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'''Bob Cornuke''' (born 1951{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}) is an American writer and president of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute (BASE), which is operated from his home in ].<ref name="Ark">{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20060801/ai_n16662513/ |title=A piece of Noah's Ark? |publisher=] |date=August 1, 2006 |first=Jennifer |last=Wilson |accessdate=2009-07-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805232334/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20060801/ai_n16662513/ |archivedate=August 5, 2009 }}</ref> He describes himself as a ], but has no degree or training in archaeology.<ref name="Ark"/>
'''Robert Cornuke''' is the president of the ] (BASE) in ]. He is a former ] officer and present-day ] ] explorer and the author of six books on biblical history relating to archaeological explorations.
==Explorations==
Cornuke's explorations have included the ] in ]; journeying in ] with the late American ] ] in search of ]; looking for evidence of ancient ]n and ] flood accounts in the ] of ]; and following the presumed trail of the ] through ], ], and the ]n highlands. Cornuke has also engaged in expeditions searching the seafloor off the coast of ] for the anchors from the ]’s ship wreck, as described in the Bible's ], chapter 27 &mdash; which he claims to have discovered,<ref> ''] Online'' "All Anchors Accounted For" (Cornuke) 2004 </ref> although this has been disputed.


==Controversy and criticism== ==Background and explorations==
He holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies and a Ph.D. in Bible and Theology, both from the unaccredited ].<ref>Wilson, Jennifer. , '']'', August 11, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Bob Cornuke doesn't have a degree in archaeology; he holds a doctorate in Bible and theology from Louisiana Baptist University."</ref> He is the author of six books about his explorations. Cornuke uses the ] for his explorations, and prioritizes it over secular and historical sources.
===Mount Sinai Controversy ===
In Cornuke's book ''The Mountain of God'' he claimed to be the researcher of the biblical match of ] to '']'' in ]. This was dated as happening in 1988 after he learnt from someone else about ''Jabal al-Lawz'''s likeness to Sinai . Earlier, however, in 1984, ] had already claimed to be the first person to have discovered that Biblical Mount Sinai was '']'' and in 2002 ] noted that ] in his 1957 book '']'' claimed that ''Jabal al-Lawz'' was the Biblical site .


] describes him as "a former Los Angeles SWAT policeman and more recently a real estate agent" in his 2005 book ''Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition''.<ref name="Hoffmeier">{{cite book|last1=Hoffmeier|first1=James K.|title=Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition|url=https://archive.org/details/ancientisraelsin00hoff|url-access=limited|date=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-515546-4|pages=–33}}</ref>
Author ] has suggested that Cornuke "had forged a letter from the king of ] in order to obtain a visa into the Kingdom" . 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" . 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 peninsul," and 3) "Apostle Paul says in Gal. 4:25 that Mt. Sinai was in Saudi Arabia."


Cornuke claims to have discovered the anchors from the ]’s shipwreck in ], as described in the Bible's ], chapter 27 &mdash; by searching the sea floor off the coast of ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Searching for St. Paul's Shipwreck|url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/february/searching-for-pauls-shipwreck-on-malta/|website=CBN|date=30 January 2015 |accessdate=21 July 2015}}</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>''Reply to G. Franz'' by Bob Cornuke </ref>. Other scholars who believe Jabal Al-Lawz may be the Biblical Mt. Sinai include; Dr. Allen Kerkselager, Ph.D. Professor of Theology St. Joseph's University<ref>''Where is Mount Sinai? St Catherine's or Jabal al Lawz?'' </ref>, Dr. Roy Knuteson former Professor of New Testament and Greek and Bible Archaeology at Northwestern College <ref> ''Jewish Pilgrimage and Jewish Identity'' By Dr. Allen Kerkeslager</ref>, and Dr Lennart Moller, Professor of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institute <ref>''Exodus Case''</ref>.


