v1.2.0 to v1.2.0

- ---

- name: okhp3-tradition-reference

- description: >

- Reference ARE scope, canon, denominations, translations, Pew US shares, and

- free API providers for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Use before answering

- canon or denomination questions, choosing a translation, writing scripture

- fetch code, checking whether a tradition is in scope, or explaining LDS,

- Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, or Islamic reference coverage. Preserve

- denominational variation, source dates, licensing, and known API gaps.

- license: MIT

- metadata:

- author: Jamie Hill (OverKill Hill P³)

- version: "1.2.0"

- category: interfaith-reference

- origin: okhp3/abrahamic-reference-engine

- homepage: https://overkillhill.com

- author-github: https://github.com/OKHP3

- spec-version: "agentskills-1.0"

- reviewed: "2026-07-21"

- compatibility: Markdown reference material. Network access is optional and only needed to verify provider availability or current demographic sources.

- ---

-

- # Tradition Reference

-

- **OverKill Hill P³** · [overkillhill.com](https://overkillhill.com) · [github.com/OKHP3](https://github.com/OKHP3) · [OKHP3/skillz](https://github.com/OKHP3/skillz)

-

- ## Execution contract

-

- - Apply the scope test before adding a tradition, denomination, translation, or

- API: Abrahamic lineage and the 1% US threshold are both required by ARE.

- - Use the focused `knowledge/` file for the question at hand. Do not load every

- primer when one denomination or one API gap is sufficient.

- - Separate canonical or historical description from ARE implementation policy,

- provider availability, and user-facing UI guidance.

- - Preserve variation within a tradition. Do not turn one denomination's canon,

- practice, or interpretation into a universal claim.

- - Treat Pew shares and provider coverage as time-sensitive. Cite the source and

- date, record known gaps in `reserve-02-api-gap-register.md`, and verify live

- availability before promising that an endpoint currently works.

- - This is a neutral reference layer, not spiritual or doctrinal authority. Do

- not rank traditions or recommend a translation without stating its license

- and coverage limits.

-

- ## Scope criteria

-

- Two criteria must BOTH be met for a tradition to be in scope:

- 1. **Abrahamic lineage** -- traceable descent from the Abrahamic scriptural family (Judaism, Christianity, or Islam, and their direct derivatives)

- 2. **1% or greater US population** -- per Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study

-

- Failing either criterion excludes the tradition regardless of global significance, historical importance, or US cultural presence.

-

- **Pew Research Center citation:** https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/ (2023)

-

- ---

-

- ## In-scope traditions (3 total)

-

- | Tradition | US Share (Pew 2023) | In scope | Abrahamic | Meets 1% |

- |-----------|---------------------|----------|-----------|----------|

- | Christianity | ~63% | YES | YES | YES |

- | Judaism | ~2% | YES | YES | YES |

- | Islam | ~1% | YES | YES | YES |

-

- ---

-

- ## Explicitly out of scope

-

- | Tradition | US Share | Abrahamic | Meets 1% | Reason excluded |

- |-----------|----------|-----------|----------|-----------------|

- | Hinduism | ~1% | NO | YES | Not Abrahamic |

- | Buddhism | ~1% | NO | YES | Not Abrahamic |

- | Sikhism | <0.5% | NO | NO | Not Abrahamic; below 1% |

- | Baha'i | ~0.1% | YES | NO | Abrahamic but below 1% threshold |

- | Druze | <0.1% | YES | NO | Abrahamic but below 1% threshold |

- | Wicca / Paganism | <0.5% | NO | NO | Not Abrahamic; below 1% |

- | Unaffiliated / Secular | ~26% | N/A | N/A | Not a scriptural tradition |

-

- Exclusion is a methodological boundary, not a judgment of worth or spiritual validity.

