Apart from the slightly sensational title --- actually a misnomer as none of these devout men would ever consider abandoning God --- "God or the Girl" offers a surprisingly reverential treatment of a profound life passage.

In the five-part series, four young men with a calling to the priesthood must decide whether to enter the seminary or serve God as laypeople. In its essentials, it is as serious-minded as a public television documentary on the subject, albeit fitted out with all the trappings of "Survivor."

The A&E cable series, created by Darryl Silver, Stephen David and David Eilenberg and executive-produced by Silver and Mark Wolper, will air, appropriately enough, during Easter week, with the first two episodes premiering on Easter, April 16, 9-11 p.m. (The third and fourth hours debut April 17, 9-11 p.m., with the finale April 23, 10-11 p.m.; check local listings.)

The four are a varied bunch (see above story for mini-profiles), and the series careens among all four, as Joe sets out for World Youth Day in Germany with older brother Tom, hoping to contact 24-year-old Anne -- though once there, days go by before he calls her.

Later in the series, he'll set off on a "pilgrimage" to Niagara Falls with not a dime in his pocket, and charm waitresses into feeding him, sometimes in return for doing odd jobs.

At one point, we see Dan organize a demonstration at an abortion clinic during which he engages in a lively debate with a couple of young women who support legalized abortion. Dan is less effective later when he takes on an articulate fundamentalist who insists the church led people "into error," an encounter that deeply frustrates Dan.

Though his housemates are skeptical, Dan --- on the advice of his mentor, Dominican Father Jeffrey Coning, to "seek the Lord in a radical way" --- embarks on a project to build and then carry a wooden cross for 20 miles. Of course, no one told him to build a cross weighing 80 pounds, and when you see Dan sweating and straining under the weight you'll feel his pain.

Mike must make up his mind quickly when the opportunity for a good teaching position materializes, and goes on retreat to sort things out in his mind. You may wonder at the pressure techniques of Father Francis Pauselli, his mentor, who seems to push way too hard for his charge to ditch Aly and become a priest. ("The two of you can still be friends," he assures Mike.)

At one point, Steve must break the news of his calling to his fraternity chums, and then set off with great trepidation --- especially after reading the government's security warnings --- for a brief ministry in Guatemala. Despite the avuncular support of local missionary Father George Puthenpura, some, if not all, of his fears will be realized.

The sincerity of all four is never in doubt even if their respective worldviews sometimes border on the naive, as when Mike describes his occasional yearning to hug his girlfriend as "sick and disgusting."

The program touches only lightly on the sex abuse shadow. "Everyone will think you're a child molester," remarks Steve at one point, anticipating outsiders' reactions.

We won't ruin the surprise of which of the four (if any) actually decides to enter the seminary, but the filmmakers have done all in their power to hook viewers, with standard pre-commercial teases and cliffhanger closes. And if those methods build a large audience for such an atypically religious-based series, then why not?

An occasional crass expression and a few sexually related words and innuendo are the only flags among otherwise unobjectionable content. (The filmmakers shot footage on a fifth subject who will appear on the forthcoming DVD version only.)