He also expedited to ] in ] in July 2005 and June 2006, where he asserts that he found a rock formation approximately 400&nbsp;ft long at {{convert|13120|ft|m|abbr=on}} elevation. Cornuke's search appeared on '']'',<ref>{{cite interview | last = Cornuke | first = Bob | interviewer = ] | work = ] | publisher = ] | date = 2006-06-17}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite interview | last = Cornuke | first = Bob | interviewer = Susan Roesgen | title = Possible Remnants of Noah's Ark | work = CNN LIVE | publisher = ] | date = 2006-07-02}}
</ref> and ]<ref>{{cite interview | last = Cornuke | first = Bob | interviewer = Chris Cuomo | title = Mysteries of the Bible; Is This Really Noah's Ark? | work = ] | publisher = ] | date = 2006-06-29}}</ref> as well as others.


===Maltese Controversy=== ===Mount Sinai===
Cornuke's book, ''In Search of the Mountain of God'', claimed to match of ] to '']'' in ]. A similar claim was made earlier, in 1984, by ].


===Island of Malta===
Cornuke has 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." The case was unsuccessful with the judging ruling that the book was already unreleased and could not be prevented from being sold.<ref> ''ibid''</ref> His critics believe he is "more interested in the money to be gained from their claims than in providing genuine evidence for anything."Others say that these anchors were actually discovered by fishermen, and were subsequently purchased and passed off as his own discovery.
In 2002 Cornuke claimed to have found anchors from the biblical shipwreck of the Apostle Paul in waters near Malta. This claim has been disputed.<ref name="ChristianityToday">Olsen, Ted. . ''].'' May 15, 2003
</ref>
⚫ In 2003 '']'' reported that the then U.S. ambassador ] sued Cornuke to stop the sale of his book after she arranged for the "] 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 ]."<ref name="ChristianityToday" />
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>''The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul: The Sinking of the 'Lost Shipwreck of Paul' or Have the Anchors from the Apostle Paul's Shipwreck Been Discovered on Malta? by Gordon Franz </ref> Only one anchor was examined by Bananno and it was only examined in Mr. Grech's home.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Anthony Bonanno<ref> ''University of Malta'' "Professor Anthony Bonanno Department of Classics and Archaeology "</ref> has stated that anchors recovered by Cornuke and alleged to be from "the wreck of Paul's ship from Acts" were "consistent" with the "era of the shipwreck of St. Paul, in 60 A.D." and "a Roman/Alexandrian grain freighter"<ref>''The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul'' ], 2003. ISBN 0971410038 (Pg 129)</ref> though he did not directly link the anchors with St. Paul.


===Noah's Ark===
Franz unilaterally dismisses every Maltese claim Cornuke has made.<ref> Ibid.</ref> 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." 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."
Supporters of Cornuke claimed in June 2006 that Cornuke may have discovered ] 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 Howse, , ''Christian Worldview Network'', June 16, 2006.</ref> Cornuke relies heavily on one 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">, ''NoahsArkSearch.com''.</ref> Even creationist geologists doubt whether the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified and are urging caution.<ref name="CreationMinistries">Tas Walker, , ''CreationOnTheWeb.com'', July 5, 2006.</ref>
The research team included Arch Bonnema, film producer of ] and other well-known Christian businessmen.
John Morris, of the Institute of Creation Research, does not believe the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified or Noah's Ark.<ref name="InstituteforCreationResearch">John Morris, Ph.D., , ''icr.org'', July 21, 2006.</ref>
Even Cornuke himself isn't completely convinced that what he observed was Noah's Ark or even if it was petrified wood. Associates for Biblical Research also produced a 7,800-word paper about problems with the Cornuke site.<ref name="ABR">Rick Lanser, M.Div, {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820134337/http://abr.christiananswers.net/articles/article49.html |date=2006-08-20 }}, ''abr.christiananswers.net'', July 20, 2006.</ref>
''National Geographic'' critiqued the rocks at the site.<ref name="NatGeograph">Kate Ravilious, , ''National Geographic'', July 5, 2006.</ref>


