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Show B3 The Salt LakeTribune RELIGION Saturday, February 6, 1999 WORLD VIEW Explorer Says He HasTraced Historical Path, Located Biblical Mount Sinai BY ROBERTUNRUH “The visible evidence is quite overwhelming: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS the location of the true Mount Sinai has COLORADOSPRINGS, Colo. — Scenes from thelife of Bob Cornuke: Compiled by PeggyFletcher Stack St. Valentine ‘Relics to Go on Display Whatareclaimed to be the felics of St. Valentine are to go on display in a new setting iin Glasgow, where they have been kept since 1868. Therelics are to be housed in a glass case in the atrium of a new + pastoral center attached to the ‘Franciscan church of Blessed ‘John Duns Scotus in the Gor‘bals, and there will be a special service of dedication on thesaint's feast-day, Feb. 14. = St. Valentine was most probably a third century bishop of «Terni who was martyred on the Via Flaminia, though there are also records of a Roman priest martyred nearby on the same day who somealso be» lieve to be St. Valentine. But ders were untouched. been discovered in the ancient land of Midian, known today as Saudi Arabia.” Egyptian hieroglyphics ofcattle on stone slabs oddlyout In the Exodus story, God descended on Mount Sinai in flames and smokelike a furnace “The visible evidence is quite overwhelming: the loca of place in the Arabian desert. Soidiers with guns. Explorer EEE Millennia-old localstories abouta visit from the Hebrew nation when Moses wasits leader. Cornukeis not a moviescriptwriter. He heads a foun- dation, Bible Archaeology, Search and Exploration Institute, that hunts downsites of biblical importance. “We're [taught] that this is myth and legend,”said Cor- nuke, who acknowledged he was looking for fun when he gotinvolved in hisfirst biblical explorations with Apollo 15 astronaut and moonwalker Jim Irwin. Irwin’s moon trip proved religious revelation, after which heretired and hunted for Noah’s Ark. “To me, this was adventure; maybe we'd find something,” Cornuke said. Previously, he had pursued many careers: police SWAT team member, Washington lobbyist, real estate agent. Buta literal mountaintop experience changed him, leaving him to concludethe Bible is ‘100 percent historically true.” He told himself: “Morally editing it to fit my lifestyle was over.” The change came during a clandestinevisit to a fencedoff mountain in Saudi Arabia, wherehe andfellow explorer Larry Williams discovered what experts consider the original Mount Sinai, from which, the Bible says, God de- livered the Ten Commandments into Moses’ hands. “When I stood on those scorched rocks, it was like a floodgate opening in mylife. My life was changed in that 10-15 minutes,” Cornukesaid. He dedicated himself to finding other archaeological tion of the true Mount Sinai has been discovered in the ancient land of Midian, knowntoday as Saudi Arabia,” said RoyKnutson, another explorer whoalso has spent time on digs at prominent archaeological ruins. Roy Knutson Thegranite top of a security-fenced mountain blackened by flames. also found the top covered with graniterocks that had been melted byan exterior heat source, becausewhile the exteriors were burned smooth as glass, the interiors of boul CornukeandWilliams’discoveryis the subjectof a vid- said, “you need to have all the informationavailable.” On today’s maps, MountSinaiis on Egypt's Sinai Penin- sula, But Cornuke says there are dozens ofreferences in the Old Testamentthat say the Hebrew nation, escaping from the Egyptian Pharaoh, “wentout of” Egypt before reaching the mountain. He and Williams, using the literal directions in the New King James Bible, traced the routeof thefleeing nation, putting the crossing of the Red Seaat thetip of the Sinai Peninsula, locating the bitter springs of Marah, the sepa- ratesite of 12 springs and 70 palms, and Jabal al Lawzin Saudi Arabia, which they believe to be the biblical Mount Sinai eo, “The Search for the Real Mount Sinai." Bill McCartney, who founded the Promise Keepers Christian ministry, called it “the most powerful thing I've ever seen. Jeffrey Katzenberg, whose DreamWorks studio pro duced the recent hit “Prince of Egypt,” wrote in an en dorsementofthe