NS: Thank you for joining us, Mr. Vjecsner. Please tell us a little bit about your background. Did you study math, logic, philosophy? Do you have a background in writing?

Paul Vjecsner: I am principally self-taught, not having had the opportunities for formal higher education. But in a way I consider this a great advantage, because I find academic thinkers to be set in their thinking processes, in accordance with their schooling. Risking immodesty, I also feel I can far surpass them in insights, and I see much of their reasoning in the areas you mention faulty. Regarding research, aside from considerable reading on my part equaling at least that of classroom learning, to me the mentioned areas are largely susceptible to original thinking, as contrasted with previous thought. My writing background, to proceed, rests on an interest in language arts as part of my general interest in art, in aesthetics. In practice, I did through the years an extensive amount of copywriting in conjunction with graphic design for publication, beside occasional articles in mathematics and in other matters.

NS: Your book, On Proof For the Existence of God, and Other Reflective Inquiries includes a series of somewhat complicated arguments. Who would you consider your audience for this book? Is it used for academic purposes?

PV: It is certainly not used exclusively for academic purposes. At the end of its introduction I indicated that it is directed at every contemplative reader. I recognize that the subject matter is viewed by many as heavy, which is inevitable by its nature. But my effort was to make it as simple and clear as possible, compared to what I see as excessively lengthy and tortuous arguments in these fields in other writings, which are difficult to follow even for the professional, let alone the uninitiated. Ultimately at least some of the conclusions reached in the book are meant to be comprehended by most any reader.

NS:  What made you decide to write this book? Did it come out of research you were already doing?

PV:  Yes, in a sense. I found myself capable of solving various problems others were stumped by, and upon trying to organize the material into some sort of a whole, I decided on a book, which allowed me to expand the inquiries further.  

PV: My arguments have not substantially changed, because I am quite meticulous and thorough in my thinking, pompous as this may sound. However, I had a new printing this year, for which I did revise numerous passages for what seems better clarity, while somewhat enhancing some of the ideas.

NS:  What kind of projects are you working on now? Have you written any other books?

PV:  I have not written other books, the present one intended to be my "magnum opus". I explored the possibility of an autobiography relating chiefly to my wartime experiences, but there seemed no interest by publishers. My projects, beside promoting the book, are writing brief essays and the like.

NS:  Speaking of publishers, your book is self-published, correct? Can you give us some insight into what it is like to be a self-published author. Do you have any advice for other authors?

PV: I am afraid I cannot be very helpful here. The reason I published the book myself is primarily my being self-taught. Authors of academic subjects in particular are by publishers not considered without references, and the academic establishment closely guards its ranks. If I have any advice it is doing the best one knows how, and not place too much weight on success. For me the first of these is more satisfying than the second, in an attitude which everybody may not share.