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'''Robert Cornuke''', commonly referred to as '''Bob Cornuke''', is the president of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute (BASE), of [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]. A former [[Costa Mesa]] [[police]] officer, Cornuke is a self-styled [[Biblical archaeology|Biblical archaeologist]] (he holds no professional position and has no training in the discipline) and the author of six books on biblical history based on his explorations over the last 20 years. However, Cornuke has extensive training as a crime scene investigator, completing a certified FBI, Department of Justice, “homicide investaigations” course as well as Field Evidence training.<ref name="Training">Spring of 1979, Rio Hondo College located in Whittier, California</ref>. He uses the skills he developed as a crime scene investigator to study Biblical events through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. Cornuke’s objectives are to document and explain how Biblical events have affected human culture in the past and how such events affect human culture today.
'''Robert Cornuke''', commonly referred to as '''Bob Cornuke''', is the president of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute (BASE), of [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]. A former [[Costa Mesa]] [[police]] officer, Cornuke is a self-styled [[Biblical archaeology|Biblical archaeologist]] (he holds no professional position and has no training in the discipline) and the author of six books on biblical history based on his explorations over the last 20 years.


Cornuke holds a Masters of Arts Biblical Studies and a 2005 Ph.D. in Bible and theology from the [[school accreditation|unaccredited]] [[Louisiana Baptist University]].<ref name="OfficialBio">Cornuke, Bob. [http://www.baseinstitute.org/bob.html Official Bob Cornuke Biography]. BASE Institute, [[July 1]], [[2006]]</ref> Louisiana Baptist University (LBU) is unaccredited like other well known universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Yale.<ref name="Oxford">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Graduate_School</ref><ref name="Harvard">http://www.memoriapress.com/blog/140/akern/harvard-politics-and-american-education/</ref><ref name="Yale">http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yale</ref> LBU was founded in 1973 and every course is designed to meet or exceed national norms. Many of the textbooks are the same ones used by Louisiana State University and other major universities.<ref name="LBUMain"> http://www.lbu.edu/index.html</ref> Cornuke use of the [[Biblical literalism|Bible as a literal guide]] for his explorations is an approach which is rejected by the [[scientific community]] as [[pseudoarchaeology]], a form of [[pseudoscience]].<ref>[http://www.archaeology.org/0305/etc/web.html Seductions of Pseudoarchaeology: Pseudoscience in Cyberspace]</ref> While his appraoch may be unorthordox, Cornuke’s unique work has lead to some amazing finds as reflected in Biblical history.<ref name="Wireless">Wireless Age magazine, May/June 1999</ref><ref name="AmLeg">The American Legion magazine, May 2005, pages 34 - 40</ref>
Cornuke holds a Masters of Arts Biblical Studies and a 2005 Ph.D. in Bible and theology from the [[school accreditation|unaccredited]] [[Louisiana Baptist University]]<ref name="OfficialBio">Cornuke, Bob. [http://www.baseinstitute.org/bob.html Official Bob Cornuke Biography]. BASE Institute, [[July 1]], [[2006]]</ref>. His use of the [[Biblical literalism|Bible as a literal guide]] for his explorations is an approach which is rejected by the [[scientific community]] as [[pseudoarchaeology]], a form of [[pseudoscience]]<ref>[http://www.archaeology.org/0305/etc/web.html Seductions of Pseudoarchaeology: Pseudoscience in Cyberspace]</ref>.


