1065. The symbolism of these three were Noah's sons as these three types of doctrinal approach, which all religious movements in general adopt, was mentioned just above [§1062].

There are, in fact, many kinds of doctrinal approach that are less universal, but there are no more than three comprehensive types. People who do not acknowledge charity or faith or external worship do not belong to any religion, so at present, where the church is the topic, they are not discussed.

1062. The symbolism of Shem as the inner church, Ham as the church corrupted, and Japheth as the outer church can also be seen from what follows, since their natures will be described.

The situation that exists in every religion existed in the ancient church too: there were people who had depth, there were degraded people who had depth, and there were shallow people.

People with depth are those who consider charity the most important element of faith. People who have depth but are degraded are those who consider faith without charity the most important aspect of belief. Shallow people are those who do not often think about the inner self but still perform deeds of charity and reverently celebrate the church's rites.

Aside from these three types of people, there are none who can be called part of a spiritual church. And since they were all part of the church, they are said to have come out of the ark.

Those in the ancient church who had depth — who considered love for others the principal concern of faith, in other words — were called Shem. Those in the ancient church who had depth but were degraded — who considered faith's chief concern to be faith devoid of charity — were referred to as Ham. Those in the ancient church who were shallow and thought little about the inner self but still did the work of charity and reverently celebrated the church's rites were given the name of Japheth. ¹

What each kind was like is dealt with below [§§1075-1103].

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