Just a thought. I know the Island is rather large but what if it is actually moveable? What if the electromagnetic generator represents some sort of drive system? Henry Gale tells Michael he would not be able to find the Island again…perhaps the fail safe key Desmond turned was actually the ignition and the Island is on the move albeit very slowly (Imperceptible to the inhabitants)and the reason Penelope’s contacts have a difficult time keeping track of it.

Also I found another good definition of Dharma…."Sanskrit term for duty, virtue and law; ethical rules of conduct transmitted from one generation to the next. The three traditional enemies of Dharma are lust, greed and anger. In its occult application the term means the laws of nature that maintain order in the universe, uplifting the soul and providing for spiritual growth".

To me it almost seems as if the Island is a type of Purgatory (Are they all already dead?)where the soul is purged of all sin so that it may transcend or move on. All of the characters are coming to terms with the most difficult times in their life. Physical afflictions are reversed on the island while afflictions of the soul and psyche are amplified.

Or perhaps the theory that the Island was built as a reaction to WWII is the way to go. Someone built the place in the hopes of establishing a utopian society in the event of a nuclear holocaust. In order to weed out the bad seeds (and ensure a peace loving society)a monitoring system was set up whereby all the inhabitants were monitoring one another to watch for signs of bad traits (greed, anger, lust) that which may corrupt the society, repeat history and lead to their own self-destruction. This may be the reason the others claim to be weeding out the good from the bad and insisting that they themselves are "Good people". Thanks.