==Explorations==
==Explorations==
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==Controversy and criticism==
==Controversy and criticism==
===Mount Sinai Controversy ===
===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.<ref name="Restofthe">Pinkoski, Jim. [http://www.pinkoski.com/files/index.php?id=36 The Rest of the Story] 2000.</ref> 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]]''[http://www.arkdiscovery.com/MtSinaiPAX.htm] 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<ref name="Philby">[www.wlsessays.net/authors/S/StyxExodus/StyxExodus.pdf] [[Harry St. John Philby|Philby, Harry St. John]]. ''The Land of Midian''. (London: Ernest Bean Limited) 1957.</ref> Contrary to the above statements Cornuke’s book, In Search of the Mountain of God, actually identifies a number of people who had theorized about Jabal al-Lawz being the true Mount Sinai and that David Fasold and Ron Wyatt had reportedly been to the site before Cornuke.<ref name="MountainofGodBook">Cornuke, Bob and Halbrook, D., In Search of the Mountain of God Broadman & Holman Publishers 2000. ISBN080542052-5 (pg 167 and 218)</ref>.
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.<ref name="Restofthe">Pinkoski, Jim. [http://www.pinkoski.com/files/index.php?id=36 The Rest of the Story] 2000.</ref> 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]]''[http://www.arkdiscovery.com/MtSinaiPAX.htm] 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 <ref name="Philby">[www.wlsessays.net/authors/S/StyxExodus/StyxExodus.pdf] [[Harry St. John Philby|Philby, Harry St. John]]. ''The Land of Midian''. (London: Ernest Bean Limited) 1957.</ref>


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.".<ref name="FranzArticle"> Franz, Gordon. [http://www.ldolphin.org/franz-sinai.html Is Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia?] [[July 1]] [[2006]]</ref> Franz’ "claim" is a misquote from Cornuke’s In Search of the Mountain of God book.<ref name="MountainofGod2">Cornuke, Bob and Halbrook, D., In Search of the Mountain of God Broadman & Holman Publishers 2000. ISBN080542052-5 (pg 38)</ref> However, Franz wanted to debunk Wyatt, Cornuke, and Williams' claim that the Biblical Mt. Sinai was in Saudi Arabia. [http://abr.christiananswers.net/scoop.html 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."<ref name="FranzArticle" /> 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."<ref name="FranzArticle" />
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.".<ref name="FranzArticle"> Franz, Gordon. [http://www.ldolphin.org/franz-sinai.html Is Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia?] [[July 1]] [[2006]]</ref> However, Franz wanted to debunk Wyatt, Cornuke, and Williams' claim that the Biblical Mt. Sinai was in Saudi Arabia. [http://abr.christiananswers.net/scoop.html 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."<ref name="FranzArticle" /> 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."<ref name="FranzArticle" />


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".<ref>[http://www.baseinstitute.org/franz.pdf]''Reply to G. Franz'' by Bob Cornuke </ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.bibleprobe.com/sinai1.htm]''Where is Mount Sinai? St Catherine's or Jabal al Lawz?'' </ref> Meanwhile Roy Knuteson former Professor of New Testament and Greek and Bible Archaeology at [[Northwestern College (Minnesota)|Northwestern College]] explained "None of the suggested sites in the Sinai Peninsula fit the biblical requirements.<ref>[http://www.arkdiscovery.com/MtSinaiPAX.htm] ''Jewish Pilgrimage and Jewish Identity'' By Allen Kerkeslager</ref> Further in support of Cornuke’s position, Dr. Knuteson states in his book The Search for Pharaoh’s Chariots: "All in all, the visible evidence is quite overwhelming. No other suggested site fits all the Biblical criteria as well as Jebel El-Lawz."<ref name="knuteson">Knuteson, Roy E., The Search For Pharaoh’s Chariots, self published 1990, (pg 104)</ref> Charles Whittaker, PhD in Bible and Theology from LBU in his doctoral dissertation The Biblical Significance of Jabal Al Lawz also supported Cornuke’s theory stating: "The mountain is Jabal Al Lawz and it is significant because it is the conclusion of this paper that it is the best canidate for the Biblical Mt. Sinai."<ref name="Whittaker">Whittaker, Charles, The Biblical Significance of Jabal Al Lawz , self published May 2003, see Abstract</ref>
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"<ref>[http://www.baseinstitute.org/franz.pdf]''Reply to G. Franz'' by Bob Cornuke </ref>. 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.<ref>[http://www.bibleprobe.com/sinai1.htm]''Where is Mount Sinai? St Catherine's or Jabal al Lawz?'' </ref> Meanwhile Roy Knuteson former Professor of New Testament and Greek and Bible Archaeology at [[Northwestern College (Minnesota)|Northwestern College]] explained "None of the suggested sites in the Sinai Peninsula fit the biblical requirements.<ref>[http://www.arkdiscovery.com/MtSinaiPAX.htm] ''Jewish Pilgrimage and Jewish Identity'' By Allen Kerkeslager</ref>


