Republicans have been quick to question the patriotism of non-Republican officeholders, political candidates, and voters. This had been going on for at least a generation now. I recall how Republican strategist Karl Rove and others memorably questioned the patriotism of the late Democratic Senator Max Cleland, who at the age of 25 lost both legs above the knee, and his right forearm, in the battle of Khe Sanh, Vietnam. Most recently, Republican Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance singled out childless women, saying that they don’t—and can’t really— care about the future of the country.

This is a poor game to play but I can play it. One group of people I think might not care about the future of the country is the set of right-wing evangelical Christians who believe that the Rapture is “imminent”—which may well be the majority of them. If you believe you and your children may be yanked into the upper atmosphere at any moment, to look down approvingly upon the destruction of your society from a comfortable, protected distance, it night be hard for you to convince reasonable people that you care about the future of the country. If you are a fan of the end of the world, and especially you are actively doing anything you think might bring it about more quickly (such as praying for it), then your patriotism looks pretty thin.