How do you deal with angry feelings when things go wrong? Do you sometimes think that God is to blame? Is it possible to pray when you are upset and hurt? Lisa continues the conversation today with radio host, best-selling author, and Episcopalian Deacon Ian Punnett as he shares ways to express your rawest emotions through prayer, as described in his book, “How to Pray When You’re Pissed at God.” 

Ian talks about anger in a societal aspect and how it’s even portrayed in gender. He discusses an emphasis in how women are taught to “accept things” and “not be too loud.” This mutes their own voice because of expectations. If things are going wrong, prayer can actually keep you going so you can express your feelings. Ian talks about a simple 3-step method: Name it – What is really bothering you? Proclaim it – Give it voice in detail. Then, Reframe it.  He talks about giving anger space and not reacting right away. 

Ian also talks about prayer and religion, as well as meditation and visualization. He explains ways to express anger and how, in certain circumstances, it is fine to do so. We have a poor understanding of the role of anger; we don’t teach it, and we don’t know how to be constructively and responsibly angry. The model is in the Bible. Ian explains how there are Psalms and Hymns about anger, and he discusses the work he has done as a chaplain in the hospital with people who are very angry about their situations. He talks about addressing it, as suppressed anger can eventually lead to depression. If we feel like we are being hurt, we can pray about it. 

Ian Punnett is one of the hosts of Coast to Coast AM, a legendary radio show syndicated on more than 600 stations across North America. He received his Ph.D. from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and served as a professor and chief operator of the award-winning KSDB–FM at Kansas State University.  He is a deacon in the Episcopal Church and received his Masters of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta.  He has worked in radio since he was 14 years old, at the high school radio station, then as a nighttime DJ at a Chicago station during college. He also worked at stations in Nashville, Atlanta, and Minneapolis/St Paul. After experiencing tinnitus, he was forced to step down from radio and during many sleepless nights, he wrote the book, “How to Pray When You’re Pissed at God.” This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/ian-punnett 

This interview was originally taped in June of 2013, and we air this today in honor of our colleague and friend Deacon Ian Punnett. Ian is one of the hosts of Coast to Coast AM, a Hall of Fame award-winning broadcaster, professor, and best-selling author. He passed away on December 22, 2023. Deus te Amat, Ian. Info: https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/ian-punnett-march-3-1960-december-21-2023/