A Pathological Analysis of Religious Rites among Youth: With a Focus on  Sword Matam (Ghameh-zani) in Isfahan

article presents research-based evidence to explain religious rites among youth from a pathological perspective. The article focuses particularly on a traditional form of religious rites so-called ‘sword matam’ (Ghameh-zani). The results discussed in this article are based on a survey including 30 persons aged 15-29 years old in Isfahan. According to the results of the present analysis, this particular religious rite is mostly the consequence of the misinterpretation of Ashora. It is also associated with other factors such as saint’s account, crying for Imam Hossein, sympathy with Imam Hossein, revolving the religion of Islam, reasoning according to NahiyaMoqadase pray.