According to Cornuke, a scholar that agrees his Mt. Sinai claims is [[Frank Moore Cross]] of [[Harvard Divinity School]][http://www.baseinstitute.org/franz.pdf], 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)."<ref name="FranzArticle" /> . What Franz chooses ignore are the documented statements of Frank Moore Cross, wherein Cross clearly asserts that the region Cornuke proposes for the real Mount Sinai, Northern Saudi Arabia is accurate.<ref name="FrankCross"> Cross, Frank Moore, Epic to Canon, Johns Hopkins University Press 1998, (pg 66)</ref> Further Bible Review magazine April 2000 cited as follows, “A reasonable guess according to Cross [Frank Moore] for the identity of Mount Sinai is Jabel –al Lawz, the highest peak in Northwest Arabia.”<ref name="BibleReview">Bible Review magazine, April 2000</ref>
According to Cornuke, a scholar that agrees his Mt. Sinai claims is [[Frank Moore Cross]] of [[Harvard Divinity School]][http://www.baseinstitute.org/franz.pdf], 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)."<ref name="FranzArticle" /> 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."<ref name="Tentmaker Ministries">[http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/cornuke-mt-sinai.html Is Jebel al-Lawz the Mount Sinai of the Bible as Bob Cornuke of BASE Institute Asserts?] Tentmaker Ministries. [[July 1]], [[2006]]</ref> Thus, "it became quickly obvious that some of the information on the BASE Institute site was not legitimate."<ref name="Tentmaker Ministries" />

Franz’s claims that he called Moore Cross are unverified on page two paragraph 5. Franz’s claims are apparently false as they are directly countered by published statements by Cross with his former statements, In Biblical review magazine April 2000 and Epic to Canon, page 66. Frank Moore Cross, The Johns Hopkins University Press is sited as follows, “A reasonable guess according to Cross for the identity of Mount Sinai is Jabel –al Lawz, the highest peak in Northwest Arabia. This directly refutes the Franz assertion about Cross and his alleged statements.<ref name="BibleReview" />

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."<ref name="Tentmaker Ministries">[http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/cornuke-mt-sinai.html Is Jebel al-Lawz the Mount Sinai of the Bible as Bob Cornuke of BASE Institute Asserts?] Tentmaker Ministries. [[July 1]], [[2006]]</ref> Thus, "it became quickly obvious that some of the information on the BASE Institute site was not legitimate."<ref name="Tentmaker Ministries" /> Cornuke has on a number of occasions attempted to ascertain the names of the “respected archeologists” from Gary Amirault of Tentmakers Ministries; however, Amirault has not responded. Franz and Amirault and his “ministry” are are so far out of academic norms that Amirault, a unilversalist, through his website considers Hitler to have been a disciple of Martin Luther.<ref name="Tentmakers">Tentmaker ministries, Martin Luther - Hitler's Spiritual Ancestor by Peter F. Wiener, [http://www.tentmaker.org/books/MartinLuther-HitlersSpiritualAncestor.html]</ref>


===Maltese Controversy===
===Maltese Controversy===


In 2002 Cornuke claimed to have found anchors from the Biblical shipwreck of St. Paul. To the contrary Cornuke in his book The Lost Shipwreck of Paul, states, "But more than three decades before I [Cornuke] started my search, several Maltese spear fisherman got there first. With rubber and glass masks on their faces and metal cylinders of compressed air lashed to their backs, they dove down into the clear blue sea, discovering an archaeological find that I believe is of monumental importance."<ref name="Shipwreck">Cornuke, Robert G., The Lost Shipwreck of Paul, Global Publishing, 2003 (pg 218)</ref> 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."<ref name="Dictionary">[http://www.cults.co.nz/c.php#cornuker Cornuke, Robert]. New Zealand Cults & Religious Groups List</ref> The case was dismissed by Federal District Court Judge John Kane who stated “To order recall of the book in my view from public distribution under the circumstances presented here would be utterly without justification. Judge Kane further stated. "There is an absence of any evidence that the defendant (Robert Cornuke) did anything unlawful in entering into a publishing agreement."<ref name="JudgeKane">Judge Kane’s Order dated May 2004</ref>
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."<ref name="Dictionary">[http://www.cults.co.nz/c.php#cornuker Cornuke, Robert]. New Zealand Cults & Religious Groups List</ref> The case was unsuccessful with the judging ruling that the book was already unreleased and could not be prevented from being sold.<ref name="ChristianityToday">Olsen, Ted. [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/119/42.0.html Apostle Paul's Shipwreck Makes Headlines]. ''[[Christianity Today]].'' [[May 15]], [[2003]]
</ref> His critics believe he is "more interested in the money to be gained from their claims than in providing genuine evidence for anything."<ref name="Dictionary" /> Others say that these anchors were actually discovered by fishermen, and were subsequently purchased and passed off as his own discovery.<ref name="ChristianityToday" />

