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Mark Tully asks what gives us courage to do what we ought to when things go against us. How do we decide what we should stand up for, and how do we cope if we fail to do so?

Using examples from 9/11, South African Apartheid, Nazi Germany, McCarthyism in the United States , the New Testament and his own experience, Mark gives examples of those who did meet their own expectations of how they would behave under pressure, and those who let themselves down. But he warns against any judgement against those who fail to stand up and be counted when the chips are down, asking "what would you have done under the circumstances".

In an interview with Vaughan Roberts, author, and Vicar of St Ebbes church in Oxford, Mark seeks the Christian perspective on how we might like to behave in extremis, and our responses should we fall short. And drawing inspiration from literature, as well as music from the likes of Simon and Garfunkel, JS Bach and, surprisingly, Tex Ritter he asks if we can really ever be truly heroic when the chips are down. And can we forgive ourselves if we are not.

Presented by Mark Tully

Producer: Adam Fowler
A Unique production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4