-

- ---

-

- ## Judaism

-

- **US population share:** ~2% (Pew Research Center, 2023)

- **Pew URL:** https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/

-

- ### Canon

-

- | Division | Contents | Books |

- |---------|----------|-------|

- | Torah | The Five Books of Moses (Pentateuch) | Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy |

- | Nevi'im | The Prophets | 8 books (Joshua through Malachi) |

- | Ketuvim | The Writings | 11 books (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, etc.) |

- | **Tanakh total** | | **24 books** |

-

- Secondary authoritative texts: Talmud Bavli, Talmud Yerushalmi, Midrash Rabbah, Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Zohar, Shulchan Arukh

-

- ### Key themes

-

- - Covenant (brit) between God and Israel

- - Tikkun olam -- repair of the world

- - Shabbat and sacred time

- - Torah study as lifelong obligation

- - Justice (tzedakah) and ethical monotheism

-

- ### Interpretive traditions

-

- - PaRDeS: Peshat (plain), Remez (allegorical), Derash (homiletic), Sod (mystical)

- - Talmudic dialectic: argument and counter-argument preserved, not resolved

- - Maimonidean rationalism vs. Kabbalistic mysticism

- - Modern movements: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist

-

- ### Key passages

-

- | Reference | Lookup key | Note |

- |-----------|------------|------|

- | Genesis 1:1 | `Genesis 1:1` | Opening of the Torah |

- | Deuteronomy 6:4-5 | `Deuteronomy 6:4-5` | The Shema -- central prayer |

- | Exodus 20:1-17 | `Exodus 20:1-17` | The Ten Commandments |

- | Psalms 23 | `Psalms 23` | The Lord is my Shepherd |

- | Isaiah 6:1-8 | `Isaiah 6:1-8` | Isaiah's call |

- | Micah 6:8 | `Micah 6:8` | Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly |

-

- ### Available translations

-

- | ID | Name | License | Notes |

- |----|------|---------|-------|

- | `sefaria-en` | Sefaria English | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Default; mixed from public domain sources |

- | `sefaria-he-en` | Sefaria Hebrew + English | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Bilingual display |

-

- ### API provider

-

- **Sefaria.org** -- free, no authentication required

- - Endpoint: `GET https://www.sefaria.org/api/texts/{ref}?lang=en`

- - Reference format: `{Book} {Chapter}:{Verse}` (e.g. `Genesis 1:1`)

- - Documentation: https://developers.sefaria.org/

-

- ---

-

- ## Christianity

-

- **US population share:** ~63% total (Pew Research Center, 2023)

- **Pew URL:** https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/

-

- Christianity is subdivided by denomination. Five denominations meet the 1%+ US threshold.

-

- ### Canon overview by denomination

-

- | Denomination | US Share | Canon | Books | Deuterocanonicals |

- |-------------|----------|-------|-------|-------------------|

- | Evangelical Protestant | ~25% | Protestant | 66 (39 OT + 27 NT) | Excluded |

- | Catholic | ~20% | Catholic | 73 (46 OT + 27 NT) | Included (7 books) |

- | Mainline Protestant | ~16% | Protestant | 66 (39 OT + 27 NT) | Excluded |

- | LDS / Restorationist | ~2% | Standard Works | 66 (KJV) + 3 additional | Excluded from Bible; additional LDS scriptures |

- | Orthodox Christian | ~1% | Orthodox | Varies by jurisdiction (typically 76-78) | Included (broader set) |

-

- ### Denomination reference

-

- #### Evangelical Protestant (~25% US)

-

- - **Description:** Personal conversion, biblical inerrancy/infallibility, centrality of Christ's atonement, evangelism imperative. Includes Baptist, Pentecostal, non-denominational.

- - **Distinctives:** Born-again experience, sola scriptura, believer's baptism (typically by immersion).

- - **Key texts:** Holy Bible (66 books)

- - **Representative passages:** John 3:16 (`john 3:16`), Romans 10:9-10 (`romans 10:9-10`), 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (`2 timothy 3:16-17`)

- - **Preferred translations:** KJV, ESV (key req.), NIV (key req.), WEB

- - **API translations (free):** `kjv`, `web`, `asv`, `bbe`, `darby`

-

- #### Catholic (~20% US)

-

- - **Description:** Apostolic succession, Eucharist as central sacrament, Magisterium as teaching authority. Seven sacraments. Largest single denomination worldwide.

- - **Distinctives:** Scripture + Tradition + Magisterium; 73-book canon; veneration of Mary and saints.

- - **Key texts:** Holy Bible (73 books), Catechism of the Catholic Church

- - **Representative passages:** Matthew 16:18-19 (`matthew 16:18-19`), John 6:51-58 (`john 6:51-58`), Luke 1:46-55 (`luke 1:46-55`)

- - **Preferred translations:** NABRE (key req.), Douay-Rheims, WEB (has deuterocanonicals)

- - **API translations (free):** `web` (includes deuterocanonicals), `kjv` (excludes deuterocanonicals)

-

- #### Mainline Protestant (~16% US)

-

- - **Description:** Historic denominations (Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal/Anglican, United Church of Christ). Ecumenical, critical-scholarly, social justice oriented.

