S995: Citizens Self Test of Conversions. 2025

Below is a self-assessment test designed to help you evaluate whether your conversion of identity (religious, gender, political ideology, or other) is driven by full liberty, coercion, manipulation, fraud, or influence/force, with specific consideration of the Indian context. The test consists of 10 questions, drawing inspiration from frameworks like Steven Hassan’s BITE Model (Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control) and Robert Jay Lifton’s criteria for indoctrination, as well as Indian legal perspectives on conversions (e.g., Hadiya case, 2018, and anti-conversion laws). The questions assess your autonomy, external pressures, and the Indian socio-legal environment, including issues like “love jihad” or funded conversions.

Each question includes a scoring system to quantify the degree of liberty or coercion. The test is for self-reflection or use with a counselor, and I’ve included instructions for scoring and interpretation. Following the test, I’ll provide a chart visualizing the categories of conversion influences (liberty, coercion, manipulation, fraud, force) to complement the assessment.

Self Citizens-Test: Assessing Conversion Influences

Instructions

• Answer each question honestly based on your experience of converting or considering a change in identity (e.g., religion, gender, political ideology).
• For each question, select the option that best reflects your situation and note the corresponding score.
• Sum your scores at the end to evaluate the nature of your conversion.
• Use the interpretation guide to understand your results and reflect on your autonomy.

Test Questions

1. Why are you considering or pursuing this identity change?

• a) It aligns with my personal beliefs, values, or self-discovery after reflection. (4)
• b) I feel pressured by family, community, or a partner to conform. (2)
• c) I was offered material benefits (e.g., money, jobs, or services) to change. (1)
• d) I’m unsure; it feels like someone else’s agenda or influence. (0)
• Context: Reflects motivation, tied to Indian cases like Hadiya (2018), where autonomy was upheld, or anti-conversion laws targeting inducements.

1. How did you learn about this new identity or belief system?

• a) Through independent research, reading, or personal exploration. (4)
• b) Through a trusted individual or group who encouraged me. (2)
• c) Through persuasive campaigns, media, or events that felt overwhelming. (1)
• d) Information was controlled or limited, making it hard to explore alternatives. (0)
• Context: Assesses information control, relevant to allegations of funded conversions (e.g., Allahabad HC, 2025).

1. Do you feel free to question or doubt this identity change?

• a) Yes, I can openly question and explore without fear. (4)
• b) I can question, but I feel some social or emotional pressure. (2)
• c) Questioning is discouraged or leads to conflict with others. (1)
• d) I feel I cannot question or am punished for doubting. (0)
• Context: Tests thought control, aligned with Article 25’s freedom of conscience.

1. How do others (family, community, authorities) react to your potential conversion?

• a) They respect my choice and support my autonomy. (4)
• b) Some are supportive, but others pressure me to reconsider. (2)
• c) I face significant opposition, threats, or social exclusion. (1)
• d) I face legal scrutiny or accusations (e.g., “love jihad” or fraud). (0)
• Context: Reflects social and legal pressures, as seen in Lata Singh (2006) and UP anti-conversion laws.

1. Are you aware of all implications (social, legal, personal) of this conversion?

• a) Yes, I’ve researched and understand the consequences fully. (4)
• b) I know some implications but haven’t explored all aspects. (2)
• c) I’m unclear about the implications due to limited information. (1)
• d) I was misled or given false promises about the outcomes. (0)
• Context: Checks for fraud, relevant to Rev Stainislaus (1977) on fraudulent conversions.

1. Do you feel emotionally manipulated in this process?

• a) No, my emotions feel authentic and self-driven. (4)
• b) I feel some emotional pressure but can manage it. (2)
• c) I feel guilt, fear, or shame if I don’t proceed with the change. (1)
• d) My emotions are heavily controlled by others’ expectations. (0)
• Context: Assesses emotional manipulation, tied to narcissistic family dynamics or cult-like pressures (BITE Model).

1. Is there a legal or institutional requirement influencing your decision?

• a) No, my decision is independent of legal or institutional factors. (4)
• b) I need to comply with minor formalities (e.g., notifying authorities). (2)
• c) Legal requirements (e.g., anti-conversion laws) heavily shape my choice. (1)
• d) I face legal threats or accusations (e.g., “love jihad” scrutiny). (0)
• Context: Reflects India’s anti-conversion laws (e.g., UP Ordinance, 2020).

1. How does this conversion align with your long-term goals or identity?

• a) It feels like a natural step toward my authentic self or goals. (4)
• b) It aligns partially but requires some compromise. (2)
• c) It feels like a means to an end, not my true self. (1)
• d) It conflicts with my core identity or goals. (0)
• Context: Tests personal alignment, supported by Puttaswamy (2017) on autonomy.

1. Have you been offered material or social benefits for converting?

• a) No, my decision is not tied to any benefits. (4)
• b) I’ve been offered minor benefits, but they’re not the main reason. (2)
• c) Benefits (e.g., money, jobs, community acceptance) are a key motivator. (1)
• d) I was promised significant benefits that seem conditional on conversion. (0)
• Context: Addresses coercive conversions, as in Allahabad HC rulings (2025).

