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A Myth Without the Point?

The series Lost seems to be a very strange winding together of naturalism and mythology. I’m interested in people’s opinions on a central issue.

Throughout the series, people seem to be constantly negotiating their relationships in a pool of deep distrust. It appears to me that the story-tellers are taking a strongly Darwinian, naturalistic view of friendship.

Meanwhile, the island world is evidently mythical and more evidently so as the series proceeds.

But isn’t this a strange conflict. If they are hinting at a spiritual realm of some sort in the island itself and even in some characters, then why do they treat the relationships in such a thoroughly naturalistic, non-spiritual way.

I refer specifically to the absence of a Baucis and Philemon type relationship, one in which there is no calculation, no seeking of advantage. Are there any souls that are capable of loving and being loved in this series?

Let me be clear that I am referring specifically to caritas, agape, or the old English, no-longer used “charity,” (and what does it tell us that we no longer use that word to describe this extraordinary, supernatural love?).

Can you point me to an exception? If not, what are the story-tellers telling us about love? And why are they willing to include people who can talk to the dead or see the future, psychics, healers – all sorts of supernatural activities – but nobody who can love without calculation?

If there is an exception, who are they? One possibility enters my mind, but I won’t say anything here.

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