Anselm and "Infinite Sin"

[minasoliman]

Did Anselm (and Aquinas) teach the idea of "infinite sin" or "unlimited atonement" for "unlimited sin" and if so, where? What's the reasoning?

If not, then where did this "infinite sin" come from? Do Western "Apostolic" traditions condemn the concept of "infinite sin?"

Thank you.

God bless.

[a_ntv]

Did Anselm (and Aquinas) teach the idea of "infinite sin" or "unlimited atonement" for "unlimited sin" and if so, where? What's the reasoning?

If not, then where did this "infinite sin" come from? Do Western "Apostolic" traditions condemn the concept of "infinite sin?"

They are protestant views, and they do not belong to the CC.
The term "atonement" is a protestant only term, that cannot be found in Anselm or St Thomas.

For St Thomas the sin is both infinite and finite:
Now sin comprises two things. First, there is the turning away from the immutable good, which is infinite, wherefore, in this respect, sin is infinite. Secondly, there is the inordinate turning to mutable good. In this respect sin is finite, both because the mutable good itself is finite, and because the movement of turning towards it is finite, since the acts of a creature cannot be infinite. (Summa II, part 1, q. 87,a.4)

So we can say that the sin is infinite, because it is an offese to God who is infinite, but limited in results, because any act of creatures is limited.

The CC rejects strongly the protestant idea of total depravity of the man. Even after losing through his sin his likeness to God, man remains an image of his Creator, and retains the desire for the one who calls him into existence. (CCC 2566)

[minasoliman]

First, there is the turning away from the immutable good, which is infinite, wherefore, in this respect, sin is infinite.

How can the "turning away" be an infinite act, if those who turn away are finite?

[a_ntv]

How can the "turning away" be an infinite act, if those who turn away are finite?In fact St Thomas says also: In this respect sin is finite, both because the mutable good itself is finite, and because the movement of turning towards it is finite, since the acts of a creature cannot be infinite.

St Thomas says that the sin is both finite and infinite. Many times St Thomas is not so logic as he is described :)

(He simply need to say thatr the sin is also infinite in respect of God to justify that the Hell/Heaven are not finite, but for the rest of his theology he consider the sin finite)