The Hanso Foundation (Possible LOSTspoilers)

[oreogod]

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like the idea that the island is some sort of purgatory.

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I did too, but with all this scientific mumbo jumbo going on i dont think this theory holds weight. Also, the writers have come out AGAINST this possibility.

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That and the fact that the producers have said it is not purgatory and that they are not dead. They have also said there is nothing magical on the island and everything they have come up with (hatches, monsters, whispers, etc) is based fully in science. So no alcehmy, fantasy crap.

The french lady also stated that the monster thing is a "security system".

Also if I had to guess. the Others are what happened to the scientists. Some [censored] up [censored] or whatever that made them crazy, insane..etc. (seriously...2 episodes ago, when Mr Eco and Jin see the Others...when the "Other" kid walks by, there is a Dharma log on the leg of his teddy bear)