- - **Distinctives:** Theological diversity; many ordain women and LGBTQ+ clergy; Wesleyan Quadrilateral (Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience).

- - **Key texts:** Holy Bible (66 books), Westminster Confession, Book of Common Prayer

- - **Representative passages:** Micah 6:8 (`micah 6:8`), Matthew 25:31-46 (`matthew 25:31-46`), Romans 12:1-2 (`romans 12:1-2`)

- - **Preferred translations:** NRSV (key req.), WEB, KJV

- - **API translations (free):** `kjv`, `web`, `asv`, `bbe`

-

- #### LDS / Restorationist (~2% US)

-

- - **Description:** Restoration movement founded by Joseph Smith. Modern prophetic revelation, pre-mortal existence, eternal family relationships sealed in temples.

- - **Distinctives:** Standard Works (four-volume canon); continuing prophetic succession; temple ordinances.

- - **Key texts:** Holy Bible (KJV), Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price

- - **Representative passages:** James 1:5 (`james 1:5`), John 17:3 (`john 17:3`), 2 Ne. 2:25 (Book of Mormon), Moses 1:39 (Pearl of Great Price), D&C 76:22 (Doctrine and Covenants)

- - **API translations (free):** `kjv` (Bible only via bible-api.com)

-

- **Canon scope -- Standard Works (4 volumes):**

-

- | Volume | Contents | Books / Sections |

- |--------|----------|-----------------|

- | Holy Bible (KJV) | Old and New Testament | 66 books |

- | Book of Mormon | Narrative scripture from ancient American prophets | 15 books (1 Nephi -- Moroni) |

- | Doctrine and Covenants | Modern revelations, primarily through Joseph Smith | 138 sections + Official Declarations |

- | Pearl of Great Price | Moses, Abraham, Joseph Smith -- History, Articles of Faith | 5 texts |

-

- **LDS scripture API for non-Bible volumes:** `scriptures.nephi.org` -- community-maintained, no authentication required.

- - Base URL: `https://scriptures.nephi.org`

- - Covers all four Standard Works

- - Reference examples: `1 Ne. 3:7` (Book of Mormon), `D&C 76:22` (D&C), `Moses 1:39` (Pearl of Great Price)

- - No uptime guarantee -- implement graceful fallback when unavailable

- - Official text (no API): `https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures`

-

- #### Orthodox Christian (~1% US)

-

- - **Description:** Eastern Orthodox traces apostolic continuity through seven Ecumenical Councils. Theosis (participation in divine nature) as the goal of Christian life. Highly liturgical.

- - **Distinctives:** Divine Liturgy (John Chrysostom / Basil); icon veneration; Septuagint (LXX) as authoritative OT; broader canon than Protestant.

- - **Key texts:** Holy Bible (Orthodox canon), Church Fathers, Philokalia

- - **Representative passages:** John 1:1-14 (`john 1:1-14`), 2 Peter 1:4 (`2 peter 1:4`), Matthew 3:13-17 (`matthew 3:13-17`)

- - **API translations (free):** `web` (closest to Orthodox usage -- includes deuterocanonicals but not full Orthodox OT), `kjv`

-

- **Canon scope -- Septuagint-based (LXX):**

-

- | Canon layer | Contents | Books |

- |-------------|----------|-------|

- | Protestant OT core | Shared with all Christian traditions | 39 books |

- | Catholic deuterocanonicals | Tobit, Judith, 1-2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch + Greek additions to Esther/Daniel | 7 books + additions |

- | Orthodox additions | 3 Maccabees, Psalm 151 | Present in Greek Orthodox and most Eastern Orthodox canons |

- | Extended (some jurisdictions) | 4 Maccabees (appendix in Georgian/Slavonic traditions), 1 Esdras, Prayer of Manasseh | Varies by jurisdiction |

- | New Testament | Shared with all Christian traditions | 27 books |

-

- **Typical total:** 76-78 books (varies by jurisdiction -- Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, etc. differ slightly).

-

- **API gap:** No free public unauthenticated API covers the full Orthodox OT. bible-api.com `web` covers the seven Catholic deuterocanonicals but omits 3 Maccabees, Psalm 151, and 4 Maccabees. Surface this limitation explicitly when a user requests those texts.

