FFP 67: My Children Were Taught I Was the Devil

Episode Summary 

Peter Young shares the harrowing story of how his family was overtaken by a secretive, cult-like religious leader who slowly infiltrated his marriage, parenting, and identity as a father. Over nearly two decades, his wife became increasingly devoted to this man, known to the family as “Uncle Robert”, who positioned himself as the ultimate authority on faith, morality, and truth, eventually supplanting Peter as husband and father in the family system 

When Peter began questioning the cult leader’s influence, his wife left with their three youngest children and began a campaign of psychological and emotional destruction, telling the children Peter was “a devil,” “a liar,” and “just a sperm donor.” 

Through court intervention, a Guardian ad Litem investigation, and a courageous decision to expose the cult’s influence, Peter eventually regained custody of his children and removed them from the cult’s control. His story powerfully illustrates the deep psychological overlap between cult coercion and parental alienation, both rely on fear, isolation, identity destruction, and loyalty enforcement. Today, Peter continues to heal, parent, and share his story through his memoir Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tigers and his advocacy work 

Talking Points

1. Cult Control Inside a Family

• The cult leader (“Uncle Robert”) positioned himself as the only authority on God, truth, and morality
• Family members were taught to distrust outsiders, churches, professionals, and even each other

2. How Cult Dynamics Turned Into Parental Alienation

• Peter’s wife became more loyal to the cult leader than to her husband
• Once Peter questioned the cult, he became framed as spiritually dangerous

3. Psychological Terror Used on Children

• Children were forced to witness their mother verbally destroy their father
• They were taught religious doctrines to justify rejecting him 

4. The Legal System Finally Intervened

• A Guardian ad Litem identified extreme psychological abuse and cult influence
• The court ordered no contact between the children and the cult leader

5. Healing, Recovery, and Long-Term Parenting

• Some children recovered quickly, others still struggle
• Peter remains focused on loving them without retaliating

Key Takeaways 

• Parental alienation and cult behavior use the same psychological tools: fear, isolation, identity destruction, and loyalty enforcement 
• Children don’t reject parents on their own—they are taught to do it through coercion
• Alienation is a form of psychological abuse even when there is no physical harm
• Courts can get it right when professionals recognize cult-like influence
• Reunification is possible, but it requires courage, documentation, and expert intervention
• Isolation is the most dangerous warning sign—when a parent or child is cut off, control is growing

👉 Be my guest! Share your story and join the fight for awareness by signing up here: https://tally.so/r/w710AP

How to contact Peter:
406-404-4984
authorpeteryoung@gmail.com
www.authorpeteryoung.com

📲 Follow Charity:
https://www.facebook.com/ParentalAlienationisReal
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info@parentalalienationisreal.net

Together, we can amplify the voices of alienated parents an