^^ Not really, but better.
In Touched by an Angel, we usually see those divine beings and their plans. In Joan of Arcadia, we just see God in different guises talking to Joan--we don't know what His plans are, as the show isn't seen from His point of view, and the camera doesn't follow Him around.
The Girardi family is probably one of the most "realistic" families ever portrayed on TV; the character of Will Girardi (Joe Mantegna) reminds me a lot of my own father, and the writing and dialogue between characters is excellent--it's never sappy, contrived or unrealistic, unlike those kids from Dawson's Creek who spout dialogue like 30somethings.
The 1st season was superb, but I've heard lots of negative feedback about the 2nd season. At any rate, the DVD set of the first season merits a place in my collection.