Claude Nowell

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Claude Rex Nowell aka Corky King, Corky Ra, and Summum Bonum Amon Ra (November 2, 1944, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States – January 29, 2008) was the founder of Summum, a 501(c)(3), philosophical and religious organization that practices a modern form of Mummification which has become known worldwide.[1][2]

When he was four years old, his parents divorced and he and his mother moved to Southern California. That same year (1948), his mother married Robert Williamson King and she had Claude's name legally changed to Claude Rex King. When he was young, Claude was given the nickname "Corky" which was how he was known to friends and family.[1]

Up until 1959, Corky King lived in Monrovia, California. Then his family moved to Tustin, California, where he graduated from Tustin High School in 1962. He went on to attend Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa and graduated in Construction Technology. Corky King moved back to Salt Lake City in 1964 and about that same time, he legally changed his name back to Claude Rex Nowell.[1] He attended Brigham Young University and graduated from the University of Utah.[3]

In 1975, Nowell founded Summum following an experience he describes as an encounter with highly intelligent beings.[4][5] The purpose of Summum is to share with others the information he received from his encounter and to provide an environment for those on a path of spiritual development. In 1980, Corky legally changed his name to Summum Bonum Amon Ra as a representation of his spiritual path.[1]

In 1978, Corky began construction of a pyramid that would be used as a winery to produce Summum Soma Nectar.[4] Despite Utah's strict liquor laws and the rigid controls it places on alcoholic beverages, a Utah law allowed him to establish the winery provided the wine was used for religious purposes.[6] The winery was finally established in 1980 and is one of a very few in the state of Utah.[7] The Soma Nectar is also referred to as Nectar Publications and are used in a practice of meditation for the purpose of developing mystical potentials.[8][9]

Through Summum, Corky re-introduced mummification in a modernized form and at one point was a licensed funeral director in the state of California.[6] Corky has been referred to as "the father of modern mummification,"[10] and the mummification services offered by Summum have received attention in international publications.[11][12]

Since founding Summum, Corky, under the name of Summum Bonum Amen Ra, authored books published by Summum that delve into the organization's philosophy.[13][14] In one of the books, Ra outlines principles upon which the Summum philosophy is based.[13] Summum has requested that monuments displaying these principles, known as the "Seven Aphorisms", be placed next to Ten Commandments monuments in city parks. In one case where the city rejected the request, Summum filed a lawsuit and won the litigation on the basis of freedom of speech and discrimination.[15] The city opted to relocate its monument rather than allowing Summum to erect its monument. Another lawsuit is pending before the US Supreme Court, Pleasant Grove City v. Summum. The case could have national implications and could potentially impact many of America's cities. [16]

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  1. ^ a b c d Claude Rex Nowell (King) aka "Corky". Summum. Retrieved on 2008-04-07.
  2. ^ About Summum. Summum. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  3. ^ Henetz, Patty. "Utah-based church melds wine, sexuality, meditation", Associated Press, 2002-04-22. Retrieved on 2007-10-28. 
  4. ^ a b Murray, John (May 8, 1978), “Summum philosophy: a cosmic view”, The Daily Utah Chronicle (Salt Lake City, Utah) 87 
  5. ^ The First Encounter. Summum. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
  6. ^ a b Cromer, Michelle (2006). Exit Strategy: Thinking Outside the Box. Penguin Group. ISBN 1585425052. 
  7. ^ Utah Wineries. The WineWeb. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  8. ^ The Summum Nectar Publications. Summum. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  9. ^ Fuller, Robert (2000). "Wine and the Varieties of American Religious Life", Stairways to Heaven: Drugs in American Religious History. Westview Press. ISBN 0813366127. 
  10. ^ Halls, Kelly (2007). Mysteries of the Mummy Kids. Darby Creek Publishing. ISBN 158196059X. 
  11. ^ Kienle, Dela (2007). Ägypten Geheimnis am Nil (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Kosmos. 
  12. ^ Enklaar, Jasper; Maarten Raven, Herodotos van Halikarnassos, Frank Mutter, Bas de Leng, Mark Wiegman (2007). Balsemen, thanatopraxie & koelen (in Dutch). Den Haag, Netherlands: Uitvaart Media. 
  13. ^ a b Ra, Summum Bonum Amen (1988). SUMMUM: Sealed Except to the Open Mind. Summum. ISBN 0943217008. 
  14. ^ Ra, Summum Bonum Amen (1994). Sexual Ecstasy from Ancient Wisdom. Summum. ISBN 0943217008. 
  15. ^ Summum v. City of Ogden, No. 01-4022 (Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals 2002-07-19).
  16. ^ Fattah, Geoffrey. "Ten Commandments cases in Utah could head to the U.S. Supreme Court", The Deseret Morning News, Sept. 18, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-28. 

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