Without addressing all those mundane issues, someone asked "What was before the big bang?"

The question is actually irrelevant. Since Time, like space, is a dimension that sprung after the  big bang, one cannot argue by saying what was before it. Before and After are terms used in reference to time. There was no time before the Big Bang. If you're serious about this, listen to Stephen Hawkins explain it beautifully.

Finally, it is OK for religious folks to defend their positions, but please, do yourself a favor, don't bring science and logic in your defense - arguments like "how can something arise from nothing" That is like 500 years ago, when no one understood the moon and called it "God." It looks extremely childish and foolish, especially if you don't understand the very scientific concepts and principles  you're talking about. That is like Deepak Chopra misleading  people by using complex jargon like "quantum spiritualism." But who am i to judge, perhaps you'll milk out millions before people find out :)>