When dogma meets drama on television

This search often takes place outside traditional houses of worship. "Our demographics [studies] show that there are many people seeking faith and spirituality," says Nicole Masker, director of event marketing for Women of Faith, the nation's largest nondenominational Christian women's conference.

But, she adds, "not necessarily in mainstream churches."

The urgency engendered by the 9/11 attacks and the war on terrorism is yet another factor in the surge of religious-themed entertainment, particularly fare that taps more extreme Apocalyptic visions. " 'Revelations' started with a call from [producer] Gavin Polone," says producer Seltzer. "He thought it was time, just given the state of the world and what we're seeing and hearing around us, to deal with the subject in the Book of Revelation about the possible collapse of everything - the end of days."

Finally, the choice to go for a plot heavy on special effects reflects yet another trend that is helping change the TV landscape. Network TV's struggle to survive in a multichannel universe has led to the rise of what some producers like to call "feature television," tapping the techniques of big movies for the small screen. Think big special effects, movie actors, and risky content, à la film producer Jerry Bruckheimer's hit "CSI" franchise on CBS.

"I would bet that they've [NBC] spent more per episode on ['Revelations'] than any show they've done in recent memory," says producer Polone. "The number and quality of visual effects, the locations, the fact that we've been shooting all of these episodes all throughout Europe," he adds, "it's all a very expensive thing to do and it's really much more like a feature."

NBC has committed to only six episodes of "Revelations" because - all spiritual conviction aside - "it's a business," says Polone. "How are we going to be able to increase our receipts?"

Look for spiritual themes as long as they sell, says industry insider Michel Shane. "They'll mine this trend till the next big thing that sells," says the film producer behind "Catch Me If You Can" and "I, Robot." "It's the nature of that industry and you can't fault it," he says. "It has to pay for itself, so it has to either create or follow trends and exploit them."

Religion aside, the producers of "Revelations" hope the human side of the story will pull viewers in. The characters are acting in the belief that they can avert Armageddon.

Seltzer points to the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were hidden away two millenniums ago when believers felt the end of days was at hand. "There are people who believe that someone managed to forestall that day," he says.

The story here revolves around a renegade nun, played by Natascha McElhone, who believes that, despite the growing power of evil in the world and the importance of biblical prophecy, humankind can still change its destiny. "When she says, 'I believe there is an opportunity for man to forestall the end of days. I think we're talking about what we all hope will happen," Seltzer says.

The producers are hedging their bets about the outcome. Since this is only six episodes of a new show, not a miniseries, it should come as no surprise to anyone that in Hollywood ratings trump even the Bible. If the show does well enough, it could go on ... and on.

"We're leaving it open," says Polone. "We're saying that this is a dramatic depiction of the metaphor that you would find in the Book of Revelation." Again, it's the human elements, not biblical necessities, that NBC hopes will keep people hooked.

"Whether there is a god or a devil," says "Revelations" actor Michael Massee, "it made me think that every one of us as human beings can do a little part and effect a global change."

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