Bob Cornuke

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Robert Cornuke, commonly referred to as Bob Cornuke, is the president of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute (BASE) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a former Costa Mesa police officer and present-day Biblical archaeology explorer and the author of six books on biblical history relating to archaeological explorations. Cornuke has earned a Masters of Arts Biblical Studies and a 2005 Ph.D. in Bible and theology from the unaccredited Louisiana Baptist University^[1].

He has no formal education or training in archaeology, but he has over 20 years of experience in various archeological expeditions and explorations. His approach to archaeology is unconventional in that he uses the Bible as a literal guide, an approach which is rejected by the scientific community as pseudoarchaeology, a form of pseudoscience^[2].

Contents 1 Explorations 2 Controversy and criticism 2.1 Mount Sinai Controversy 2.2 Maltese Controversy 2.3 Saudi Arabia Controversy 2.4 Noah's Ark Controversy 2.5 Evidence and funding 3 Trivia 4 Books 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Explorations

Cornuke's explorations have included the Biblical Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia; journeying in Turkey with the late American astronaut Jim Irwin in search of Noah's Ark; looking for evidence of ancient Assyrian and Babylonian flood accounts in the Zagros Mountains of Iran; and following the presumed trail of the Ark of the Covenant through Israel, Egypt, and the Ethiopian highlands.^[1] Cornuke has also engaged in expeditions searching the seafloor off the coast of Malta for the anchors from the Apostle Paul’s ship wreck, as described in the Bible's Book of Acts, chapter 27 — which he claims to have discovered,^[3] although this has been disputed. Most recent expeditions were to Takht-i-Suleiman in Iran in July 2005 and June 2006, where he discovered a very large rock formation approximately 400 ft long at 13,120 ft elevation. Cornuke's search appeared on Fox News,^[4] CNN,^[5] and Good Morning America^[6] as well as others.

[edit] Controversy and criticism

[edit] Mount Sinai Controversy

Cornuke's book, In Search of the Mountain of God, claimed he was the original researcher of the biblical match of Biblical Mount Sinai to Jabal al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia. This was dated as happening in 1988 after he learnt from someone else about Jabal al-Lawz's likeness to Sinai.^[7] Earlier, however, in 1984, Ron Wyatt had already claimed to be the first person to have discovered that Biblical Mount Sinai was Jabal al-Lawz[8] and in 2002 Randall Styx noted that Harry St. John Philby in his 1957 book The Land of Midian claimed that Jabal al-Lawz was the Biblical site ^[8]

Author Gordon Franz claimed that Cornuke "had forged a letter from the king of Saudi Arabia in order to obtain a visa into the Kingdom.".^[9] However, Franz wanted to debunk Wyatt, Cornuke, and Williams' claim that the Biblical Mt. Sinai was in Saudi Arabia. Franz argued that the "biggest problem with the identification of Mt. Sinai at Jebel el-Lawz is that it does not meet the Biblical criteria for the site. These claims are based on three false assumptions and a misunderstanding of the archaeological remains that they observed."^[9] The three false assumptions were: 1) the Sinai Peninsula was within the territorial borders of the Land of Egypt, 2) "that Mt. Sinai is located in the Land of Midian, which is identified as part of the Saudi Arabian peninsula," and 3) "Apostle Paul says in Gal. 4:25 that Mt. Sinai was in Saudi Arabia."^[9]

Cornuke responded to Franz's accusations by calling him to "honestly examine and evaluate the CREDIBLE historical, geographical, archeological and Biblical evidence that Jabal al-Lawz might be the real Mount Sinai"^[10]. Allen Kerkselager, Ph.D. Professor of Theology St. Joseph's University stated "Jabal al Lawz may also be the most convincing option for identifying the Mt. Sinai of biblical tradition" and should be researched.^[11] Meanwhile Roy Knuteson former Professor of New Testament and Greek and Bible Archaeology at Northwestern College explained "None of the suggested sites in the Sinai Peninsula fit the biblical requirements.^[12]

