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But saying it's an effect neither one of these postulates explains just how this space is 'created.'

That was the point raised by Jastrow in God and the Astronomers. When science confirmed by observation of the cosmic microwave background radiation in the 1960's that the universe is expanding, it meant that there was a real beginning of real space and real time.... out of nothing, ex nihilo. It was the most theological statement ever made by modern science.

Only God can create space/time ex nihilo.

It is even more astonishing because physical causation itself relies on space/time: in the absence of time, events cannot occur and in the absence of space, things cannot exist. All cosmologies require space/time for causation.

A physical body occupies space; radiant energy travels 'through' space. If we take all the energy and matter out of space, the space then by necessity 'collapses.' Collapsews into what?

If you collapse the singularity as well: No-thing. The Hebrew word for this is Ayn Sof, God the creator - One without end from which all being emerges and into which all being dissolves.

It was the most theological statement ever made by modern science

But it wasn't the only possible statement.

Only God can create space/time ex nihilo

Well, with God anything is possible, including that the universe was created as is. God doesn't need space/time to create. Besides, a periodic (oscilating) universe would keep re-creacting itself in a perpetuum mobile fashion without any need of God. Each repetition would be the 'beginning.'