The case was unsuccessful with the judging ruling that the book was already unreleased and could not be prevented from being sold.<ref name="ChristianityToday">Olsen, Ted. [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/119/42.0.html Apostle Paul's Shipwreck Makes Headlines]. ''[[Christianity Today]].'' [[May 15]], [[2003]]
</ref> His critics believe he is "more interested in the money to be gained from their claims than in providing genuine evidence for anything."<ref name="Dictionary" /> Others say that these anchors were actually discovered by fishermen, and were subsequently purchased and passed off as his own discovery.<ref name="ChristianityToday" /> These "others" actually agree with Cornuke, as shown above .<ref name="ChristianityToday" />, but appear ignorant of the fact that Cornuke and two others contributed money so that two of the surving anchors could be donated to the Government of Malta. These anchors, given in the memory of Tony Micallef-Borg and Charles Grech, two of the divers who found the anchors, are now on display at the Malta Maritime Museum.<ref name="Shipwreck221">Cornuke, Robert G., The Lost Shipwreck of Paul, Global Publishing, 2003 (pg 221)</ref>


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.<ref name="FranzArticle2"> Franz, Gordon. [http://www.ldolphin.org/maltashipwreck.html The Sinking of The Lost Shipwreck of Paul] [[July 1]], [[2006]]</ref> Only one anchor was examined by Anthony Bonanno<ref>[http://www.um.edu.mt/pub/abonanno.html] ''University of Malta'' "Professor Anthony Bonanno Department of Classics and Archaeology "</ref> and it was only examined in Mr. Grech's home.<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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,"<ref>Cornuke, Bob. ''The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul'' [[Global Publishing Services]], 2003. ISBN 0-9714100-3-8 (Pg 129)</ref> but he did not directly link the anchors with St. Paul.
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. <ref name="FranzArticle2"> Franz, Gordon. [http://www.ldolphin.org/maltashipwreck.html The Sinking of The Lost Shipwreck of Paul] [[July 1]], [[2006]]</ref> Only one anchor was examined by Anthony Bonanno<ref>[http://www.um.edu.mt/pub/abonanno.html] ''University of Malta'' "Professor Anthony Bonanno Department of Classics and Archaeology "</ref> and it was only examined in Mr. Grech's home.<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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,"<ref>Cornuke, Bob. ''The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul'' [[Global Publishing Services]], 2003. ISBN 0-9714100-3-8 (Pg 129)</ref> but he did not directly link the anchors with St. Paul.


Franz unilaterally dismisses every Maltese claim Cornuke has made.<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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."<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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 unilaterally dismisses every Maltese claim Cornuke has made.<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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."<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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.".<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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 Cornuke and that Cornuke's evidence was not compelling.<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> Mulholland pointed out four 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."<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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."<ref name="FranzArticle2" />
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.".<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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.<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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."<ref name="FranzArticle2" /> 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."<ref name="FranzArticle2" />


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 "[[Malta|Maltese]] government to pardon the fisherman."<ref name="ChristianityToday" /> (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."<ref name="ChristianityToday" /> According to some he did not keep his part of the agreement.<ref name="ChristianityToday" /> Cornuke contends that the pardons, as a matter of public record in Malta, were issued to protect the divers who originally found the anchors thus allowing through the contributions of Cornuke and Proffitt the anchors would be donated to the Malta Maritime Museum. Further Proffitt and Maltesse government representatives were given numerous opportunities to review and offered edits to Cornuke’s book, The Lost Shipwreck of Paul. Proffitt’s case was dismissed by Federal Judge Kane who stated "To order recall of the book in my view from public distribution under the circumstances presented here would be utterly without justification." Judge Kane further stated. "There is an absence of any evidence that the defendant (Robert Cornuke) did anything unlawful in entering into a publishing agreement."<ref name="JudgeKane" />
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 "[[Malta|Maltese]] government to pardon the fisherman."<ref name="ChristianityToday" /> (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."<ref name="ChristianityToday" /> According to some he did not keep his part of the agreement.<ref name="ChristianityToday" />