-

- ### Available translations (Christianity -- all denominations)

-

- | ID | Name | License | Denominations | Notes |

- |----|------|---------|---------------|-------|

- | `kjv` | King James Version (1611) | Public domain | Evangelical, LDS, mainline, Catholic | Standard for Evangelical and LDS use |

- | `web` | World English Bible | Public domain | All | Includes deuterocanonicals; best for Catholic/Orthodox |

- | `asv` | American Standard Version (1901) | Public domain | Evangelical, mainline | Formal equivalent |

- | `bbe` | Bible in Basic English | Public domain | All | Simplified vocabulary |

- | `darby` | Darby Translation | Public domain | Evangelical | Literal; 19th century |

- | `akjv` | American King James Version | Public domain | Evangelical | Modernized KJV spelling |

- | `ylt` | Young's Literal Translation | Public domain | Academic | Highly literal; 1862 |

- | `dra` | Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition | Public domain | Catholic, Orthodox | Traditional Catholic translation from Latin Vulgate; use `dra` -- `drc` returns HTTP 404 |

- | `esv` | English Standard Version | **Licensed** | Evangelical | Requires API key; NOT in free build |

- | `nrsv` | New Revised Standard Version | **Licensed** | Mainline, academic | Requires API key; NOT in free build |

- | `nabre` | New American Bible Revised Edition | **Licensed** | Catholic | US liturgical standard; requires API key |

-

- ### API provider (Christianity)

-

- **bible-api.com** -- free, no authentication required

- - Endpoint: `GET https://bible-api.com/{reference}?translation={id}`

- - Reference format: `{book} {chapter}:{verse}` (lowercase; e.g. `john 3:16`)

- - Documentation: https://bible-api.com/

-

- ---

-

- ## Islam

-

- **US population share:** ~1% (Pew Research Center, 2023)

- **Pew URL:** https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/

-

- ### Canon

-

- | Text | Contents | Structure |

- |------|----------|-----------|

- | Quran | Direct word of God as revealed to Prophet Muhammad | 114 surahs (chapters), 6,236 ayat (verses); organized by descending length, not chronology |

- | Hadith | Sayings and actions of the Prophet (secondary source) | Six major collections (Kutub al-Sittah); Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are most authoritative |

-

- Major Hadith collections: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sunan Ibn Majah

-

- ### Key themes

-

- - Tawhid: the absolute oneness of God

- - Prophethood (Nubuwwah): Adam to Muhammad as final messenger

- - The Five Pillars: Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj

- - Akhirah: the afterlife and Day of Judgment

- - Submission (Islam) and peace (Salam) as core meanings

-

- ### Interpretive traditions

-

- - Tafsir: exegetical commentary on the Quran

- - Fiqh: Islamic jurisprudence derived from Quran and Hadith

- - Four major Sunni law schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali

- - Shia tradition: authority of the Imams alongside scripture

- - Sufi tradition: mystical and devotional interpretation

-

- ### Key passages

-

- | Reference | Surah:Ayah key | Note |

- |-----------|----------------|------|

- | Al-Fatiha 1:1-7 | `1:1` | The Opening; recited in every prayer |

- | Ayat al-Kursi 2:255 | `2:255` | The Throne Verse |

- | Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4 | `112:1` | The Sincerity; on the oneness of God |

- | An-Nur 24:35 | `24:35` | The Light Verse |

- | Al-Baqarah 2:285-286 | `2:285` | The Messenger believes |

- | Al-Alaq 96:1-5 | `96:1` | First revelation: "Read" |

-

- ### Available translations

-

- | ID (Quran.com) | Name | Style |

- |----------------|------|-------|

- | `20` | Sahih International | Modern; balanced; default |

- | `21` | Pickthall | Early 20th c.; archaic style -- WARNING: currently returns no translations array from Quran.com v4; use AlQuran.cloud fallback edition `en.pickthall` instead |

- | `22` | Yusuf Ali | With explanatory notes |

- | `23` | Arberry | Literary; "The Koran Interpreted" |

- | `24` | Shakir | More literal |

-

- Use `translationId` values as the integer in the Quran.com `translations` query parameter. In this codebase, prefix with `quran-` (e.g. `quran-20`) and strip the prefix before passing to the API.

