This is an expansion from a theory I saw somewhere else. The theory said that the temple was "timeless" in the way that the past, present, and future converged upon that point.
To go one further, I believe that the temple is "timeless" in the way that it is not only past, present, and future, but the possible iterations of everyone on the island. For instance, there is a version of Ben if the 815ers had never crashed on the island in the first place (which was Dan's goal). If this is true, there is a version of Ben that was never shot, which could possibly be the Ben that leaves the temple. This Ben, still having the same crappy father, would still want to be with the Others. The only difference between the two versions of Ben is that one would have never been shot.
This would also mean that not all 1977s are the same, therefore not all 2004s or 2008s are the same either, confirming Daniel's theory.
But, if that's the case, then what of Daniel? Is there a version of Daniel wandering about, ready to be scooped up and not shot by his mother? Probably. But, just as we saw with Charlotte, the dead can't transcend time, (unless, of course you're undead or reanimated). So, since Daniel seems to be dead already, they can't bring out another Daniel.
This theory of the temple's purpose and power would also, somewhat, explain Smokey and his ability to see into each person's past, since Smokey is apparently part of the temple itself, therefore not contained by time.
The timelessness of the temple would also explain Richard. Richard may age, he just moves through time. There's a million things I could say about this part of the theory, but most of them have holes that I can't figure out how to fill. By itself, though, the Richard thing makes sense.
This was actually probably multiple theories, but they were tied together, like many strands of time, by the temple... so I'll put it all here.
To go one further, I believe that the temple is "timeless" in the way that it is not only past, present, and future, but the possible iterations of everyone on the island. For instance, there is a version of Ben if the 815ers had never crashed on the island in the first place (which was Dan's goal). If this is true, there is a version of Ben that was never shot, which could possibly be the Ben that leaves the temple. This Ben, still having the same crappy father, would still want to be with the Others. The only difference between the two versions of Ben is that one would have never been shot.
This would also mean that not all 1977s are the same, therefore not all 2004s or 2008s are the same either, confirming Daniel's theory.
But, if that's the case, then what of Daniel? Is there a version of Daniel wandering about, ready to be scooped up and not shot by his mother? Probably. But, just as we saw with Charlotte, the dead can't transcend time, (unless, of course you're undead or reanimated). So, since Daniel seems to be dead already, they can't bring out another Daniel.
This theory of the temple's purpose and power would also, somewhat, explain Smokey and his ability to see into each person's past, since Smokey is apparently part of the temple itself, therefore not contained by time.
The timelessness of the temple would also explain Richard. Richard may age, he just moves through time. There's a million things I could say about this part of the theory, but most of them have holes that I can't figure out how to fill. By itself, though, the Richard thing makes sense.
This was actually probably multiple theories, but they were tied together, like many strands of time, by the temple... so I'll put it all here.