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]]."<ref name="ChristianityToday" /> It is wholly understandable that the Maltesse government disagrees with Cornuke’s theroy as the Maltesse by tradition recognized Saint Paul’s Bay as the area of the shipwreck.<ref name="WikiPaulsBay">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul's_Island]</ref>
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]]."<ref name="ChristianityToday" />


===Saudi Arabia Controversy===
===Saudi Arabia Controversy===
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===Noah's Ark Controversy===
===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.<ref name="ArkFever">Brannon S. Howse, [http://www.arkfever.com Noah's Ark? For Real], ''Christian Worldview Network'', June 16, 2006.</ref> 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.<ref name="EdDavis">[http://noahsarksearch.com/iran.htm Ed Davis Eyewitness Location], ''NoahsArkSearch.com''.</ref> Even creationist geologists doubt whether the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified and are urging caution.<ref name="CreationMinistries">Tas Walker, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4471 Caution about 'Ark' discovery], ''CreationOnTheWeb.com'', July 5, 2006.</ref>
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<ref name="ArkFever">Brannon S. Howse, [http://www.arkfever.com Noah's Ark? For Real], ''Christian Worldview Network'', June 16, 2006.</ref>. 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<ref name="EdDavis">[http://noahsarksearch.com/iran.htm Ed Davis Eyewitness Location], ''NoahsArkSearch.com''.</ref>. Even creationist geologists doubt whether the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified and are urging caution<ref name="CreationMinistries">Tas Walker, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4471 Caution about 'Ark' discovery], ''CreationOnTheWeb.com'', July 5, 2006.</ref>.
The research team included Arch Bonnema, film producer of [[The Genius Club]] and other well-known Christian businessmen.
The research team included Arch Bonnema, film producer of [[The Genius Club]] and other well-known Christian businessmen.
The oldest creationist organization does not believe the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified or Noah's Ark.<ref name="InstituteforCreationResearch">John Morris, Ph.D., [http://icr.org/news/70/ Ark is rock not petrified wood], ''icr.org'', July 21, 2006.</ref>
The oldest creationist organization does not believe the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified or Noah's Ark<ref name="InstituteforCreationResearch">John Morris, Ph.D., [http://icr.org/news/70/ Ark is rock not petrified wood], ''icr.org'', July 21, 2006.</ref>.
Associates for Biblical Research also produced a 7,800-word paper about problems with the Cornuke site.<ref name="ABR">Rick Lanser, M.Div, [http://abr.christiananswers.net/articles/article49.html Noah's Ark in Iran?], ''abr.christiananswers.net'', July 20, 2006.</ref>
Associates for Biblical Research also produced a 7,800-word paper about problems with the Cornuke site<ref name="ABR">Rick Lanser, M.Div, [http://abr.christiananswers.net/articles/article49.html Noah's Ark in Iran?], ''abr.christiananswers.net'', July 20, 2006.</ref>.
National Geographic critiqued the rocks at the site.<ref name="NatGeograph">Kate Ravilious, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060705-noahs-ark.html Noah's Ark Discovered in Iran?], ''National Geographic'', July 5, 2006.</ref>
National Geographic critiqued the rocks at the site<ref name="NatGeograph">Kate Ravilious, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060705-noahs-ark.html Noah's Ark Discovered in Iran?], ''National Geographic'', July 5, 2006.</ref>.


