Not a very well hashed out theory but something that suddenly hit me....
Reincarnation, or the belief that the soul, lifeforce, mindstream, etc., survives death and is reborn in another body explains a great many things when it comes to Lost. Specifically, I believe the idea that the soul lives on forever may explain quite a bit of the show.
Most importantly, if you believe reincarnation is a big part of the show, you can assume that all of the Lostaways are reincarnations of very important souls -- they just don't realize it yet. They have not yet remembered their previous live(s). Once they do, this will help them fulfill whatever destiny they have.
This thought process perhaps also explains ageless Richard. Perhaps Richard has reached a spiritual nirvana whereby he no longer has to go through the cycle of birth-death-reborn (something most religions that incorporate reincarnation believe is possible).
It also can explain the Others' willingness to die and to kill. If one believes/knows you will be reincarnated, you are more willing to kill and/or die. Ms. Klugh telling Mikhail to shoot her, Juliet easily killing, Ben killing all sorts of people are examples of this.
It might also explain Locke and Christian being "reborn". Perhaps they are at a different/higher place than most and can "reuse" their bodies to continue on their journeys.
Perhaps Jacob is a "trapped" soul, which is why he asked Locke for help. There are all sorts of things the theory of reincarnation might explain.
I also think suicide perhaps "kills" the soul or slows the soul's journey to nirvana. That is why Jack couldn't kill himself, Michael couldn't kill himself, and Ben stopped Locke from killing himself only to kill him moments later.
Support:
1) Ben's van with the reincarnation anagram.
2) Richard's test of young Locke -- very similar to the test given the Dalai Lama
3)Dharma -- the very name pointing to religions that believe in reincarnation. Theory by Brian
Reincarnation, or the belief that the soul, lifeforce, mindstream, etc., survives death and is reborn in another body explains a great many things when it comes to Lost. Specifically, I believe the idea that the soul lives on forever may explain quite a bit of the show.
Most importantly, if you believe reincarnation is a big part of the show, you can assume that all of the Lostaways are reincarnations of very important souls -- they just don't realize it yet. They have not yet remembered their previous live(s). Once they do, this will help them fulfill whatever destiny they have.
This thought process perhaps also explains ageless Richard. Perhaps Richard has reached a spiritual nirvana whereby he no longer has to go through the cycle of birth-death-reborn (something most religions that incorporate reincarnation believe is possible).
It also can explain the Others' willingness to die and to kill. If one believes/knows you will be reincarnated, you are more willing to kill and/or die. Ms. Klugh telling Mikhail to shoot her, Juliet easily killing, Ben killing all sorts of people are examples of this.
It might also explain Locke and Christian being "reborn". Perhaps they are at a different/higher place than most and can "reuse" their bodies to continue on their journeys.
Perhaps Jacob is a "trapped" soul, which is why he asked Locke for help. There are all sorts of things the theory of reincarnation might explain.
I also think suicide perhaps "kills" the soul or slows the soul's journey to nirvana. That is why Jack couldn't kill himself, Michael couldn't kill himself, and Ben stopped Locke from killing himself only to kill him moments later.
Support:
1) Ben's van with the reincarnation anagram.
2) Richard's test of young Locke -- very similar to the test given the Dalai Lama
3)Dharma -- the very name pointing to religions that believe in reincarnation. Theory by Brian
