AHA: How to Create a Synthesis Page#

A synthesis page combines citations from multiple PoR source fields into a single easy-depth page. This guide walks through the process step by step, using two examples.

When to use a synthesis page#

Use a synthesis page when:

  • Two or more source fields naturally belong together for a specific audience (e.g., Torah + Hebrew Bible for readers of the Hebrew Bible).

  • A tradition explicitly endorses another tradition’s scriptures (e.g., the Quran recognizes both Torah and Gospels as inspired).

  • A 1:1 field-to-page mapping would produce pages too thin to be useful on their own.

Do not name a synthesis page after any extraction matrix keyword (stor, sheb, sgos, etc.). Keyword names are reserved for 1:1 mappings. Use a thematic name instead.

Step-by-step: gospels-apostles (sgos + sapo)#

This example creates a synthesis page combining Gospels and Apostolic citations.

Step 1: Register the synthesis in the skill spec#

Add a row to the synthesis table in §3.8 of the SISYF skill spec:

* - ``gospels-apostles``
  - ``sgos`` + ``sapo``
  - Gospels and Apostolic citations combined. Same pattern:
    best quote highlighted, full listing in dropdown.

Step 2: Create the file#

Create source/matheology/axioms/easy/gospels-apostles.rst.

Start with the SISYF metadata header and a protected intro:

.. _all-ax-easy-gospels-apostles:

.. compiler:protected-section start

*********************************************************************
Axioms --- Through the Lens of the Gospels and Apostolic Writings
*********************************************************************

What are axioms --- and why should readers of the New Testament care?
=======================================================================

[Human-crafted intro explaining what axioms are and why this
audience should care. Link to other lenses and expert detail.]

.. compiler:protected-section end

.. This page was generated by SISYF on {date}.
.. Source: matheology/pet/axioms.rst, matheology/jub/axioms.rst
.. Synthesis: gospels-apostles ← sgos + sapo
.. Models: pet, jub

Step 3: Write each axiom entry#

For each axiom, follow this pattern:

a1 --- Containment
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Plain-language explanation, same as the general easy page.]

   *"In him we live and move and have our being."*
   --- Acts 17:28

.. dropdown:: All Gospels and Apostolic citations for a1
   :class-title: sd-font-weight-normal

   **Gospels (sgos):**
   John 1:3 ("all things were made through him");
   Matt 28:20 ("I am with you always")

   **Apostolic (sapo):**
   Acts 17:28 ("in him we live and move");
   Col 1:17 ("in him all things hold together")

:ref:`Full expert detail <pet-ax1>`

The key rules:

  1. Highlighted quote — pick the single strongest citation across all source fields. Place it as an indented block quote.

  2. Dropdown — list all citations from all source fields, grouped by field with bold labels.

  3. Expert link — always link back to the expert page.

Step 4: Add to the easy index#

In source/matheology/axioms/easy/index.rst, add the new page:

- :doc:`Through the Lens of the Gospels <gospels-apostles>` --- ...

.. toctree::
   :hidden:

   hebrew-bible
   gospels-apostles

Step 5: Build and check#

make html

Check for warnings. The page should appear in the easy overview’s “See these axioms through a specific tradition” section.

Step-by-step: quran-based (squr + stor + sgos)#

This example creates a three-source synthesis. The Quran explicitly recognizes both Torah and Gospels as divinely inspired, so a Quran-based page naturally includes citations from all three.

Step 1: Register in the skill spec#

* - ``quran-based``
  - ``squr`` + ``stor`` + ``sgos``
  - Quran citations listing also Torah and Gospel citations,
    because the Quran recognizes both as inspired. Best quote
    from the Quran is highlighted; the dropdown groups all
    three sources.

Step 2: Create the file#

Create source/matheology/axioms/easy/quran-based.rst:

.. _all-ax-easy-quran-based:

.. compiler:protected-section start

*********************************************************************
Axioms --- Through the Lens of the Quran
*********************************************************************

What are axioms --- and why should readers of the Quran care?
===============================================================

[Human-crafted intro. Mention that the Quran affirms the Torah
and the Gospels as inspired revelation, so this page draws from
all three --- with the Quran as the primary lens.]

.. compiler:protected-section end

.. This page was generated by SISYF on {date}.
.. Source: matheology/pet/axioms.rst, matheology/jub/axioms.rst
.. Synthesis: quran-based ← squr + stor + sgos
.. Models: pet, jub

Step 3: Write each axiom entry#

The three-source pattern:

a1 --- Containment
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Plain-language explanation.]

   *"Wherever you turn, there is the Face of God."*
   --- Quran 2:115

.. dropdown:: All Quran, Torah, and Gospel citations for a1
   :class-title: sd-font-weight-normal

   **Quran (squr):**
   2:115 ("wherever you turn, there is the Face of God");
   50:16 ("we are closer to him than his jugular vein")

   **Torah (stor):**
   Deut 4:39 ("God in heaven above and earth beneath")

   **Gospels (sgos):**
   John 1:3 ("all things were made through him")

:ref:`Full expert detail <pet-ax1>`

The highlighted quote should always come from the Quran (the primary lens), with Torah and Gospel citations providing the cross-tradition confirmation in the dropdown.

Step 4: Add to the easy index#

Same pattern as above — add to the tradition list and toctree.

Checklist for any new synthesis page#

  1. Choose a thematic name (not a keyword name)

  2. Register in skill spec §3.8

  3. Create the file with SISYF metadata including Synthesis: line

  4. Write a human-crafted protected intro

  5. For each axiom: highlighted quote + dropdown with all sources + expert link

  6. Add to easy/index.rst tradition list and toctree

  7. make html — check for warnings