1. If you chose not to convert, what would happen?
   • a) Nothing; I feel free to choose without consequences. (4)
   • b) I might face mild social disapproval but no major issues. (2)
   • c) I’d face significant social, familial, or legal backlash. (1)
   • d) I’d face threats, ostracism, or legal action (e.g., accusations of disloyalty). (0)
   • Context: Evaluates force, relevant to Hadiya and “love jihad” allegations.

Scoring and Interpretation

• Score Calculation: Add up the scores from all 10 questions (range: 0–40).
• Interpretation:
• 36–40 (High Liberty): Your conversion is likely driven by full liberty and informed consent, aligning with your authentic self. Indian law (e.g., Hadiya, 2018) supports your autonomy.
• 26–35 (Moderate Liberty): Your conversion involves some external influence or pressure but retains significant personal choice. Reflect on these pressures and seek clarity.
• 16–25 (Coercion/Manipulation): Your conversion may be influenced by coercion or manipulation (e.g., social pressure or benefits). Consider consulting a trusted advisor or counselor.
• 0–15 (High Coercion/Fraud/Force): Your conversion is likely driven by significant coercion, fraud, or force (e.g., “love jihad” accusations or funded inducements). Re-evaluate your decision and seek legal or professional support, especially under India’s anti-conversion laws.

Next Steps

• Reflect on your score and specific answers. If you score below 26, consider questions like: “Am I making this choice freely?” or “What external factors are influencing me?”
• Seek resources like the Freedom of Mind Resource Center (freedomofmind.com) or the International Cultic Studies Association (icsahome.com) for deprogramming support if manipulation is suspected.
• In India, consult legal aid if facing accusations (e.g., “love jihad”) or coercion, referencing cases like Hadiya or Lata Singh for precedent.

Chart: Visualizing Conversion Influences

To complement the test, I’ll create a chart visualizing the five categories of conversion influences (Liberty, Coercion, Manipulation, Fraud, Force) assessed in the test. A table format using Matplotlib is suitable for summarizing these qualitative categories, with descriptions and Indian context examples, including references to forced, coercive, and free consent conversions.import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import pandas as pd # Data for the table data = [ ["Liberty", "Conversion driven by personal choice and informed consent (e.g., adopting Buddhism after study, Hadiya case 2018 upholding autonomy)."], ["Coercion", "Conversion influenced by external pressure or benefits (e.g., funded conversions via money or jobs, Allahabad HC 2025 rulings)."], ["Manipulation", "Conversion driven by emotional or psychological control (e.g., guilt/shame tactics, similar to narcissistic family dynamics)."], ["Fraud", "Conversion based on false promises or misinformation (e.g., misleading benefits, Rev Stainislaus 1977 on fraudulent conversions)."], ["Force", "Conversion compelled by threats or legal scrutiny (e.g., 'love jihad' allegations, UP Ordinance 2020)."] ] # Create a DataFrame columns = ["Influence Type", "Description"] df = pd.DataFrame(data, columns=columns) # Create figure and axis fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(12, 6)) # Hide axes ax.axis('off') # Create table table = ax.table(cellText=df.values, colLabels=df.columns, cellLoc='center', loc='center', colWidths=[0.25, 0.75]) # Style table table.auto_set_font_size(False) table.set_fontsize(10) table.scale(1.2, 1.5) # Adjust text wrapping for (i, j), cell in table.get_celld().items(): cell.set_text_props(wrap=True) cell.set_height(0.15) # Add title plt.title("Conversion Influences in India (Self Citizens-Test Categories)", fontsize=12, pad=20) # Save the plot plt.savefig('conversion_influences_table.png')

Explanation of the Chart

• Format: A table created using Matplotlib, with rows representing the five conversion influence types (Liberty, Coercion, Manipulation, Fraud, Force) and columns providing their descriptions.
• Content: Each row describes an influence type with examples tied to the Indian context, referencing cases like Hadiya (2018), Rev Stainislaus (1977), and Allahabad HC rulings (2025), as well as anti-conversion laws addressing “love jihad” and funded conversions.
• Purpose: The table visualizes the categories assessed in the self-test, helping you understand the spectrum of influences on your conversion and contextualizing them within India’s legal and social framework.
• Output: The chart is saved as conversion_influences_table.png, providing a clear overview of conversion influences.

Sources

• Indian Constitution: Articles 14, 21, 25.
• Cases:
• Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. (Hadiya Case, 2018).
• Rev Stainislaus v. State of Madhya Pradesh (1977).
• Lata Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2006).
• K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017).
• Allahabad High Court rulings (2025).
• Citizens for Justice and Peace v. State of Uttar Pradesh (Pending, 2020).
• Frameworks: Steven Hassan’s BITE Model, Robert Jay Lifton’s criteria for indoctrination.
• Web Sources: Indian Kanoon, LiveLaw, Freedom of Mind, ICSA.

If you’d like to modify the test (e.g., add specific questions or contexts), explore a particular influence type further, or create a different visualization (e.g., flowchart), let me know!