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Here we have a case where a young person is showing initiative and trying to find out things for himself rather than merely accepting what he has been told. That seems laudable to me.

Laudable?

We can't see reason or intelligence but we know it exists. They tell me that when I flip a switch, electricity turns on the light. We only see the effects of the electric current - light. So it is with the Eucharist. We can't see His presence but know He is there - because He said so.

Jesus turned water into wine. He multiplied 2 fish and a few barley loaves to feed a multitude of 10,000 men plus their wives and children; the leftovers filled up 12 baskets. I wonder how Gamow would have explained that.

Digressive Pompous Rant on on Kiddie Crime and Punishment

I think it's really important in dealing with kids to help them see, in an age appropriate way of course (whatever that means), what was bad AND what was good in their actions, thoughts, and motivation. This is why a thoroughly Skinnerian Behavior Mod approach is doomed, IMHO, to the law of unintended consequences.

Many kids are adventuresome and inquisitive. They plan a thing, and they show fortitude and persistence in carrying it out. At the end of it, they may be stuck at or near the top of a 40+' tree not knowing how to get down and not a little scared(happened to my big brother).

But rather than generally fuss and punish, one should, I think, spend a little time spent commending the fortitude and persistence. THEN you can talk about prudence and forethought and look at how the failure to exercise it scared him and was a nuisance to everyone else. As a rule kids are not criminals and their punishment should be clearly related (and they should be helped to see the relationship) to the bad aspect of what they did, and not necessarily to the whole thing.

One of my Father's maxim's in doing business was, "Let the other guy make some money too." It's a variant on not killing the goose, but it's also, I think,l fundamental justice and proportionality. The aim of a deal should not usually be to destroy the other guy, but to come up with a workable solution.

With kiddies, the goal is a free responsible adult who practices the virtues. So to leave a child with no dignity, to admit no possibility of reparation and growth and whatnot, is to overpunish.

I LIKE that Gamow cared enough to enquire. I LIKE that he followed through on his desire to know. I do NOT like his sloppy thinking and his sacrilege.

So part of his action and motivation was indeed laudable. Another part was vicious. And the vice seems to have triumphed, since he drew at least a couple of false and IMHO disastrous conclusions. If he were "caught" by a parent it would be one of those times where the parent should pray for guidance before sitting down on the judgment seat.