My "Lost" Theory (SPOILERS)

I've been hanging in with "Lost" for 3 seasons now, and think one of my competing theories as to what the show is about has gotten a definite push the last few episodes.


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I think the island is Eden, and that the Dharma Initiative was all about finding it and harnessing its unique properties.

Ben of the Others is the serpent of Eden, who was born there and has lived there ever since. The Others have been manipulated by Ben into doing his bidding, the same as Adam and Eve were. Ben's rule is a twisted form of Old Testament law, such as when something akin to the Mark of Cain is branded into Juliet's back for killing one of the Others. He is a manipulator, a liar, a cheat, and yet bound by certain rules. He does nothing directly, but persuades others to do it for him. His father is trying to kill him, and will if he finds him, and the island is the only place where he can hide.

The Dharma Initiative scientists ran into problems sometime after coming to the island; it's been hinted there was some sort of contagion which spread, and an allusion to "hostiles". The "hostiles" may be fallen angels serving Ben, perhaps possessing the Others. The monster may be a defense mechanism put in place by God to keep humanity off the island; it may be Ben's true form, crawling on his belly through Eden.

An alternative theory is the main island setting is actually Nod; and Ben Cain himself.

How Walt may play into this is unclear, but it might be that Walt's hinted-at power to warp reality points toward his being the second coming of Christ; or perhaps the rising power of the Antichrist, possibly the safer direction for "Lost"'s writers to take.

The "Lost" title in this case would refer to "Paradise Lost", and Ben Linus (wonder what that's an anagram for---"Nuns' bile" is one) would be Milton's Satan.