Would that we have a world free of all violence: until then, our armed forces serve to protect US. Forget the rights and wrongs of Afghanistan or Iraq: our forces are there whether they like it or not and so THEY at least deserve our full support. Why should not a general offer spiritual support and advice? Oh, and does God exist? Or can anyone here prove that they exist rather than being a figment of my imagination? Paul R. Kent

Paul R, Maidstone, Kent

Gen Dannat is not a war Monger, nor a fanatic, If he were he'd be keeping our Boys out there instead he's going against Govt Policy & trying to get them back home to their families And trying to get them better equipped and paid so if there is a need to fight they are More likely to survive than they are now. As for his Christianity, look around you...this country could certainly do with getting back to it's traditional British Christian based Family Roots.

Adrian Peirson, Bedford, Awakening Britain

Is he serious? Let's just put all the religous delusionists in one place and let them fight it out while the rest of us get on with our lives.

Next, we'll be hearing about school teachers pushing their personal religous views on innocent school children - no wait....

Joe W, NY, USA

True, religion (or rather our response to God) is a personal matter, but it is clearly not a private matter, as Jesus clearly demonstrated by his final words to the disciples to " go and make disciples of all nations... " So, General Dannet's comments are entirely understandable. Jesus requires a very personal decision from every single one of us to either believe what He said or choose not to believe what He said. General Dannet is simply wanting to ensure that each soldier does infact know what Jesus said so they can make that very personal choice for themselves prior to going into battle because after death, if Jesus' words are true ,as in His parable of the rich man amd lazarus ..it will definitely be too late to change ones mind.

rebecca pluke, hemingford grey,

The Victorian British Army would have understood where
General Dannatt was coming from. The British nation and
it's great army then was a God fearing nation who honoured
Jesus Christ and respected the Bible. God's favour on
England from the reformation to the second world war is
obvious, God made us great. Now we have turned away from
christianity and become weaker and embraced other religions
and no religion. Queen Victoria said....The secret of Britain's
greatness is the Holy Bible. Only the blood of Jesus Christ
can wash away sin and make us fit for heaven. Nothing else
has the power to do this. Therefore British soldiers and us
dying outside of Christ have no hope.

Philip, Dorset, England

Telling someone there is an afterlife before asking them to risk their lives is an act of fraud. That's it. Unless you can PROVE your claim that there is life after death, you must not ask people to die on its basis.

If there is a life after death, I hope General Dannat likes pitchforks.

Andrew Taylor, Manchester, UK

Jesus, the author of the Christian Faith said "Except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God". Dying on the battlefield does not guarantee a place in heaven. Obeying Jesus' commandments does.

Brian Pennington, Launceston, Tasmania

What is the Chief of the General Staff doing going to an evangelical Christian conference in an official capacity anyway? A fine twist on the mockery of the democratic control, and apolitical role, of the military....

What about the British Moslems, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and others who are in the armed forces? Let's not just make this a spat between our own little band of Godists and the Dawkinists....

It is extremely unlikely that any Army officer higher in rank than Lt. Colonel will be in the direct line of fire. Dannatt surpassed this long before 9/11, and so is free to stir up the 'war on terror', which has made his role so prominent, in total safety...

I could go on....

Katy, London,

Soldiers are warriors. Anyone who does not have that warrior inside them should not join up. To be a warrior means to expect to die in battle - surviving should be seen as a bonus. Life is fleeting. To die in glory on the battlefield is an honour. The rest of us are destined to die of neglect in some dirty corner of an NHS hospital. The army's mantra should be, Those of us who are about to die salute you - and see you in Valhala!

Thor, Northern Wasteland, England

"... good for General Sir Richard Dannatt in raising his head above the parapet by daring to suggest that believers have as much right to speak about their faith as atheists do about theirs". Mike Beaumont, Oxford, UK

"... General Dannatt is very brave to speak up for this belief ... he's not trying to push religion down anyone's throat: just trying to ensure that all the soldiers he's ultimately responsible for, have the opportunity to be "introduced to" God". susie main, Turriff, Aberdeenshire

I thought religious nutters were only on this side of the pond. Who is General Sir Richard Dannatt to decide who should be introduced to God? Has it occured to any of these people to respect the right of others to believe in their own religion, or not?

What is this, the Christian Crusade to kill people?

A question for those who think it is OK to push your beliefs on others while leading the charge to kill, why aren't you in the military preparing to go to the after life?

Sammy, Detroit, MI, USA

It's bad enough having religious nutters on the other side let alone your own.

TomS, Essex, UK

Whatever happene to the Jesus who called people to love their enemies, and was prepared to suffrer and die for his beliefs - but NOT to kill?

The early church was pacifist.

And christian belief is not only in an afterlife - but two types of it - heaven and hell; thus much of the General's time should surely be devoted to ensuring that soldiers end up in the right place - and that not all soldiers go to heaven.

Truth matters.