According to Cornuke, a scholar that agrees his Mt. Sinai claims is Frank Moore Cross of Harvard Divinity School[9], but according to Franz, "Frank Moore Cross, retired professor of Hebrew at Harvard University opines that the mountain of God was located in the Land of Midian. When asked if he had a guess what mountain might be Mt. Sinai, he responded, 'I really don't'" and Moore "later put the "Midian Hypothesis" in print, but did not endorse any mountains for the location of Mt. Sinai (Cross 1998: 60-68)."^[9] Another critic noted the "BASE institute site had some quotes from respected archaeologists which seemed to support the idea that Jebel al-Lawz was a good candidate for Mount Sinai," but "when I contacted some of these individuals, they assured me they never made such statements, neither did they feel Jebel al-Lawz was the real Mount Sinai."^[13] Thus, "it became quickly obvious that some of the information on the BASE Institute site was not legitimate."^[13]

[edit] Maltese Controversy

In 2002 Cornuke claimed to have found anchors from the Biblical shipwreck of St. Paul. This claim has been disputed, however, with Cornuke being labelled by some as a "con artist" who was claimed "to have found the wreck of Paul's ship from Acts - and then got sued for breaking 'all aspects' of an oral contract with a former US ambassador to Malta."^[14] The case was unsuccessful with the judging ruling that the book was already unreleased and could not be prevented from being sold.^[15] His critics believe he is "more interested in the money to be gained from their claims than in providing genuine evidence for anything."^[14] Others say that these anchors were actually discovered by fishermen, and were subsequently purchased and passed off as his own discovery.^[15]

Gordon Franz noted Charles Grech (a retired restaurant owner) found a third anchor in front of the same underwater cave that might have been found off the Munxar Reef, but this was not certain. ^[16] Only one anchor was examined by Anthony Bonanno^[17] and it was only examined in Mr. Grech's home.^[16] Bonanno believes that anchor appears to be "consistent" with the "era of the shipwreck of St. Paul, in 60 A.D." and "a Roman/Alexandrian grain freighter,"^[18] but he did not directly link the anchors with St. Paul.

Franz unilaterally dismisses every Maltese claim Cornuke has made.^[16] Franz has noted "had no tangible proof of the anchor stocks to show the world. The first of the anchor stocks was melted down; the second, third and fourth were in private collections; and the fifth and six had been sold."^[16] So Cornuke, with "the aid of the US ambassador to Malta, Kathy Proffitt, was enlisted to convince the President and Prime Minister of Malta to offer an amnesty to anyone who would turn over antiquities found off the Munxar Reef" and the pardons were issued on September 23, 2002." As a result, "two anchor stocks" were "turned over to the authorities."

Franz questions Cornukes research in that "Mr. Cornuke does not interact with, or mention, some very important works on the subject of Paul's shipwreck; nor are they listed in his bibliography.".^[16] All these scholars have claimed different sites where St. Paul may have been shipwrecked. Gordon also has criticized Cornuke's understanding of the biblical story and description. On August 15, 2005, James Mulholland, a life-long member of the Maltese community and a member of the Pauline Association in Malta, stated that Franz made four errors in his refutation of Conruke and that Cornuke's evidence was not compelling.^[16] Mulholland pointed out three problems with Franz's arguments: 1) That Marsaxxlokk bay was visible from Munxar Reef, 2) That Franz misidentified the Munxar reef referred to by Cornuke, 3) That Franz only dismisses, but does not refute Cornuke's identification of the real Munxar Reef as the location, and 4) while "Mr. Franz makes a compelling argument," but "these ancient sites would have been well-known by experienced sailors."^[16] Mullholland concluded, "we could pick each element of Mr. Cornuke's overall theory and propose other locations that could possibly match that single element. However, that's not the appropriate exercise here. The compelling nature of Mr. Cornuke's theory rests in the fact that ALL of the elements come together in one location. I could show you a place on the western side of the island where they possibly meet."^[16]

In 2003 Christianity Today reported that the then U.S. ambassador Kathryn Proffitt sued Cornuke to stop the sale of his book after she arranged for the "Maltese government to pardon the fisherman."^[15] (Cornuke would claim these "were from the apostle's ship.") Proffitt contended that as part of the pardon arrangement and several other issues, Cornuke agreed to remain silent about the pardon and "to allow Proffitt and the Maltese government to edit the book. He would also be required to encourage tourists to visit ancient temples."^[15] According to some he did not keep his part of the agreement.^[15]