-

- ### API provider (Islam)

-

- **Primary: Quran.com API v4** -- free, no authentication required

- - Endpoint: `GET https://api.quran.com/api/v4/verses/by_key/{surah}:{ayah}?language=en&translations={id}&words=false`

- - Reference format: `{surah}:{ayah}` (e.g. `2:255`)

- - Documentation: https://api-docs.quran.com/

-

- **Fallback: AlQuran.cloud**

- - Endpoint: `GET https://api.alquran.cloud/v1/ayah/{surah}:{ayah}/{edition}`

- - Editions: `en.asad`, `en.arberry`, `en.sahih`, `en.pickthall`

-

- **Hadith: fawazahmed0/hadith-api** -- free via jsDelivr CDN (CC BY-4.0)

- - CDN: `https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/fawazahmed0/hadith-api@1/`

- - **Working endpoint (collection-level):** `https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/fawazahmed0/hadith-api@1/editions/eng-{collection}.min.json` -- fetch the full collection JSON and extract the hadith by `hadithnumber` from the in-memory result

- - **Broken endpoint (per-hadith):** `/{number}.json` URL pattern -- returns HTTP 404 as of 2026-06-25; do not use

- - Collections: `bukhari`, `muslim`, `abudawud`, `tirmidhi`, `nasai`, `ibnmajah`

- - No authentication required

-

- ---

-

- ## Quick lookup table

-

- | Tradition | US% | API | Base URL | Ref format | Default translation |

- |-----------|-----|-----|----------|-----------|---------------------|

- | Judaism | 2% | Sefaria | `sefaria.org/api/texts` | `Genesis 1:1` | Sefaria English |

- | Christianity | 63% | bible-api.com | `bible-api.com` | `john 3:16` | KJV |

- | Islam | 1% | Quran.com v4 | `api.quran.com/api/v4` | `2:255` | Sahih International (ID 20) |

-

- ---

-

- ## Knowledge scaffold file inventory

-

- All files live under `knowledge/` in this skill directory. Load only the file(s) relevant to the current task -- do not load the full set upfront. The SKILL.md above is sufficient for most queries; reach for these files when you need deep-dive tradition or denomination detail.

-

- | File | Description |

- |------|-------------|

- | `judaism-primer.md` | Tradition overview: canon, themes, interpretive schools, key passages |

- | `islam-primer.md` | Tradition overview: Quran and Hadith structure, Five Pillars, tafsir traditions |

- | `christianity-overview.md` | Christianity as a whole: US share, denominational breakdown, canon summary |

- | `christianity-catholic.md` | Catholic denomination: Magisterium, 73-book canon, sacraments, translation notes |

- | `christianity-evangelical-protestant.md` | Evangelical Protestant: sola scriptura, inerrancy, born-again distinctives |

- | `christianity-mainline-protestant.md` | Mainline Protestant: Wesleyan Quadrilateral, ecumenism, social-justice orientation |

- | `christianity-lds-restorationist.md` | LDS / Restorationist: Standard Works four-volume canon, prophetic succession, temple ordinances |

- | `christianity-orthodox.md` | Orthodox Christian: theosis, Divine Liturgy, Septuagint canon, API gap notes |

- | `cross-tradition-compare-method.md` | Methodology for neutral cross-tradition comparison: proportional representation, bridging note style |

- | `neutral-glossary.md` | Shared Abrahamic vocabulary with tradition-neutral definitions |

- | `translation-metadata.md` | Translation ID map, license status, and API availability for all three traditions |

- | `reserve-01-scope-expansion-notes.md` | Phase 2 notes: traditions considered for future scope expansion beyond Abrahamic lineage |

- | `reserve-02-api-gap-register.md` | API gap register: translations and texts with no free anonymous API coverage |

- | `reserve-03-ui-copy.md` | UI copy reference: labels, explainer text, and tone guidelines for the ARE interface |

- | `reserve-04-denominational-distinctives-extended.md` | Extended denominational distinctives beyond what fits in the main SKILL.md |

-

- ---

-

- ## About

-

- Built by [Jamie Hill](https://overkillhill.com) · [OverKill Hill P³](https://overkillhill.com)

- Published at [github.com/OKHP3](https://github.com/OKHP3)

- Part of the [OKHP3/skillz](https://github.com/OKHP3/skillz) Agent Skill library.

- MIT License -- free to use, fork, and adapt. A nod to the source is appreciated.