AMERICANS LEARN IN GOD WE STILL TRUST.

Byline: CHRIS WEINKOPF

WHEN Department of Defense officials came up with the nickname ``Operation Infinite Justice'' for their planned war on terror, they surely never imagined it would last less than 24 hours.

It was the shortest infinite campaign ever waged. Within hours of the OIJ designation, critics complained the name was offensive to Muslims, who believe only Allah can deliver infinite justice. The Bush administration, sensitive to the concerns of the Muslim countries it's recruiting for an international coalition, quickly retracted the title, sending Pentagon wordsmiths back to the drawing board.

Almost a full week later, they decided on a new, more modest moniker: Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unlike ``infinite,'' the word ``enduring'' doesn't connote permanent, everlasting victory, but an ongoing struggle, complete with the setbacks and shortcomings that are part of the human condition. ``Freedom,'' too, suggests an effort that doesn't seek cosmic retribution as much as to protect the American way of life.

That's surely all the Pentagon wordsmiths had in mind when they devised the OIJ title in the first place. They just never expected anyone to take them so literally.

It's a needless parsing of words, but a name is a small concession to make in the interest of unity. Moreover, the episode speaks to a heightened awareness of the role of religion in civic and public life.

For the better part of the last half-century, the American experience has been to usher God gradually out of polite conversation and the public arena. Now, terror has stirred something of a Great Reawakening, with the Creator's name not only invoked in places where it once was banished but with government leaders paying it more deference.

It's not just Muslims who might find fault with a literal interpretation of infinite justice. Most of the world's religions hold that imperfect man is perfected only through God.

Over the last 19 days, that theological insight has quickly permeated the nation's secular culture. On Sept. 11, when the frailty of human institutions was made all too clear, the country sought out higher meaning - infinite justice through a truly infinite source.

Elected leaders from the president all the way down called the nation to prayer and even dedicated an entire day to that purpose. Prayer vigils became America's new pastime, with all of official Washington gathering for a service at the National Cathedral. Government workers came together, on government time and in government buildings, to seek God's blessing. Even public schools - where any utterance of faith has long been prohibited - became sites of ``God bless America'' banners and other expressions of religious devotion.

Through it all, the American Civil Liberties Union and other defenders of the great wall that purportedly cordons off church from state remained respectfully silent. It was as if they, too, realized that finding comfort, strength and guidance in God poses no threat to anyone's rights or freedom. The open, public celebration of faith is an exercise - not an infringement - of religious liberty.

In an ironic way, it's America's enemies who have made that clear. They've shown what real religious intolerance is: the Taliban smashing centuries-old Buddhist statues throughout the Afghanistan countryside, the yearning of radical Muslim suicide bombers to purge the earth of ``infidel'' nonbelievers, the venomous hatred for Christians and Jews.

They've shown the dangers of theocracy - how very different it is from a government that merely recognizes and acknowledges the role faith already plays in its people's lives.

In 19 days, Americans gained a keener sense of the serious threats to their religious rights and freedoms - and it's not school kids bowing their heads in a moment of silence, a prayer before a high-school football game or a benediction at a graduation ceremony. We've had all these and more in the last few weeks, and they've made the nation stronger and more united, not weaker or divided.

But the value of faith in a pluralistic society isn't limited to extraordinary times of anguish and grief. It's just as real during periods of gratitude and joy, or the mundane moments of everyday life.

The need for infinite justice will remain long after Enduring Freedom is won.