Comment by abealisson on Religious Persistence: A Missing Primitive for Robust Alignment · 2025-04-15T02:54:47.156Z · LW · GW

The word Islam is commonly translated as "submission (to the will of God)." However, your post made me realize that another meaningful interpretation could be alignment. This concept of alignment appears to be a core feature of many religious traditions. After all, Islam shares the Semitic root S-L-M with the Hebrew word Shalom, suggesting a shared foundation in peace, harmony, or wholeness.

As we explore how to align the beings we create—whether artificial or social—perhaps we can draw inspiration from the traditions that have long sought to align us. The influence of religion, surpassing many other social constructs, offers evidence for the practicality of this alignment model.