Publications

Forthcoming
McCleary, Rachel M.Protestant Doctrinal Heterodoxy and Heterogeneity in Guatemala, 1880s-1950s.” In Roots of Underdevelopment In Latin America edited by Felipe Valencia Caicedo. Springer, Forthcoming.Abstract

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Pentecostalism disrupted the U.S. religion market. Charismatic beliefs and practices, particularly the emphasis on baptism of the Holy Spirit and miraculous physical healing, comingled with the Wesleyan holiness movement. Soon, divisions arose between holiness and Pentecostal movements. Divisions also occurred within Pentecostalism giving rise to distinct types. Within this fluid religion market, with doctrinal debates and controversies, Pentecostal, holiness-Pentecostal, and holiness missionaries entered Guatemala openly competing with existing mainline Protestant, holiness, and evangelical missions. Without regard for doctrinal orthodoxy, independent missionaries proselytized their beliefs throughout the country, converting existing congregations and introducing Pentecostal beliefs. Likewise, the new denominations’ mission boards were complicit in creating doctrinal heterodoxy by hiring individual missionaries whose beliefs contradicted the denomination’s doctrinal position. A major legacy of the heterodoxy is the highly schismatic (heterogeneous) nature of the Guatemalan religion market.

2022
McCleary, Rachel M.Catholic Child and Youth Martyrs, 1588-2022.” Catholic Historical Review 108, no. 3 (2022): 469-508.Abstract

Child and youth martyrs throughout the history of Christianity are few. New emphasis on their presence in the twentieth century raises questions about the nature of sanctity. Using a new data set on child, adolescent, and youth martyrs beatified and canonized since 1588, this article discusses early modern to contemporary models of sanctity for males and females while at the same time showing how the ancient motif of puer senex continues to be relevant in their narratives. With Catholic teachings adapting to contemporary views on child agency and autonomy, several problems arise, requiring the Church to re-evaluate its models of sanctity for young people.

McCleary, Rachel M., and Robert J. Barro. “Martyrs of Latin America, 1854-2022.” Fe y Libertad (2022).Abstract
Pope John Paul II began the recent trend of beatifying martyrs and confessors of Latin America. Together, Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have beatified 111 martyrs and 53 confessors in Latin America. These numbers represent 87% and 72%, respectively, of all Latin American martyrs and confessors sanctified by the Roman Catholic Church since 1588 when Pope Urban VIII established the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Pope Francis accelerated the rate of beatifications of Latin American blesseds to 5.0 a year as compared to 3.5 for John Paul II and 3.4 for Benedict XVI. These beatifications of Latin American martyrs and confessors must be understood from the perspective of the intended audience, which we view as the Catholic faithful. Specifically, we view this saint-making during the last three papacies as attempts to invigorate the faithful and, thereby, deter conversions into Protestantism.
2020
McCleary, Rachel M., and Robert J. Barro. “Opening the Fifth Seal Catholic Martyrs and Forces of Religious Competition .” Journal of Religion and Demography 7 (2020): 92-122.Abstract
Since Pope John Paul II's stock-taking of twentieth century martyrs, the Catholic Church has significantly increased the beatification and canonization of martyrs.  Not only have the numbers of martyrs increased but the definition of martyrdom has expanded.  Using a comprehensive new data set on Catholic martyrs (1588-2020), we argue that the Vatican's recent emphasis on martyrs is a strategic response to competition with Protestants, especially Evangelicals.  Martyrs, unlike regular saints (confessors),  tend to be predominantly male and died in parts of the world where the Catholic Church was actively involved in evangelization or had a significant presence.  Martydom often associates with violent events, such as the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the French Revolution, and with mass persecutions such as in the case of the English Reformation or in cases of repression of missionaries, as in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and China.
2019
The Wealth of Religions: The Political Economy of Believing and Belonging
McCleary, Rachel M., and Robert J. Barro. The Wealth of Religions: The Political Economy of Believing and Belonging . First. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2019. Publisher's Version
2018
McCleary, Rachel M.Pentecostals, Kinship, and Moral Economy in Guatemala .” Journal of Markets and Morality 21, no. 1 (2018): 167-189.Abstract
Using a set of interviews with Pentecostal churches in Guatemala, this study makes the following conclusions about the role of family and kinship in this segment of Latin America's rapidly expanding evangelical population.  First, evangelization deliberately targets family members. Second, church growth does in fact take place primarily along kinship lines.  Third, the family structure is the foundation of church organization.  Fourth, the extended family serves an important role as the provider of a social safety net.  Fifth, the emphasis on "rapid discipling" along kinship lines carries with it a weakening of commitment to the inculcation of specific values and beliefs.
2017
Barro, Robert, and Rachel McCleary. “Protestant Competition is Good for Saints.” American Enterprise Insitute, 2017. Publisher's Version barro-mccleary-saints-032017.pdf
McCleary, Rachel. “Protestant Innovative Evangelizing to Oral Cultures in Guatemala.” In Oxford Handbook of Latin American Christianity, edited by Susan Fitzpatrick Behrens and David Orique, 2017. mccleary_protestant_guatemala.pdf
2016
McCleary, Rachel, and Robert Barro. “Saints Marching In, 1590-2012.” Economica (2016).
2011
The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Religion
McCleary, Rachel, ed. The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Religion. Oxford University Press, 2011. Publisher's VersionAbstract

