TheBoost said:
For what it's worth, has Jacob ever done anything that was clearly 'good' for anyone? Ever?
He paid for Kate's lunch box, He helped Jack get his stuck Apollo candy bar, He gave Hurley a nice guitar case worth about $100 with a wooden Ankh inside (value unknown), he offered the Man in Black (his declared enemy) some of his Fish/Meal (thought of as extreme good manners & saintly in some cultures)... All of these acts would elevate someone to sainthood in my eyes. Pretty kind acts for today's self centered and rude world. And why must we be showered with gifts and benevolent acts by someone for them to be deemed "Good" in our eyes? I would think such materialistic standards and desires would put a person who would set such standards in the mostly evil column. Vanity and avarice have long been considered sins. Maybe the same could be said about the desire for good deeds (positive life changing influences / answered prayers) from a God, Demi-God, or any wish granting Spirit (such as a Genie). The question should be, Has anyone on the Island done anything that was clearly good for Jacob (or The Island)?
Edit: I need to add that I also believe that the flash sideways events we are seeing are a direct result of a loop hole created by Jacob's influence. The flash-sideways alternate reality we see each week was created by Jacob's created time loophole (paradox). In it, Jacob has granted the wish of the Chinese temple master . In that flash-sideways reality the Chinese temple master's son lives. This is because of Jacob and his influence, and can be considered good. Having and allowing Jacob's loophole to continue to exist is what I believe the battle to come in the last episodes will decide.
I think the Smoke Monster (aka: Zombie Locke) also has created a loophole (think Compass), but so has Jacob. Jacob's loophole was not expected and that is why we are at times seeing some surprise reactions from Zombie Locke. Like when he saw the little Blond Boy, and when Richard told Sun he saw them all die back in 1977. Look at Zombie Locke's reaction to that. How this is going to play out is not known by any side. Now think of the conversation on the beach between MAN in Black (Aka: Smoke Monster and Zombie Locke) about loopholes and progress.
See it there> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv7J5TO7t-w