Why did Jack create himself a son in the ALT timeline?

[DharmaCakes]

In the ALT timeline, why did Jack create himself a son he didn't actually have?
Was this simply because of his desire to have a good father/son relationship in his life?

Loved Locke calling him on it, and seeing his confusion, but really unsure of what the point was.

[NoraCharles]

In the ALT timeline, why did Jack create himself a son he didn't actually have?
Was this simply because of his desire to have a good father/son relationship in his life?

Yes, I think that was it. And to make amends, to "earn" that relationship, if you will. If you remember, Jack didn't always have a good relationship with his son. Jack created an alt where he got to do what he and he father hadn't done yet (because he hadn't been to church), which was find common ground, forgive and move on, trying to be better. I do think it was important that Jack 'earned' it, as opposed to just giving himself a perfect father/son relationship.

[Maxor127]

Or why did Juliet create a marriage and divorce with Jack and a son that apparently ceases to exist once they remember?  And did they have actual births and lives in the sideways or is it more like the Matrix?

[WhatThe]

Or why did Juliet create a marriage and divorce with Jack and a son that apparently ceases to exist once they remember?  And did they have actual births and lives in the sideways or is it more like the Matrix?

Things in the sideways/ALT/whatever seemed to at least somewhat mirror events on the island...and on the island Jack and Juliet were indeed "together" for a little while, but they both ended up realizing that Jack loved someone else. And of course in the wake of Jack leaving the island, Juliet and Sawyer actually found true love together. Same thing more or less happened in the ALT universe.