by a community council or town council, which is generally equivalent to a civil parish in England.
Community
Common possession or enjoyment; participation; as, a community of goods.
The original community of all things.
An unreserved community of thought and feeling.
Community
A body of people having common rights, privileges, or interests, or living in the same place under the same laws and regulations; as, a community of monks. Hence a number of animals living in a common home or with some apparent association of interests.
Creatures that in communities exist.
Community
Society at large; a commonwealth or state; a body politic; the public, or people in general.
Burdens upon the poorer classes of the community.
Community
Common character; likeness.
The essential community of nature between organic growth and inorganic growth.
Community
Commonness; frequency.
Eyes . . . sick and blunted with community.
Community
A group of people living in a particular local area;
The team is drawn from all parts of the community
Community
A group of people having ethnic or cultural or religious characteristics in common;
The Christian community of the apostolic age
He was well known throughout the Catholic community
Community
Common ownership;
They shared a community of possessions
Community
A group of nations having common interests;
They hoped to join the NATO community
Community
The body of people in a learned occupation;
The news spread rapidly through the medical community
Community
Agreement as to goals;
The preachers and the bootleggers found they had a community of interests
Community
A district where people live; occupied primarily by private residences
Community
(ecology) a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other
Community
A feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attributes, goals, or interests.
The online gaming community is very active.
Community
The body of people who live in a particular region or city.
Our community has grown rapidly over the past decade.
Common Curiosities
Is community always related to geography?
No, a community can also be formed around shared interests or goals, not just location.
Can communion occur outside of religion?
Yes, it can also refer to any deep connection or understanding shared between people.
Can individuals have different roles within a community?
Yes, communities often have diverse roles for members based on structure or need.
Does every community involve face-to-face interaction?
No, online communities can form through digital platforms without in-person contact.
Is communion always a formal event?
In religion, it often is, but communion can also be a personal, informal experience.
Are all forms of communion considered sacraments?
In Christianity, specifically the Eucharist is a sacrament, but the concept can be broader.
Is communion an act that can be done alone?
Typically, communion is communal, but personal acts of spiritual communion can be individual.
How does a community impact its members?
It can provide a sense of belonging, identity, and mutual support.
Can communion have different meanings in different religions?
Yes, while it has specific meaning in Christianity, other religions may use it differently or not at all.
How does one become part of a community?
By sharing in the interests, goals, or location of the group and engaging with its members.
Can communities have exclusive membership?
Some communities may have criteria for membership, which can be exclusive.
Is community limited to human interactions?
No, the concept can extend to animal social groups or other organized life forms.
Do all Christian denominations practice communion?
Most do, though the understanding and practice of it can vary among denominations.
Can communion be symbolic in non-religious contexts?
Yes, the term can be used metaphorically to describe a deep connection.
What’s the difference between a community and a society?
A society is larger and more complex, while a community is a smaller group within a society.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
