"Infinite" in the 17th-century scientific revolution vs. Catholicism: Atomism also implicitly contradicted the key Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation—that the underlying substance of consecrated bread and wine in the Eucharist changes into the Body and Blood of Christ, while the equally real external accidents remain the same—by denying the Aristotelian doctrine of substantial essence and making the qualities merely phenomenal appearances & Hammer recounts...17th-century English theorists who drew on the Talmud... Jewish contribution to Western flourishing has barely begun to be told. It extends far beyond the English Hebraists—for example, in the emergence of the concept of the Infinite in the 17th-century scientific revolution

"Infinite" in the 17th-century scientific revolution vs. Catholicism 

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The concept of infinity played a significant role in the intellectual ferment of the 17th-century Scientific Revolution, sparking tensions and debates with the established doctrines of Catholicism.

1. Scientific Revolution and infinity

• Copernicanism and the Expanding Universe: The acceptance of the heliocentric model, championed by figures like Galileo, challenged the geocentric view of a finite, ordered cosmos, opening the door to contemplating a potentially infinite universe.
• Newton's Infinite Space and Time: Isaac Newton's physics, while not directly proving an infinite universe, posited the existence of infinite and absolute space and time as the backdrop for his laws of motion and gravity, influencing the scientific and philosophical landscape of the era.
• Atomic Theories: The resurgence of atomism, with its concept of an infinite number of indivisible particles, also implicitly challenged traditional views of creation and providence, which emphasized God's role in creating a finite world according to Encyclopedia.com. 

2. Catholic Church and infinity

• Traditional View of Finitude: Catholicism, deeply rooted in Aristotelian philosophy, largely embraced the idea of a finite and ordered universe, created by God and distinct from Him.
• Theological Infinity: While acknowledging God's infinite nature, theologians generally understood divine infinity as qualitatively different from any conceivable mathematical or physical infinity, emphasizing God's transcendence and incomprehensibility.
• Resistance to Scientific Ideas: The Church's initial resistance to astronomical theories suggesting an infinite universe, evidenced by the condemnation of figures like Giordano Bruno, stemmed from a desire to maintain the theological and philosophical framework that underpinned its understanding of God and creation. 

3. Points of tension

• Atomism and Transubstantiation: The revival of ancient atomism created a theological hurdle by potentially undermining the doctrine of transubstantiation, which relies on the Aristotelian concept of substantial forms, according to Encyclopedia.com.
• Divine Revelation vs. Scientific Inquiry: The Church viewed divine revelation as a more certain source of truth than scientific inquiry, leading to tension when scientific findings challenged established doctrines about the universe's nature, according to Catholic Answers.
• Infinity of God and the Universe: The scientific concept of an infinite or potentially infinite universe, as explored by Descartes and Newton, challenged the idea of God as the sole infinite entity, prompting philosophical debates about the relationship between divine and natural infinity. 

In summary

The 17th-century Scientific Revolution, with its exploration of mathematical and physical concepts of infinity, presented a significant intellectual and theological challenge to the Catholic Church's established worldview. While the Church acknowledged God's infinite nature, it emphasized a qualitative distinction between divine and natural infinity and initially resisted scientific theories that seemed to challenge the finitude and order of God's creation.