Originally Posted by KingofIlladelph
If they stick with this "the island is hell" thing, it makes a whole lot of sense.
Jacob is God thus why he can go anywhere he wants. Notice he is always a presence amongst the Losties but never when they necessarily want answers or need him. But he always remains a presence. And good things don't always happen just because he's there even though he is good (The presence of God yet babies are murdered, raped, etc). Like when Richard went to him and got "baptized", notice how he said he couldn't bring his wife back (because God doesn't bring people back), but he could grant him everlasting life (free will/salvation).
MIB is the devil, he can't leave Hell (the island) because God keeps him there (like the original story), but the devil can still influence people. Same way God can influence people. Notice how they're always recruiting people. Same way people are influenced by the good and evil (god and the devil) everyday. And the devil is supposed to have many forms (ie Flocke, MIB, etc.)
Ben was a zealot, believing in Jacob even though he had never seen him. Even going so far as to tell the others that he spoke to him (kinda like a lot of religions with so called prophets claiming to have spoke to God). Then when he finally met him he said you never spoke to me (kind of a losing his religion moment).
I kinda believe that maybe thats why the show is called Lost, representing lost souls deciding which way they are going to go.
This is all random thoughts spewed out, so don't take it as something concrete. Just my .02.