== Books ==
== Books ==
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* [http://noahsarksearch.com Noah's Ark Search.com]
* [http://noahsarksearch.com Noah's Ark Search.com]


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[[Category:Christian writers|Cornuke, Bob]]
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[[Category:Religious scandals|Cornuke, Bob]]

[[Category:Christian writers]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience|Cornuke, Bob]]
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[[Category:Religious scandals]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]

Revision as of 01:46, 28 March 2007

Robert Cornuke, commonly referred to as Bob Cornuke, is the president of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute (BASE), of Colorado Springs, Colorado. A former Costa Mesa police officer, Cornuke is a self-styled Biblical archaeologist (he holds no professional position and has no training in the discipline) and the author of six books on biblical history based on his explorations over the last 20 years.

Cornuke holds a Masters of Arts Biblical Studies and a 2005 Ph.D. in Bible and theology from the unaccredited Louisiana Baptist University[1]. His use of the Bible as a literal guide for his explorations is an approach which is rejected by the scientific community as pseudoarchaeology, a form of pseudoscience[2].

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.

Controversy and criticism

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[7] 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[8], 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]

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]

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]

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 research team included Arch Bonnema, film producer of The Genius Club and other well-known Christian businessmen. 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].

Books

Trivia

  • Cornuke is travel guide/business partners with Chuck Missler.[9] 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]

References

  1. ^ a b Cornuke, Bob. Official Bob Cornuke Biography. BASE Institute, July 1, 2006
  2. ^ Seductions of Pseudoarchaeology: Pseudoscience in Cyberspace
  3. ^ [1] Koinonia House Online "All Anchors Accounted For" (Cornuke) 2004
  4. ^ Cornuke, Bob (2006-06-17). (Interview). Interviewed by John Kasich. {{cite interview}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |callsign= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Cornuke, Bob (2006-07-02). "Possible Remnants of Noah's Ark" (Interview). Interviewed by Susan Roesgen. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |callsign= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Cornuke, Bob (2006-06-29). "Mysteries of the Bible; Is This Really Noah's Ark?" (Interview). Interviewed by Chris Cuomo. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |callsign= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b Pinkoski, Jim. The Rest of the Story 2000.
  8. ^ [www.wlsessays.net/authors/S/StyxExodus/StyxExodus.pdf] Philby, Harry St. John. The Land of Midian. (London: Ernest Bean Limited) 1957.
  9. ^ a b c d Franz, Gordon. Is Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia? July 1 2006
  10. ^ [2]Reply to G. Franz by Bob Cornuke
  11. ^ [3]Where is Mount Sinai? St Catherine's or Jabal al Lawz?
  12. ^ [4] Jewish Pilgrimage and Jewish Identity By Allen Kerkeslager
  13. ^ a b Is Jebel al-Lawz the Mount Sinai of the Bible as Bob Cornuke of BASE Institute Asserts? Tentmaker Ministries. July 1, 2006
  14. ^ a b Cornuke, Robert. New Zealand Cults & Religious Groups List
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Olsen, Ted. Apostle Paul's Shipwreck Makes Headlines. Christianity Today. May 15, 2003
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Franz, Gordon. The Sinking of The Lost Shipwreck of Paul July 1, 2006
  17. ^ [5] University of Malta "Professor Anthony Bonanno Department of Classics and Archaeology "
  18. ^ Cornuke, Bob. The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul Global Publishing Services, 2003. ISBN 0-9714100-3-8 (Pg 129)
  19. ^ a b c Herrold, Leanne. Adventurer tells of search for Mount Sinai Goshen News. July 20, 2001.
  20. ^ Brannon S. Howse, Noah's Ark? For Real, Christian Worldview Network, June 16, 2006.
  21. ^ Ed Davis Eyewitness Location, NoahsArkSearch.com.
  22. ^ Tas Walker, Caution about 'Ark' discovery, CreationOnTheWeb.com, July 5, 2006.
  23. ^ John Morris, Ph.D., Ark is rock not petrified wood, icr.org, July 21, 2006.
  24. ^ Rick Lanser, M.Div, Noah's Ark in Iran?, abr.christiananswers.net, July 20, 2006.
  25. ^ Kate Ravilious, Noah's Ark Discovered in Iran?, National Geographic, July 5, 2006.
  26. ^ a b LBU Graduates Five KI Students. Koinonia House Online 2005. This source notes some of Cornuke's credits came from the unaccredited Koinonia Institute ran by his tour guide partner Chuck Missler.[6]

External links

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