David Cockburn, Woking, UK

Nicholas

There is not one shred of evidence that there are not invisible purple unicorns.

What does that prove?

FYI it is impossible to prove that something doesn't exist.
The difficulty is proving something does exist.
I can't prove my belief in IPU's anymore than you can prove that the fairy in the sky exists.

P, London,

"There is not one shred of serious evidence that there is not an afterlife. Such assertions merely show the power of atheism to delude vulnerable men and women into a state where they are a danger to mankind."

Do they teach critical thinking in schools anymore?

David Jones, Loughborough, UK

I can't believe we still have donkeys leading our lions. The last thing we need is superstitious fools sending young men to slaughter and be slaughtered in the facile belief of some afterlife in which a god (there 'are' thousands to chose from) is going to reward the slaughterers and slaughtered. When will this country ever grow up!!!

Rebecca Bell, Lymington, UK

General Sir Richard Dannatt, needs to understand the difference between 'understand' and 'believe'.

jon, sydney, australia

Nicholas Fish of Croydon, obviously thinks that the claim that there is not a tooth fairy is just as valid as there is one.

Eric, London,

Soldiers beware - your military leader believes there is something good waiting for you after death! Let's hope operational planning is not based on this delusion.

ken Jones, Dundee, UK

At one time it was gays who had to stay in the closet - now it's anyone with a faith that is serious enough that they want others to think about the big issues of life too. But good for General Sir Richard Dannatt in raising his head above the parapet by daring to suggest that believers have as much right to speak about their faith as atheists do about theirs. The snipers will no doubt attack him for what they will dub his outrageous involvement of personal views in a public office, for they always manage to think that their atheistic, secular worldviews are soemhow neutral in a way that the General's aren't. But never mind the snipers, Sir Richard. Thank God for a man who faces up to the realities of life and death!

Mike Beaumont, Oxford, UK

I assumed beforehand that this was about General Dannat expressing the need for preparation for the soldiers' families, whose lives do go on after a soldier's death, and the need to ensure that they are financially looked after.

Instead, it turns out that the professional head of an organisation designed specifically to introduce its enemies to their maker has stepped into the spiritual fray. I might expect this more in America, simply because religion has a greater role there, but this is a bizarre misstep from a professional soldier who ought to know better.

Jon Hughes, Cambridge,

I think General Dannatt is very brave to speak up for this belief ... he's not trying to push religion down anyone's throat: just trying to ensure that all the soldiers he's ultimately responsible for, have the opportunity to be "introduced to" God.

After which, they have the choice of believing or rejecting.

As General Dannatt is a Christian, for him to neglect this aspect of his soldiers' lives would be no different to a parent sending a young child off to school several city blocks away, without telling them about the dangers of crossing a road, and how to survive them!

susie main, Turriff, Aberdeenshire

It's so good to hear a public figure come out and say this. No doubt he will be ridiculed by the usual baying crowd of atheists, but when you consider that more than 70% of this country still claim to believe in God then his views should be supported by the majority.

Kevin Gregory, Sandside, UK

A step too far by General Dannatt, methinks. Religion is a personal matter and many, like me, view life after death as utter bunk. CGS should be careful to keep his personal religious views separate from his Army views, except insofar as he is required by law to facilitate religious observance. Nevertheless, I appreciate that soldiers going into action might think about the meaning of death, and he is right to ensure that those who wish to speak with chaplains, and other religious, should be able to do so. Essentially, all should be done to ensure that our troops are at ease with themselves, especially where they may be under fire.

Lester May, London , UK

As a serving member of the Army (and after some deliberation, an Athiest) I fully understand the danger of Operational service - and have always made arrangements for my family should I be killed on duty.

Every day I read reports of young soldiers, and my peers alike, paying the ultimate price for their Service. Soldiers and Officers with parents, children and siblings who will all suffer their loss.

Despite the emotional toll of each individual story, my resolve remains strong, and my faith in my Service is strengthened.

It is this faith that spurs me to continue to serve, despite the Operation or its political reasoning. Faith in anything less tangible is questionable - especially as your comrades continue to fall.

Justin Ramsay, Belfast, UK

There is not one shred of serious evidence that there is not an afterlife. Such assertions merely show the power of atheism to delude vulnerable men and women into a state where they are a danger to mankind.

Nicholas Fish, Croydon, UK

If you put on a British army uniform and go to war you'd better hope there isn't an afterlife because you're going straight to hell. Thou shalt not kill, remember, particularly not in grubby neo-Imperialist wars to secure oil reserves.

Eric Norton, London,

There is not one shred of serious evidence for an afterlife. Such assertions merely show the power of religion to delude vulnerable men and women into a state where they are a danger to mankind.

Nick Salmon, Dudenhofen, Germany

Did you hear the one about the 72 virgins? Do you believe it? When you're dead it's "Game Over", man. And you don't get to my age by taking chances.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Kanagawa