The new question for me is "What is this light source at the center of the island?" Is it the Fountain of Youth? A power source for the entire island? The dimensional black hole in the JJ Abrahms "space-time-continuum" ribbon?
I'm leaning towards a natural phenomena of some kind of electromagnetic anti-matter wormhole or some such that will be a pseudo scientific explanation of why there is intelligent life on earth. It would just be part of the earth and not brought by anyone or anything and there may be more on other planets or moons.
That would fit with not-mom's claim as it being the source of life, death and rebirth.
The spiritual aspect of it could be explained by man's natural tendency to spirituality phenomena he doesn't understand and make up 'rules' that seem to work and people go along with until they learn more about how things actually work.
Which again goes back to the science vs. faith - some scientists don't accept the 'super natural' until there is a reproducible test result to prove it's actually there and can be manipulated - and the spiritual don't want tests to be done because it is sacrilegious.
So, I don't think there's anything to the chanting over wine or water and cup drinking, just human traditions like magic spells, but there is something to the belief aspect of having the confidence (matrix style maybe) to use this life source to do your bidding and work WITH it and it's natural properties - as opposed to abusing it.
Sort of like the difference between abusing animals by controlling them to do tricks for entertainment or training them to want to work with you in a way that is more natural to them because they've developed a relationship with you...
Smoky and the rest of the dead folks are caught in the light source because they aren't able to rest and 'let go'.
My big prediction is that Smoky is going to find himself in a Dorthy spot of always having the power to leave with him the entire time... only it wont' be a dream, it'll be simply passing on into the light instead of resisting it.
I'm probably way off, but that was fun. :lol