Trends in Religious Ethics and Morality Research: A Bibliometric Analysis (2015–2025) With an Educational Approach

Ethics are considered essential elements in developing a healthy society. The relationship between religion and morality is increasingly relevant in contemporary ethical discussions. However, despite the growing body of literature, a comprehensive analysis of emerging themes and trends in religion and morality research is either lacking or inadequate. Therefore, this study focuses on a ten-year bibliometric analysis of 1827 research articles on religious ethics and morality using “religion” and “morality” as keywords. An internet-based search was performed to locate recent and relevant articles published between 2015 and 2025 from the Web of Science database. The dataset reveals research quality and productivity during the period, particularly influence and collaboration patterns. The analysis includes contributions from 5231 authors. A total of 566 of these documents are single-authored. On average, each document features 3.1 co-authors, suggesting collaborative efforts among researchers. In particular, 20.10% of these documents are internationally co-authored, which reveals a degree of global collaboration. The outcomes show a projected growth in publication frequencies through 2025. The analysis revealed a growing recognition of the need for inclusivity and multidisciplinary approaches to ethics and morality research. The study also indicates a rise in the frequency of articles addressing psychological factors and moral obligations. Additionally, this study reveals an increased focus on healthcare ethics, gender dynamics, and social values. This study could be a valuable resource for educators and researchers aiming to develop a comprehensive framework for integrating religious ethics into moral development.