Sir, - After death, for better or for worse, we enter into eternity - which, of its nature, is timeless. Therefore heaven existed before the time of Christ.
If it were true that the Church still maintained that outside it there is no salvation, this would be a totally untenable doctrine. What about the millions, including such notables as Moses and Abraham, who died before the time of Christ, and more millions since then who, before the Church had attained worldwide coverage, had never heard of Him?
Surely it is closer to the truth to say that any virtuous person who follows faithfully the dictates of his own religion will experience after death that state of contentment that we call Heaven. - Yours, etc., Peter A. Grehan,
Caherdaniel, Killarney, Co Kerry.