video, “Therereally isn’t anything quite like standing on the very ground where dramatic and tu multuousevents have taken place CornukeandWilliams both seek furtherinvestigation by experts, but doubt whether the Saudi governmentwill al low it. Cornukehas been arrested on allegations of espio: nage during his expeditions. Heis now working on an expedition concerning Noah’s There, they found an altar that they concluded matched one described in Exodus 24, boundary markers described in Exodus 19, a split rock described in Exodus 17, and a cave described in 1 Kings 19 They discovered evidence of what apparently was a huge lake below the mountain in a region that gets a half inch of rain every 10 years, which they consiaer evidence of the story in which Mosesstruck a rock and water gushed out onto the desert, saving the Hebrews. Egyptian hieroglyphics on stones at Jabal al Lawz showed bovine animals, which are not indigenous there, and locals repeatstories learned from earlier generations abouta visit from Moses. Ark. He also said he has clues to the whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant, the gold and acacia woodbox contain ing the Ten Commandments. While somearchaeologists decry the involvement of amateurs in their work, Ken Durham, professor of Old Testa ment history at Colorado Christian University, notes the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a shepherd boy He said the impact of the expeditions could be immea surable. Proving the authenticity of particular events in the Bible “ultimately has a bearing on everything in it,” Durham said. “If it’s not historically reliable, it’s just not reliable Penetrating the security perimeter at the mountain, they support for the Bible. “To make a decision” about God, he “It’s like a witness in a courtroom.” . Glasgowis not the only city to elaim St Valentine’s bones. In « Dublin, what are also said to ube the relics of St. Valentine :have been venerated since 1836 in a Carmelite church. — Religion News Service oO Vatican-Israel Pact Messiahs Have a Lengthy Religious History . Jews, Christians and Muslims. — Religion News Service Qo Envoy Heads for U.S. a», Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, _the powerfulcleric who serves ‘as guardian of Roman Catholic doctrine,will visit the United States next week to discuss the ‘controversial issues of femi, nism and homosexuality with bishops from North America ‘and Oceania, the Vatican said «Thursday. The U.S. and Oceania churches have expressed restlessness with the Vatican's views on the two issues. — Religion News Service : Oo Church for Sale The church centerin Dallas where televangelist Robert Tilton presidedis for sale. The fang price is $9.1 million for e church, school, office space and warehouse. The Word of (Faith World Outreach Center Church, founded byTilton in 1976, once drew as many as “4,000 worshippers on Sunday mornings for televised ser«vices. Attendance has plum- meted in the wakeof a barrage of negative media epfention. andlitigation against ton. Tilton, 51, moved from Dallas in 1997 after a protracted and acrimonious divorce. — The Associated Press oO Russian Hy “A United Methodist pastor from Moscowis in the United States to fulfill a dream for her church: developing a Rus- *sian hymnal, The Rev. Ludmi\lia Garbuzova, pastor of 100memberFirst United \, Methodist Church of Moscow, is in Nashville, Tenn., editing music and translating text into "Russian and hopes to have a “first edition of the hymnal Teady in May. — Methodists Make News QO ‘Crusade Roadblock Dartmouth College adminis“tfators recently blocked Cam‘pos Crusade for Christ from using campus mailto distribiute more than 1,000 copies of C.S, Lewis's Mere Christianity to first-year students, Catholic, Eposcopal, Jewish and Luther‘aa campus ministry leaders rejuested that the books not be istributed to their —— as “Well as non-Christians. Campus “Crusadeleaders estimate that "Would Raphnogg half of the first-year class. He — Christianity Today b that is the clean water, the water ularly prays. Their synagogue at 1433 S. 1100 East is within walk- of life.” Lenowitz’s book, based on more remains unsettled — the status .shrines, which are sacred to hats, the bearded monksofChrist of the