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In the New Testament, St. Paul warns the faithful, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." The Bible says a lot of things that we ignore, but the warning about love between believers and nonbelievers still rings true. Is love between people of different faith, or no faith, possible? Geoffrey Naufft's thoughtful urban romance, "Next Fall," asks that thorny question about two men in love.

Adam and Luke is your average New York gay couple. Both are funny, charming and very much in love, but there's a difference: Luke is a conservative Christian from the South and Adam is a skeptical agnostic.

Luke fervently believes that his homosexuality is a sin for which he must atone, a seeming contradiction that Adam finds repugnant, if not totally hypocritical.

Naufft's play unfolds in a series of flashbacks as we learn how the guys met and how they negotiate their clashing belief systems. The story is framed by scenes in a hospital, where Luke lies in a coma after being hit by a cab. Family members, friends and Adam spend tense hours waiting to see if Luke will get better or worse. Tensions spill out of this combustible situation.

Naufft's powerful but understated drama explores many things: the rights of same-sex couples when there's a medical emergency, homophobia, the difficulty of children coming out to their parents and, of course, the religion thing.

The playwright gives equal time to believers and atheists, and his portrayal of Adam and Luke, vividly brought to life by Patrick Breen and Patrick Heusinger, works, even if you find yourself wondering if these two really would stay together for four years. It's a testament to the heartfelt script and the performances that, in terms of the premise, you end up a believer.

"Next Fall" has it all: a solid cast, smart script, tight direction and a tug at your heart while giving you food for thought. Depending on your religion or sexual orientation, it's sure to inspire a passionate discussion and perhaps even tears.