⚫ ==Books==
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>Ibid.</ref> 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.
⚫ * ''In Search of the Mountain of God: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Sinai, Part 1'', ], 2000. {{ISBN|0-8054-2052-5}} (Co-written with ])
⚫ * ''In Search of the Lost Mountains of Noah: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Ararat, Part 2'', ], 2001. {{ISBN|0-8054-2054-1}} (Co-written with ])
⚫ * ''In Search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant, Part 3'', ], 2002. {{ISBN|0-8054-2053-3}} (Co-written with ])
⚫ * ''The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul'', ], 2003. {{ISBN|0-9714100-3-8}}
⚫ * ''Ark Fever:Legend Chaser'', ], 2005. {{ISBN|1-4143-0296-7}}
⚫ * ''Relic Quest: Legend Chaser'', ], 2005. {{ISBN|1-4143-0297-5}}
* ''The Bell Messenger: A Novel'', (with ]), ], 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-4165-4981-9}}
* ''Temple — Amazing New Discoveries That Change Everything About The Location Of Solomon's Temple'', ], 2014. {{ISBN|978-1-939779-09-0}}


==References==
However, on August 15, 2005, James Mulholland, a life-long member of the Maltese community and a member of the Pauline Association in Malta, states that "As a concerned voice in the Maltese community with specific experience in Maltese history archaeology and topography, I felt it necessary to set the record straight on a few so called observations made by Mr. Franz that appear to refute arguments made by Mr. Cornuke." Mulholland goes on to point out 4 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 and this subsequently nullifies his arguments, 3) That Franz only dismisses, but does not refute Cornuke's identification of the real Munxar Reef as the location, and 4) That Franz actually strengthens Cornuke's arguments against the traditional site of the shipwreck being in St. Paul's Bay .
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->

{{reflist|2}}
⚫ '']'' reported that the then U.S. ambassador ] sued Cornuke to stop the sale of his book after she arranged for the "] government to pardon the fisherman." (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." According to one source, He did not keep his part of the agreement.

⚫ 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 ]."

===Saudi Arabia===

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

===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." The author concluded it "became quickly obvious that some of the information on the BASE Institute site was not legitimate." Besides selling videos and books, the speakers get $1500 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."

==Trivia==
*Cornuke is reported as styling himself in an "]" fashion.<ref> '']'': "Apostle Paul's Shipwreck Makes Headlines" By Ted Olsen May 15, 2003</ref>

*Cornuke has appeared on ]'s ''Ancient Secrets of the Bible'' on May 15, 1992, November 13, 2000 he was on ]'s '']'', July 7, 1998 The '']'', and on Fox Television’s '']'' February 9, 2000 (episode 105).<ref></ref>

*Bob Cornuke's Ph.D. in ] was received in 2005 from ],<ref> ''Koinonia House Online'' "LBU Graduates Five KI Students" (Cornuke) 2005. This source notes some of Cornuke's credits came from the unaccredited Koinonia Institute ran by his tour guide partner ]. </ref> an ] conservative Christian school, where he also serves as an adjunct speaker.<ref> ]'' "Featured Alumni" 2005 </ref> There is no record or claim made by Cornuke for having any undergraduate degree.

⚫ == Books ==
⚫ * ''Ark Fever:Legend Chaser'', ], 2005. ISBN 1414302967
⚫ * ''In Search of the Mountain of God: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Sinai, Part 1'', ], 2000. ISBN 0805420525 (Co-written with ])
⚫ * ''In Search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant, Part 3'', ], 2002. ISBN 0805420533 (Co-written with ])
⚫ * ''In Search of the Lost Mountains of Noah: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Ararat, Part 2'', ], 2001. ISBN 0805420541 (Co-written with ])
⚫ * ''Relic Quest: Legend Chaser'', ], 2005. ISBN 1414302975
⚫ * ''The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul'', ], 2003. ISBN 0971410038

==Footnotes==
<references/>


==External links== ==External links==
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Latest revision as of 13:39, 3 July 2024

Bob Cornuke (born 1951) is an American writer and president of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute (BASE), which is operated from his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He describes himself as a Biblical archaeologist, but has no degree or training in archaeology.