Hills Monastery were for years merelya curiosity. The faithful at the only Russian Orthodox monastery in Texas lived on a hilltop outside of town Salt Lake City, that Lenowitz reg- and 70 CE, when Romantroops razed Jerusalem and its temple, eapital in 1980. John Paul has , Called for international guarantees to protect the city and en~sure equal access to its flowing black robes and matching bad Lubavitch congregation in by noting between the years 6 BCE (Before the Common Era) of Jerusalem, which Israel derelaredits “united and eternal” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BLANCO, Texas — In their his mission. Indeed, it is with some of Schneerson’s adherants, the Cha- @ Continued From B-1 wayfor the trip Pope John Paul II hopes to make to the Holy Landin the year 2000. But a far more difficult issue The Peace of Monastery candidacy. His followers believe he will be resurrected to complete --—The Vatican has completed an agreementon thejuridical Status of the Roman Catholic Churchin Israel, which church officials say will help pave the Sex Allegations Shatter secution, credit him with miracles and propheticgifts. Schneerson's death in June 1994 did not end his messianic ing distance of his home, he says. But Lenowitz remainsskeptical of messianicclaimsin general. than 12 years of research, begins no less than six messianic con- tenders — among them Jesus — steppedforth. However, it was Jesus who brokethe mold. Unlike other candidate messiahs, the itinerant Galilean preacher didn’t seek military glory, preferring instead a claim that was more prophetic. Accounts of his life portray a rabbi who chastised the rulers of the day for their lack of compassion and social justice even as his miracles and sermons laid claim to divine origins. “In fact, his desire to be put to death in Jerusalem, in itself unique among Jewish messiahs, brings together precisely these two peculiarities of his,” Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune Harris Lenowitz recently published a bookprofiling messiahs. of influence. However, under threatof execution, Zvi converted to Islam in 1666. His movement in 1791. ish followers on a dizzying spiritu- Lenowitz's book, which retails for $45 and can be ordered through Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore, concludes with a profile of the late Menachem Mendel Schneerson, leader of the Lubavitch hasidic movementin Brook- al journey that encompassed his lyn, N.Y. splintered thereafter. Yakov Frank, whose story hooked Lenowitz on messianic studies, took his 18th century Pol- conversions to first Islam and then Catholicism before his death Followers of Schneerson,a sur- vivor of both Soviet and Nazi per- about.” Menahem,the son of Yehuda, “It would be impossible to live without hope, and the Bible is pels are the most important books in history, and [contain] the most important messiah account, unquestionably,”’ Lenowitz allowed. “Everybody was reading those {and] they affected everybody's life in Europe and wherever Christianity went.” Thescattering of the Jews that followed the destruction of Jerusalem only seemed to increase the Israel of the Diaspora founditself — messiahsarose to briefly offer hope before drowning in bloodshed and unfulfilled promises. In 415 CE, a fellow asserting he was Moses promised followers on theisland of Crete they would miraculously be transported to their distant homeland — if they had the faith to leap into the sea. Many did, only to drown. The would-be messiah fled the scene, SOUTH VALLEY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY 10:30am and 4:00pm Service “To Good For Our Own Good?” Ottoman Empire. Instead, legend has it, he was betrayed andkilled by his father-in-law. Lenowitz credits a 17th century messiah, Shabtai Zvi, as being second only to Jesus in terms of fame DRINKING WATER Emergency Storage Gallon Bag-n-Box. $5.45 each. Delivered NSF Certified Product. Rocky Mountain Water 263-8888) met Rev. Sue Spencer Eleanor Corpenter Religious Education Nursery 778 So. 20th East 944.9723 “Spiritual Love eGaa ( |The Episcopal Church Welcomes You For complete information on other Sunday services, please call the numbers listed below. All Saints Church 1710 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84108 581-0380 Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 am, 10:00 am & 6:00 pm The Cathedral Church of St. Mark 231 East 100 South Salt Lake,Sty,ur 8411 [Meeting at Wheeler Farm: 6351 So. 900 E.