The idea that the universe was created by an intelligent being may be science fiction to some, but to others it's just plain science.

At the Institute for Creation Research's Museum of Creation and Earth History in Santee, some 50 exhibits at the 3,500-square-foot building attempt to explain how the universe was created by the God described in the Bible, and not through the forces of evolution.

"Although we do believe in the Bible, we look at the science and use that to support the theories," said museum official Kathryn Mokan.

For example, one exhibit focuses on disproving the big-bang theory, which says that the universe began with the explosion of superdense matter in all directions. Yet galaxies are spread haphazardly throughout the universe, Mokan said, illustrating that the distribution of galaxies is "not from a centralized bang."

To prove the Biblical story of Noah's ark, in which God supposedly flooded the Earth to restart humanity, Mokan said exhibits point to fossil evidence from Mount St. Helens to the Grand Canyon that substantiate a global flood.

The museum also uses examples on a smaller scale to prove the theory of creationism. Museum official Bruce Wood said a display case of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly attempts to show how the process is too complicated to have developed through evolution, which accepts that the metamorphosis developed through mutations.

A small bookstore is attached to the museum for those who want to learn more about creationism.

If you go

WHAT: Museum of Creation and Earth History

WHERE: 10946 N. Woodside Ave., Santee

DIRECTIONS: Take Highway 52 east. Highway 52 ends at Mission Gorge Road. Turn left. Past an intersection with Magnolia, there is a fork in the road. Take a left onto North Woodside Avenue.

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sundays and holidays.

COST: Free

CALL: (619) 596-6011

Contact staff writer Jennifer Kabbany at (760) 631-6622 or jkabbany@nctimes.com.