Background and explorations

He holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies and a Ph.D. in Bible and Theology, both from the unaccredited Louisiana Baptist University. He is the author of six books about his explorations. Cornuke uses the Bible as a literal guide for his explorations, and prioritizes it over secular and historical sources.

James K. Hoffmeier describes him as "a former Los Angeles SWAT policeman and more recently a real estate agent" in his 2005 book Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition.

Cornuke claims to have discovered the anchors from the Apostle Paul’s shipwreck in Marsaskala, as described in the Bible's Book of Acts, chapter 27 — by searching the sea floor off the coast of Malta.

He also expedited to Takht-i-Suleiman in Iran in July 2005 and June 2006, where he asserts that he found a rock formation approximately 400 ft long at 13,120 ft (4,000 m) elevation. Cornuke's search appeared on Fox News, CNN, and Good Morning America as well as others.

Mount Sinai

Cornuke's book, In Search of the Mountain of God, claimed to match of the biblical Mount Sinai to Jabal al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia. A similar claim was made earlier, in 1984, by Ron Wyatt.

Island of Malta

In 2002 Cornuke claimed to have found anchors from the biblical shipwreck of the Apostle Paul in waters near Malta. This claim has been disputed. 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." (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." According to some he did not keep his part of the agreement.

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."

Noah's Ark

Supporters of Cornuke claimed in June 2006 that Cornuke may have 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. Cornuke relies heavily on one 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. Even creationist geologists doubt whether the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified and are urging caution. The research team included Arch Bonnema, film producer of The Genius Club and other well-known Christian businessmen. John Morris, of the Institute of Creation Research, does not believe the rocks viewed by Cornuke are petrified or Noah's Ark. Even Cornuke himself isn't completely convinced that what he observed was Noah's Ark or even if it was petrified wood. Associates for Biblical Research also produced a 7,800-word paper about problems with the Cornuke site. National Geographic critiqued the rocks at the site.

Books

References

  1. ^ Wilson, Jennifer (August 1, 2006). "A piece of Noah's Ark?". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  2. Wilson, Jennifer. "Is Noah's Ark on mount in Iran? Man scours the world looking for religious artifacts", Deseret Morning News, August 11, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Bob Cornuke doesn't have a degree in archaeology; he holds a doctorate in Bible and theology from Louisiana Baptist University."
  3. Hoffmeier, James K. (2005). Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition. Oxford University Press. pp. 132–33. ISBN 978-0-19-515546-4.
  4. "Searching for St. Paul's Shipwreck". CBN. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  5. Cornuke, Bob (2006-06-17). Heartland with John Kasich (Interview). Interviewed by John Kasich. Fox News. {{cite interview}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. Cornuke, Bob (2006-07-02). "Possible Remnants of Noah's Ark". CNN LIVE (Interview). Interviewed by Susan Roesgen. CNN.
  7. Cornuke, Bob (2006-06-29). "Mysteries of the Bible; Is This Really Noah's Ark?". Good Morning America (Interview). Interviewed by Chris Cuomo. ABC News.
  8. ^ Olsen, Ted. Apostle Paul's Shipwreck Makes Headlines. Christianity Today. May 15, 2003
  9. Brannon Howse, Noah's Ark? For Real, Christian Worldview Network, June 16, 2006.
  10. Ed Davis Eyewitness Location, NoahsArkSearch.com.
  11. Tas Walker, Caution about 'Ark' discovery, CreationOnTheWeb.com, July 5, 2006.
  12. John Morris, Ph.D., Ark is rock not petrified wood, icr.org, July 21, 2006.
  13. Rick Lanser, M.Div, Noah's Ark in Iran? Archived 2006-08-20 at the Wayback Machine, abr.christiananswers.net, July 20, 2006.
  14. Kate Ravilious, Noah's Ark Discovered in Iran?, National Geographic, July 5, 2006.

External links

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