This discussion was held somewhere on the board in another topic, but I can't find it anymore. So let's start over.
There are 9 named persons in The Happening: Elliot, Alma, Julian, Jess, Mrs. Jones, Jared, Josh, Joey and Jake. As you might notice, 1 starts with an E, 1 with an A and 7 with a J. What do we really know about this movie?
In all of Shyamalan's movies, there is a strong religious theme present. For exemple, in The Sixth Sense Cole often visits churches to feel safe, and Signs is pretty much about a viccar who searches for a sign from god.
We have an E, an A and 7 J's. What can we make of this? There should be a bell ringing for everyone who knows the bible at least a little bit. E and A probably stand for Adam and Eve.
Even though the initials are switched (Eve for Elliot and Adam for Alma), I have good faith that my theory checks out. Alma had desert with a guy named Joey, she sort of cheated on Elliot, she ate the forbidden fruit.
At the end of the movie, Elliot and Alma brought back the love in their relationship. Together with Jess, they where the only survivors in the movie (there must have been more, but from all the people we've followed in the movie, they where the only ones.), they where Adam and Eve.
Let's get back on the J, will we? What can that mean?
If we go back to the bible, probably everyone will say Jesus. But why Jesus? Jesus was a mesiah, he brought everything good in a world so bad. The fact that every other named person starts with a J should be quite clear as a refference to humanity. Are we saints? Are we mesiahs?
Not really, according to the movie, we are using everything that mother nature gives us, without being thankfull to her. We seem to be all well with nature, but in fact we are poluting, spliting atoms, eating more forbidden fruit.
Therefor, I believe the J stands for Judas.
There is one exception for the J: Jess. She is the only survivor of all the J's, therefor I don't believe she is ment to be representing Judas.
While taking care of Jess, both Alma and Elliot learn how to be responsible in a relationship. Elliot 'grows up' in just a few houres, he becomes mature. Alma, who (clearly) didn't love Elliot anymore, fell back in love with the new Elliot. Jess becomes the essential part of their relationship. I believe that Jess can represent Jesus. After all, Jess only needs an U to become Jesus.