Religion, Spirituality, and the Search for Meaning: A Cross-Cultural Dialogic Interview with Paul F. Davis

Abstract This publication presents a cross-cultural dialogic interview conducted between a Chinese interviewer and an American educator. The focus is an academic inquiry into Western civilization, religion, spirituality, and cultural perspectives. The interview explores the respondent's reflections on the relationship between religion and spirituality, freedom of conscience, comparative religion, moral development, intercultural understanding, and the role of faith within contemporary society. Rather than advocating a particular religious tradition, the discussion examines how personal experience, travel, education, and cross-cultural engagement influence spiritual beliefs and worldview formation. Particular attention is given to distinctions between organized religion and personal spirituality, the importance of freedom of belief, and the educational value of respectful dialogue across cultures. Published as a verbatim transcript, this document serves as a primary qualitative source for researchers interested in comparative religion, intercultural communication, religious studies, education, sociology, and cross-cultural perspectives on meaning and human values.