(i) When religious beliefs of a person involve prejudices and stereotypes, claiming one religion's ideas to be superior to another.
(ii) When a majority community tries to establish its domination over the other communities with the help of the state. Minority communities under such circumstances, retaliates by demanding the formation of separate state for them. Political mobilisation on religious lines occurs when religious symbols and leaders make an emotional appeal to the people in order to bring the members of a particular community together.
(iii) Communal violence is the worst form of communalism. It acquires the political form when it is sponsored by the state.
(iv) Political mobilisation on religious lines is another frequent form of communalism. This involves the use of sacred symbols, religious leaders, emotional appeal and plain fear in order to bring the followers of one religion together in the political arena.
(v) In a democracy, communalism may take the form when the majoritarian community starts believing in the superiority of their religion and ignores the wishes of the minorities.