A federal judge denied the request to hold up publication of the book since it was already released at the time. Even still, "what the Maltese government is apparently upset about, however, isn't that Cornuke's book was published without its permission, but that it claims that the shipwreck never happened in the traditional site on the northeastern tip of the island, now known as St. Paul's Bay."^[15]

[edit] Saudi Arabia Controversy

Cornuke and his partner "snuck" into Saudi Arabia illegally.^[19] Later on Cornuke and his partner falsely told "guards" they were medical doctors after being captured so the Saudi Arabian guards did not consider them Jewish spies.^[19] However, "Cornuke found himself in a sticky situation when one by one each guard came to him complaining of various ailments."^[19]

[edit] Noah's Ark Controversy

Cornuke's surrogates claimed in June 2006 that Cornuke has discovered Noah's Ark in a pile of dark-colored rocks on the Iranian Takht-e Suleiman ("Throne of Solomon") or Mount Suleiman in the Alborz (Elborz) Mountains^[20]. Cornuke makes numerous mistakes in his research and relies heavily on one alleged eyewitness of Noah's Ark, Ed Davis, in which there are problems with him being in Iran let alone at this site when he claimed to see Noah's Ark in 1943^[21]. Even creationist geologists doubt whether the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified and are urging caution^[22]. The oldest creationist organization does not believe the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified or Noah's Ark^[23]. Associates for Biblical Research also produced a 7,800-word paper about problems with the Cornuke site^[24]. National Geographic critiqued the rocks at the site^[25].

[edit] Evidence and funding

Critics note "The BASE institute site had some quotes from respected archaeologists," but "when I contacted some of these individuals, they assured me they never made such statements, neither did they feel Jebel al-Lawz was the real Mount Sinai."^[13] The author concluded it "became quickly obvious that some of the information on the BASE Institute site was not legitimate."^[13] Besides selling videos and books, the speakers get $1,500 to $4,000 when speaking in conventions and churches, but a lot of money is obtained from "older wealthy folks to invest in their organization so they can further substantiate their 'discoveries' or go on new missions."^[13]

[edit] Trivia

• Cornuke is reported as styling himself in an "Indiana Jones" fashion.^[15]

• Cornuke has appeared on CBS's Ancient Secrets of the Bible on May 15, 1992, November 13, 2000 he was on MSNBC's Dateline, July 7, 1998 The 700 Club, and on Fox Television’s Ripley's Believe It or Not February 9, 2000 (episode 105).^[7]

• Bob Cornuke's Ph.D. in Biblical Studies was received in 2005 from Louisiana Baptist University,^[26] an unaccredited Baptist school, where he also serves as an adjunct speaker.^[27] There is no record or claim made by Cornuke for having any undergraduate degree.

• Cornuke is travel guide/business partners with Chuck Missler.[10] Cornuke received credits at Missler's unaccredited Koinonia Institute, which were transferable to the unaccredited Louisiana Baptist University.^[26] Missler is a 1999 graduate of Louisiana Baptist University, and currently Cornuke in Colorado, a 2005 graduate, and Missler in Idaho are professors at the "school."^[27]

[edit] Books

• Ark Fever:Legend Chaser, Tyndale House Publishers, 2005. ISBN 1-4143-0296-7
• In Search of the Mountain of God: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Sinai, Part 1, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000. ISBN 0-8054-2052-5 (Co-written with David Halbrook)
• In Search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant, Part 3, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002. ISBN 0-8054-2053-3 (Co-written with David Halbrook)
• In Search of the Lost Mountains of Noah: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Ararat, Part 2, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001. ISBN 0-8054-2054-1 (Co-written with David Halbrook)
• Relic Quest: Legend Chaser, Tyndale House Publishers, 2005. ISBN 1-4143-0297-5
• The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul, Global Publishing Services, 2003. ISBN 0-9714100-3-8

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BASE Institute Official includes Cornuke's response to G. Franz
• LBU Featured Alumni
• NZ Cult List - a dictionary of cults & religious groups: C: Bob Cornuke
• A Critique of Bob Cornuke with a timeline
• Is Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia? by Gordon Franz
• Alleged Eyewitness Ed Davis in Iran Problems by Rex Geissler
• Noah's Ark Search.com