Americans are willing to have fun with the world of faith.

DULUTH, Ga. — Jonathan Merritt is a Baptist preacher’s son with a pristine evangelical lineage. It was his dad, the Rev. James Merritt, who reportedly brought President Bush to tears in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks when he called the president “God’s man for this hour.” The Rev. Jerry Falwell was like a grandfather.

DENVER — Call it getting out the God vote.

A sign on a gate reads, “Please shut this gate.” These four words are a good philosophy. We do well to learn to shut the gate on our mistakes, griefs and grievances. We do well to let bygones be bygones. Don’t double your load and shed needless tears by reliving the past. Learn to close every gate as you go along in life.