This is a one-of-kind volume bringing together leading scholars in the economics of religion for the first time. The treatment of topics is interdisciplinary, comparative, as well as global in nature. Scholars apply the economics of religion approach to contemporary issues such as immigrants in the United States and ask historical questions such as why did Judaism as a religion promote investment in education?

The economics of religion applies economic concepts (for example, supply and demand) and models of the market to the study of religion. Advocates of the economics of religion approach look at ways in which the religion market influences individual choices as well as institutional development. For example, economists would argue that when a large denomination declines, the religion is not supplying the right kind of religious good that appeals to the faithful. Like firms, religions compete and supply goods. The economics of religion approach using rational choice theory, assumes that all human beings, regardless of their cultural context, their socio-economic situation, act rationally to further his/her ends.

2010
McCleary, Rachel, and Leonard van der Kuijp. “A Market Approach to the Rise of the Geluk School in Tibet, 1419-1642.” Journal of Asian Studies 69, no. 1 (2010).
McCleary, Rachel, Robert Barro, and Jason Hwang. “Religious Conversion in 40 Countries.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (2010).
2009
Global Compassion
McCleary, Rachel. Global Compassion. Oxford University Press, 2009. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Global Compassion is an ambitious account of the relationship between private voluntary organizations (PVOs) and the US federal government from 1939-2005. After World War II, humanitarian aid became a key component of US foreign policy and has grown steadily ever since. Organizations like Oxfam, CARE, World Vision, and Catholic Relief Services are known the world over; however, little is known about the relationship between these private agencies and the federal government, and how truly influential these organizations can be in the realm of foreign policy. Here, Rachel McCleary provides the first truly comprehensive study of PVOs and their complex, often-fraught interaction with the federal government. The book focuses on the work of PVOs from a foreign policy perspective, revealing how federal political pressures shape the field of international relief. McCleary draws on a wide array of data–annual reports, State Department documents, and IRS records–to assess to what extent international relief and development work is becoming a commercial activity. She analyzes the often competing goals of the federal government and religious PVOs. She then exames the continuing trend of decreasing federal funds to PVOs and the simultaneous increasing awards to commercial enterprises, and looks at what this holds for the future. In this thought-provoking and rigorously researched work, Rachel McClearly offers a unique, substantive look at an understudied area of US foreign policy and international development.

2008
McCleary, Rachel, and Robert Barro. “Private Voluntary Organizations Engaged in International Assistance, 1939-2004.” Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 37, no. 2 (2008).
McCleary, Rachel. “Religion and Economic Development: A Two-way Causation.” Policy Review 148 (2008).
2007
McCleary, Rachel. “Religion and Political Economy.” The Review of Faith & International Affairs (2007).
McCleary, Rachel. “Salvation, Damnation, and Economic Incentives.” Journal of Contemporary Religion (2007).
2006
McCleary, Rachel, and Robert Barro. “Religion and Economy.” Journal of Economic Perspectives (2006).
McCleary, Rachel, and Robert Barro. “Religion and Political Economy in an International Panel.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (2006).
2005
McCleary, Rachel, and Robert Barro. “Which Countries Have State Religions?Quarterly Journal of Economics (2005).

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