| ‘Sunday Services 10:15 a.m. (801) 576-1418 First Congregational Church Nursery Care: 10:30 a.m St. Paul's Chureh 261 South 900 East Salt Lake City, UT 84102 922-5869 or 322-5871 Sunday Holy Eucharist Rite 1 8:00am Sunday Holy Eucharist Rite [1 10:00am tephen’s Church h 3: West went NalClty, UT 84119 Sunday Holy Eucharist 10:00am Church of The Resurrection 92 Ennt Centerville UT 840i4 Sunday Holy Eucharist 9:40am '» Ch anesNorthMsiiver vis Dr. UT & "ark Cy,Ur Holy Dart Bam, Chapel dpm Bhi In SunsetCabin Deer Valley Church ofReligious Science Rev. 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Prayer & Hour of Power; 10:00 & 6:30 6:30 6:30 & 7:30 Square Plaza, Midvale (2/10 mile west ot State St. on 7720 8) 255-2901 ‘An Afftate of Rome Bible Church, Tulsa, OK 2180South Foot Drive, 487.1357 www aros nail/-fCc 9:00 & Il am UNITED METHODIST St, James Church 7486 Union Park Ave. Midvale, UT 84047 566-1311 Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00am & Spm FIRST UNITARIAN 582.8687 CHUS 1h Ea ongoatip Services: ND 11:00 am meric Narcissism” Free, Liberal & Democratic Worship, Sunday Schoo! & [ ww fol ieiram oua eae) never to be seen again, In the 12th century, David Alroy raised a Jewish army in Kurdistan, intent on eventually reclaiming Jerusalem from the were arrested in January and could getup to 20 years in prison. Lenowitz said. Rey. Christopher lan Chenoweth appeal of messiahs. In western and eastern Europe, Persia, Syria and even Crete — wherever the The monks, both Americans, filled with messages of hope,” AYE Ey a Bythe timethe next 135 CE — accounts of Jesus’ vir- charged with three counts of indecency with a child. The charges involve a male religious student whowasliving at the monastery in 1997. His age was not immediately available difficult not to look for messiahs to ride to the rescue. Beginning 17 February 5670 So. 4800 W. Ee Tir lem just four years after he captured the holy city from its Romangarrison in 66 CE. were established Christian beliefs. “Tt has to be said that the Gos- Samuel A. Greene Jr., 54, known as Father Benedict, and Jonathan Hitt, 37, known as Father Jeremiah, have each been to the present times in circumstancesof political and religious oppression that make it just as crumble with the walls of Jerusa- gin birth, his genealogical links to King David and his resurrection sex scandal involving two monks. hardnotto scratch. Jewish communities havelived preferred the military messianic call, but watched his aspirations Jewish revolt against Rome 132- Blanco townspeoplestrained by a Oquirrh Shadows LEE) iMeO kL) How We Got OurBible” Lenowitz writes. “It would seem candidate of any import arose — Lately, though, the monastery's quiet world of worship has been shaken andits relationship with have really done any good. But it’s sort of like when you have chicken pox and your parents tell you not to scratch,” he said. “It's ATTEND THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOICE that he expected betrayal and disaster and sought to make useof the expectation, if not bring it Shim-on bar Kosiba, who led a and welcomed outsiders. “No, I don't think that messiahs FIRST UNITED METHODIST 203 8. 200E. - 328-8726 SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION WORSHIP SERVICES SALT LAKE CHRISTION PELLOWSHI 615 E9800 S, Sandy ST24211 ‘See we at ww sel Wome Sah Lake Crt Aco O12) S720 Christian = Church CHRIST UNITED METHODIST 2375 E. 3300 So, - 486-a “Warning: Religion Hazardous to Your relth Ron Hodges preaching emi” SS (| Mary Jenson Ree. Center, 16300 § Redwood Ral. 254-1998 Sonera Coherch Scteot 9:30 CHcare provided Kriators Ron Hodges, Bran Hare: Ogg HILLTOP UNITED METHODIST 985 E, 10600 So, - 571-5777 “A Church Full of Salt & Light” Worship Services 6:15, 9:30, 1100 ‘Adut/ Chiron Sunday Scho at 0:30 amy Narnery Proved Douglas J. Mekien & Atco emer MeKion, Pastors TRINITY UNITED FT CHURCH 4200Wont cae South, Keane 900-6001 Salty,Spicy People” Bob Heim Worship Senses: 60 am & 11 Om 45am w/a Christian Science rata) STR |