Alvar Hanso and Dharma (similar to L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology) have been doing all kinds of experiments to expand human consciousness. They succeeded in creating an ARTIFICIAL UNIVERSE on a south Pacific island. One that is driven by the minds within it. You need a certain number of minds that think the place is totally real to maintain it (the guinea pigs in the hatches). Trained minds like "The Others", who know the place is fake, can do a lot of seemingly superhuman things. Once the "Survivors" got sucked into it the Others need to keep them believing the place is real or bad things can happen (the place may go wild... may collapse...ect)
Theory by: PvtUser